Many people have had similar near death experiences. Common to them
is a bright, enveloping light and overwhelming love, which makes these stories
all the more compelling in a world hungry for insight and assurance. It’s
promising too that they resonate as well with Swedenborg’s revelation. Because
of Dr. Alexander’s prominence and the dramatic way his life and beliefs were
transformed, he has a larger megaphone than most. He is using it – and people
are listening.
He never thought he would be saying and believing what he now so
unabashedly proclaims: that God is present with each of us in every moment;
that we need to get in touch with the spiritual life within us, that is so much
more real than our natural life; and that God’s unconditional love is there to
help us heal – and help the world heal. We would say it is there to help us
regenerate and be reborn, but that really is our healing.
We know about the power of that unconditional love but need to reflect on
it ourselves as a model for our lives.
In the Word, the Lord gives us the Two Great Commandments – to love
the Lord and love the neighbor as ourselves – and says that on these “hang
all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22: 40) This is the very essence of the
Word.
In Secrets of Heaven 1799 we read that “if we considered love for the
Lord and charity for our neighbor the chief concern of faith,” all the doctrinal
distinctions that separate churches would dissolve. This is the faith of heaven.
Unconditional love is an inspiring ideal but not always easy to practice.
Must we really “love (our) enemies”? But God does, and that is the lesson. His
love is unconditional, even with those who turn their backs on Him, fight Him
and oppose Him. He is always there to raise even the sinner – if he will be lifted
up. And that is the example: we don’t have to agree with people or excuse bad
behavior to love them unconditionally and wish the best for them. That is ѡ