Human beings, like all created things, are receptacles of life. We receive our life from the Lord; we do not live from ourselves, even though it appears to us that we do. This appearance is necessary for us so that we can live in freedom.
Swedenborg also uses the word 'vessels' to mean the specific things in our spirit and mind which receive Divine influx. It's a good picture for this, since liquid flowing into a vessel takes the shape of the vessel. The decisions we make in our lives shape us, and shape the way we can receive the Lord's love. We can even, to a large extent, block the inflowing stream, so that we receive life, but reject most of the truth and good that's on offer.
(Izinkomba: Arcana Coelestia 3318 [2], 4247 [2])
