(12/19/2016) Reflections on Existence

Today, ideas about death, divinity, and existence are in view.  The human condition is that of having finite definition and limit within the frameworks of time and space generated by the GODhead manifest as a Creator who appears through features of existence that may be diffuse, immeasurable, immutable, and invisible.  A writer using the ID “Anonymous” at “Yahoo! Answers (India)” posted the following:

At death man doesn't exist anymore, therefore will atheists be happy to be in nonexistence Forever?!?

Psalms 146:3,4;Eccl 9:5,6,10. They may say that YHWH doesn't exist but in the end they won't be in existence!!!!

THE GOLDEN ARROW:   Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;  While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:  In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,  And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;  Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail:  because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:  Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.  Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was:  and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.  (Ecclesiastes 12:  1-7, King James Version, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Eternal Life From GOD (10/24/2016); Eternal Mysteries and Revelation (08/31/2016); Sin Also Made Incarnate? (04/25/2016); Life Is In Blood (12/08/2015);  Meanings That Support Eternal Existence? (06/02/2015); That Mortal Children Die? (12/15/2013); Going It Alone? (12/16/2013)

“Anonymous”, here are some points on existence that many mature Christian believers continue to reflect on:

(1)  Existence is put forth by divinity and is different from having such attributes in Creation as awareness (we say, consciousness, intellect or mental abilities, mind), having measurable and visible carnal or material form, having life, having sensibility (e.g., hearing, seeing, tasting, touching), and having mortality (a predetermined end to “duration”).

(2)  The existence of GOD is correctly known through the active presence of divine substance within created beings and living creatures as well as within the diverse and multiple objects that make up their spheres of existence.  Thus, GOD is described as the origin for all form, order, process, enduring quality, and value.

(3)  The existence of mankind as a “living soul” is through the joining of material form (soil from the earth that was put forth by the Holy Spirit) and sacred content from the makeup of GOD (we also say, breath, life essence, word).  The endowment of spirit content from Deity included such inseparable aspects for human existence as faith, holiness, joy, longsuffering, lovingkindness, trust, wisdom, and wrath against sin.

(4.)  When a person completes their mortal existence (i.e., at a person’s death), there is a separation of the carnal and physical elements from those that are divine.  The divine material continues to exist, yet, may not be “collected”, “coherent” or “connected” as before.  The dead continue to exist pertaining to multiple divine purposes, including the fulfillment of sacred proclamations, promises, and prophecy.  The total annihilation and removal of existence is called the second death, and involves the absolute and permanent separation from divinity and from all that will be permitted to exist.

There is far more to be said, understood, and spiritually apprehended.  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(06/07/2015) Making Sin Appear as Sinful?

Today, focus is upon the sacred work of exposing sin in order to benefit and release others, and how it is different from that of condemning (some say, judging) others.  In a sense, a person’s sins are like the back of their head, their eyebrows, or their chin.  It’s personal:  The features of your head are always a part of you, that you rarely see directly (at best you see depictions, images and reflections).  Others see all the features of your face, even, often including inside you (through your ears, mouth and nose).  Similarly, like your faults and habits, your sins hidden from you will be on view to others.  Those who complain when they are challenged to acknowledge and reject their sins are like those who look in the mirror, then, smash the looking glass because they did not like what they saw in it.  They are satisfied that the mirror is destroyed, rather, than pleased that necessary change has been made, or that the sin is eliminated.  One of the fighters at “Yahoo! Answers” who uses the ID “Anonymous” (the required profile info is not shared) posted the following:


Christians?

Why are Christians so quick to call out someones sin when the bible clearly says we all sin and if you break one you are guilty of all? The bible also says you will be judged as you judged others.


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.  Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain:  and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.  And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.  Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;  Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.  (James 5:  16-20, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Judge Thy Neighbor? (02/15/2015); On Christians Executing Judgment (06/06/2014); Stoning in the OT? (06/07/2014); Suffering Circumcision? (06/08/2014); We Shall Behold Him (10/17/2013); Angels, Law and Sin (10/18/2013)


“Anonymous”, consider the following points:

(1.)  Christian believers are called to participate in a lifestyle as spiritual priests and kings that focuses in demonstrations from the Spirit presence of divinity.  For many, this new life (we say, rebirth) is not embraced and understood always as sacred duty, or obligation to GOD.  However, all must respond to continuing elements of accountability, commandment, commitment, integrity of being, lawful expression, and eternal purpose.

(2.)  Sin is an influence hidden and invisible to created beings and living creatures, for it does not exist as a concrete, material or physical object having measurable dimensions of height, weight, volume, etc.  Sin may dominate awareness and self-will in the living, yet, sin has no life essence, spirit content, or value as an appearance of divine will.  Sin opposes the continued existence of divine law, the exalted Law Giver, and the universe displaying divine order as a consequence of law.

(3.)  Sin may be disguised as ordinary appearances of appetite (e.g., hunger, thirst, sexual cravings), sensation (e.g., hearing, seeing, tasting, touching), and emotional/mental functions (e.g., anger, fantasy, fear, imagination, recall).  As a result, sin is not properly recognized as contrary to ones own spirit makeup, hostile to Deity, and absolutely self-destructive.

(4.)  For all who are born-again believers, identifying, uncovering, and addressing the problems within the household of GOD upon the earth is a sacred benefit and a privilege shared along with atonement, confession, covenant, divine law, promise and prophecy.  The “exceeding sinfulness of sin” revealed through sacred knowledge and godly practices also is to be revealed through the intimate relationship as sons and daughters of GOD and as heirs with Jesus Christ.

There is far more to be said, correctly understood, and spiritually taken into account.  (For example, (5.)  The sacred process is not one of monitoring everyone’s mistakes, nit-picking, harping on wrongdoing, or repeatedly highlighting depravity and scandal.  Rather, new life in Christ is one of being constant, speaking the truth in love, appearing as transparent, and maintaining vigilance for one another’s salvation.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith and spiritual maturity.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC