In choosing evil we are not
stepping entirely out of the
Lord’s life. That would be
impossible. We are, rather,
abusing what He gives every
human being – and must
continue to give – if His goal
of reciprocal conjunction is
to be achieved.
consequentsalvation. The laws
of that order are called laws of
the Divine providence. ...But
before these are disclosed, it is
important to make known that
theDivine providence operates
every particular thing pertaining
to a person,and even in the
most minute particulars, for his
eternal salvation; for thesalvation
of humankind was the end of
the creation of heaven and of
earth. ...... But since the natural
mind, unless it is enlightened, is
unable tocomprehend why the
Divine providence, which works
solely for a person’ssalvation, and
works in the most minute things
of the progress of theperson’s life, does not lead all to heaven, when it desires from love
to solead them, and is omnipotent, so now in what follows the laws of order,which are
laws of the Divine providence, shall be opened. By these laws,I hope, the mind not
before enlightened may be withdrawn from fallacies, if it is willing to be withdrawn.
(Apocalypse Explained 1135.3-5, emphasis added)
The idea that the Lord’s will is married to order is vital. His wisdom has
an infinitely perfect plan to bring about the goals of His will. From our natural
thinking, it can be difficult to see how the permission of evil, and the choice of
hell, can be part of that plan and order. But we are invited to see that they are.
We will return to other important teachings on the order that makes
evil possible and necessary, given the choices that human beings have made.
But here we dwell further on the truth that, even though God alone lives and
activates all of our mental life, it is still possible for us to turn away:
The capacities in man to receive truth and good are immediately from the Lord,nor
does a person render any aid in the procuring of them. For a human beingis
always kept in the capacity to receive good and truth, and from this capacityhe has
understanding and will. But a person’s not receiving them is the result ofhis turning
to evil. The capacity does indeed then remain, but the approach tothe thought and
feeling of them is closed against him. … That a human beingcontributes nothing
whatever to the capacity to receive truth and good, is knownfrom the doctrine of
the church, that nothing of the truth of faith and nothing ofthe good of charity
comes from man, but that all comes from the Lord. Nevertheless a person can destroy
this capacity in hi