new church life: jan uary/february 2016
but we must not let anxiety about the future cause us to rely upon our own
schemes to such an extent that they interfere with the operation of providence,
or distract us from our primary responsibility to preach and teach the truth.
Our first priority must always be to remain true to the Heavenly Doctrine
in all we do as a Church. Then our efforts to strengthen it will cooperate with
providence and not subvert it. In so far as our Church is truly representative
of the New Church, sincerely and faithfully serving the Lord in His second
advent, He will sustain it.
We have to remember, though, that we cannot see providence operating.
The Lord’s ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than
our thoughts. (Isaiah 55:9) We can be confident, though, that there are unseen
“horses and chariots of fire” waiting to help us if we stand firm. (II Kings 6:17)
(WEO)
the case for optimism
“For I know the plans that I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good
and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
It is getting harder to maintain a sense of hope and optimism in a world
increasingly plagued with evil and disaster.
Terrorism is the new scourge of the 21st century, threatening innocents
everywhere. Our culture is increasingly secular, materialistic and selfindulgent. At the root of all of this is a spiritual crisis – turning away from the
Lord, which allows evil to flourish.
People are naturally discouraged and pessimistic about where we are
going. Futuristic books and movies tend to be dystopian, not utopian. They
project apocalyptic chaos, with people reduced to robots, devoid of freedom.
Much of this springs from a literal reading of Revelation with its cataclysmic,
end-of-the-world visions.
That, too, is understandable. We are still dealing with the fallout of the
Last Judgment – a judgment on the pervasive falsity in the world, which surely
has not abated.
But the ultimate vision of Revelation is uplifting and promising – a new
heaven and a new earth, with the Holy City New Jerusalem descending out of
heaven.
We are blessed with the internal understanding of what this all means
but are not immune to despair. Everyone must suffer temptations, which
ultimately are festering doubts about the Lord’s presence with us, His mercy
and salvation – especially in times of turmoil when what we love and invest
our hope in most is under attack.
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