Enough about science and its facts which support the Christian canons. The beauty of His Creation is evidence of His creation and enough that we praise Him. Most children find this self-evident. This is likely why Christ taught that the Kingdom of Heaven is such as "these small children". Whether gazing upon distant clusters of stars light-eons away or peering with a focused lens on the most minute forms of matter, we cannot escape His Glory and Majesty. Let us not miss the forest for the trees.
While speaking with a gentleman a few years ago about the nature of the eternal after-life, he shared with me that the denomination of his faith believed that this earth and heaven would be transformed becoming a place of unending physical comforts. This was contrasted with personal beliefs that we will all be transformed and enter a new spiritual realm where wickedness will cease from troubling and the weary will be at rest. For many of us, this physical world has little that it can offer. Those things which we lavish ultimately cause premature death. And, as stated in the above canon, the Creator desires that we have life and life more abundantly. This is the impetus for the laws, rules, and instructions given in scripture. They are given so we might build healthy, peaceful, pro-social communities.
Also, when upon speaking with the gentleman, we discussed the fact that, frequently, religious debates ultimately become arguments over semantics. What does "love" your neighbor mean? In the English language, this one word might have many meanings. We further specify the type with an adjective. For example, fraternal love, marital love, love of country, and Godly love. And, sadly, some also include carnal lusts in this category, although Saul of Tarsus teaches differently in scripture. In other languages, a number of words exists for such differing types of feelings. This is evident in the Christian cannon when Christ asked Peter, "Do you love me?" more than once using disparate words describing a different type of love each time. And, although we debated for nearly fifteen minutes, we both ultimately realized that we were arguing semantics. We saw the after-life as we each chose based upon what we desired. And, we both might be pleasantly surprised if the Lord lets us each enter it. It will likely be more beautiful than we can imagine.
In this lifetime, this is a trustworthy saying, "The Lord likes surprising His children". Consider Luke 11:11. If humans can provide their children with "good" things, how much more can the Father in Heaven above. If humans enjoy surprising their children with gifts, would not the One who created all the universe like surprising His children?
This weblog is written from a Christian perspective; however, in this life, the writer has witnessed acts which Christ would encourage on behalf of men and women who were non-Christians. One of these was the immolation of a Buddhist monk who was protesting a local pornography outlet in San Francisco during the Vietnam war when many Americans had an intense fear and hatred of Asians. Interestingly enough, the camera crew from the local news station that filmed this actually had the monk set on fire and were part of the same media network which owned the pornography store. Upon spending a few months in Silicon Valley and Oakland in 2011, the writer lived near a small Buddhist temple. They could not cash a "respect-check" in the community in which they were.
Yet, the goals of many of the Christians in nearby churches were the same. Safer neighborhoods, a brighter future for their children, a cessation of drug trafficking, and etc. Unfortunately, many Christians criticize other faiths and vice versa. Yet, we as men of many faiths often experience a maturing process as we travel along life's journey. We are often not all that we should be based upon our respective scriptural works which we claim that we follow. We who have matured and seek the "good" of all humanity should work in unison for the growth, security, and well-being of all peoples while seeing ourselves as one people seeking the glory of the Creator and the maintenance of the world which He has given us.
They say one will repeat a painful past if he does not learn from his history. In the account of the Tower of Babel, the world entered a state of chaos when the people were one and the sought their own glory and aggrandizement by building a tower which reached the heavens. The Lord sent confusion upon them since they were not building for His Glory.
As we build devices which enter the far most reaches of space, communication networks which span the globe, and myriads of potions, pills, and preparations for the treatment of all that ails us, let us be wise enough the we do it for His Glory, or ultimately it will collapse under its own weight.
May Blessings! Trust That He Can Deliver You From All Hurt, Harm, and Danger in the Coming Weeks!
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