The evils which a man believes to be allowable,
even though he does not commit them, are
also appropriated to him; since whatever is
allowable in the thought comes from the will,
for then there is consent. When, therefore,
a man believes any evil to be allowable, he
loosens an internal restraint upon it, and he
is withheld from doing it only by external
restraints, such as fears; and because his spirit
favors that evil, when external restraints
are removed he does it as allowable; and
meanwhile, he continually does it in his spirit.
Let us keep in mind
that only the Lord
can tell us how to
get to heaven and
He lays the steps
for us to take in the
Word. Everything
happens according
to order; there
is a process to
everything.
As mentioned, our reaction to evils or
anything that opposes God and His teachings
is crucial. The trick is to be able to avoid the
evil we see within ourselves, and react to it the
same way we do to the outward things we see
in the world and in other people. How often
have you cringed upon realizing something
about yourself? It’s not a sign that we are
condemned but rather an opportunity to flee
to safety. We may not be able to run away from ourselves, but we can avoid the
tendencies and desires toward evils in ourselves by not willing them. This way
we can make our way to true heavenly freedom.
Remember that freedom is the theme not only for this sermon, or the
vision in Revelation, but for our entire lives. Heavenly freedom is basically
freedom from the influence and torments of hell. It’s when we are no longer
bound by the things that bring us down. And we can get heavenly freedom
because we are all given freedom in the first place. See what is said in the
Heavenly Doctrines regarding the use of our freedom:
That man has the freedom of thinking evil and falsity, and also of doing it, so far as
the laws do not withhold him, is in order that he may be capable of being reformed;
for goods and truths are to be implanted in his love and will, so that they may
become of his life, and this cannot be done unless he have the freedom of thinking
evil and falsity as well as good and truth. This freedom is given to every man by the
Lord, and so far as he does not love evil and falsity, so far, when he thinks what is
good and true, the Lord implants them in his love and will, consequently in his life,
and thus reforms him. (New Jerusalem and its Heavenly Doctrine 143)
We can all use this freedom now and start anticipating the real freedom
of heaven where it’s just the Lord and His will – no sun or moon. As described
in Revelation, we will get to experience no pain, no sickness, no discomfort,
no tragedy, no hunger, no thirst, no debts, no stubbing your toe, no allergies,
and so on. “He will wipe away every tear” and bring us to heaven in freedom.
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