new church life: september/october 2017
a similar thing and come through it. We can use our bad experiences to help
others overcome theirs.
With people who have done terrible things – and who of us hasn’t, if
only inwardly? – the purpose and value of life in this world is obviously for
amendment, i.e., reformation and regeneration, before it’s too late. While it’s
true that a person who dies prematurely, whether by accident or execution,
surely will have his or her freedom restored in the spiritual world so that a
proper choice can be made between heaven and hell, that tragic death still
curtails the benefits to be gained by living a new, better life in this world,
gaining new natural knowledge and experience with a new attitude that could
enhance the spiritual life forever.
Our doctrines do say that capital punishment is necessary, in that fear of
the loss of life is one factor that can help to maintain order in the world. But
that fear doesn’t really effect reform, and execution certainly doesn’t; it just
keeps the prudent or the timid under control. As for suicide being a way to end
misery of any kind, that is just a cruel hoax perpetrated by evil spirits, since the
same misery that prompted the act will still be present in the person’s mind on
waking up in the spiritual world and will have to be dealt with there just as if
the person were still here, but without the benefit of new sensory experiences
to confirm and consolidate the change. Besides, death by suicide can bring
untold grief to whole families and communities, so it really is inspired by
ruthless and sadistic spirits.
We began this morning with a short summary of how the Lord operates
– from first principles through what we call “ultimates,” i.e., the physical
elements of the earth – to intermediates, namely the human minds that are
invested with the freedom and rationality to be conjoined with Him in eternal
life. Then we reflected on the importance of sensory experience in building
the foundation for eternal life – unique, individual human life drawn from
unique, individual earthly experiences. But some of you may be wondering
about all the little children who die without the benefit of long years of sensory
experience.
We know the Lord is merciful. We are cruel, but He is merciful. The
Writings tell us that little children who die make up a full third of all those
who now enter heaven. Why? Because they have not yet had the opportunity
to confirm themselves in any real evil. Still, lacking the experience others gain
by a longer life they have not really confirmed themselves in good, either, so
they have a kind of innocence about them that depends much more on others
for knowledge, insight and wisdom than would be the case otherwise.
Of course they are happy and feel perfectly free, but that’s because they
are not so invested in themselves as others are, and are quite content to be led
by others. But the Lord’s gift of life is intended to be received as if it were our
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