new church life: november/december 2017
a message from the Lord Himself that we need to hear. It can only be seen by
means of, and must be grounded in, what is actually written. Yet to see it, we
have to rise above time and space thinking as much as we can.
Conclusion
We all know that there are timeless truths in the Word. There are things the
Lord wants us to know that will be true at all times in all cultures – a few of
which are alluded to in this study.
All of them are delivered to us in three revelations given at a certain time in
history within a certain culture. No matter how clear the revelation, questions
will always come up as to what the Lord really meant by what He has chosen
to reveal to us. Fortunately for us, we have the hope of enlightenment, so long
as our approach to the Word is valid.
I’d like to close with one more teaching. It relates to a different manifestation
of timelessness. We read concerning “old age” in the Word:
In the internal sense “old age” does not mean old age, for the reason that
the internal person, or person’s spirit, does not know what old age is; but as the
body or the external part grows old, so he or she passes into newness of life.
(Arcana Coelestia 4676)
When we look in the mirror we may indeed see an aging human form.
But we know that the spirit within remains vibrant and strong, because it is
eternal. So, too, with the Word. It has some external forms that can appear
at times to be dated and decrepit. Yet it has a spirit within – the voice of the
Lord Himself – which will forever enliven it and make it shine. Our job is to
discover its timeless messages, so that our spirits may be made forever young
by the Lord, as we learn to live the path of eternal happiness that comes to all
who follow Him to heaven.
The Rt. Rev. Peter M. Buss Jr. is Assistant to the Bishop
of the General Church, Vice President of General Church
International, Incorporated, and Head of General Church
Education. Previously he was pastor of the Glenview (Illinois)
New Church. He and his wife, Teresa (Farrington), live in Bryn
Athyn with their four children.
Contact: [email protected]
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