A person who is active, hard-working, and “into” useful service is one
whose “light” shines out to the world. Jesus said:
You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do
they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light
to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before people, that they may see
your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)
This idea of light shining out from us is echoed in the doctrine of our
church:
As we instruct our understanding, we prepare it for the reception of light, and hence
for wisdom from heaven. As we do the good deeds that belong to good will, we
prepare our will for the reception of the heat of heaven, or of love. Like one who
cuts a diamond, we make preparation for the splendor of light to be diffused from
ourselves. (Additions to True Christianity IV:1–3, part of Posthumous Theological
Works)
A person who connects faith with life, and whose “light” shines out to the
world, is someone who is able to see, look for, and promote the goodness, truth
and usefulness in others. Again we are taught:
Those who have faith that is embedded in a good life notice the goodness in others.
If they see evils and falsities they excuse them, and if possible endeavor with that
person to correct them. They hardly notice the evil in another person, but instead
notice all the forms of goodness (or usefulness) and also the truths that are his or
hers; and on the evils and falsities they place a good interpretation. They think
nothing else than good of the neighbor, and speak nothing but good, and this from
the Lord who is at work within a charitable spirit. [In point of fact, such people] are
like the angels residing with them. (Secrets of Heaven 1079, 1088)
Well, as you might guess, people who are willing to die unto themselves
and re-focus on a life of useful service are people who know the challenges
of spiritual trial and conflict. And though at times they feel pulled in the
direction of selfishness and greed (like anyone else) they are willing to engage
in spiritual warfare for the sake of a good outcome. Swedenborg describes it
this way:
The subject in Genesis, chapter 2 is heavenly (or “celestial”) people; in the previous
chapter it was spiritual people who progressed to being spiritual from having been
“dead”. But since people nowadays do not know what a heavenly person is, and
scarcely know what a spiritual person is, or what a dead person is, let the nature of
each one be presented briefly:
Swedenborg makes two points in this comparison, then he makes this third point:
“Dead” people, when involved in conflict, nearly always give in. And when there is
no conflict, evils and falsities reign supreme within them, making them their slaves.
Spiritual people are involved in conflict, but they always conquer. Heavenly (or
“celestial”) people are not involved in conflict. If evils and falsities assail them, they
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