That thought came to me this morning as I pondered upon religion. By religion I mean the tightly fixed approach to faith that often prevents one from fresh thought, spiritual oxygen and freedom.
That can happen if one allows others to prescribe their beliefs apart from an openess to the Spirit. Even those who like myself have done all things recommended, to include daily scripture reads, prayer and church on Sundays. Early on, I used to do Wednesday nights also!
By the way, my friend Ezekiel (for first time readers, the Book I am now reading through), now in his twelfth year of captivity seems to be having a breakthrough after long spilling out wrath upon Egypt and Babylon through multiple chapters.
Now in Chapter 33, he begins to soften somewhat upon sinners, at least those who repent, though one's righteousness guarantees nothing if they mess up (that's how I was raised, too). How he escaped the wrath of Ole Nebuchadrezzar, likely Neb II, I'm not sure, given all the curses rendered their way.
My guess, had he been alive in the days after Christmas (lighten up, just being somewhat facetious per my wife's favorite holiday) he might have seen God in Christ quite differently than from his then cruel vantage point in captivity! Jeremiah does give his readers a little more promise of "a hope and a future."
I think that was the point of "the Word become flesh" moreso than appeasing a wrathful God! Rather, a means of reassuring us of the true nature of God, unlike what humans have seemingly ill-conveyed by way of their culturally biased text. Man's version of religion tends more toward threat than "life more abundantly."
Last evening I was sharing with a dear cousin about the shift that seems occurring in my Spirit, more and more reinforcing a revelation of Christ as foretold long before the scriptures, that being within Creation itself.
I am convinced that my 20 year study of the sciences was providential in between my earlier calling as a child, and now so necessary for this elder unpacking of my thoughts before I leave this world. God never wastes time nor pain. The latter also came early for me, as some know.
This whole energy and matter pattern so clearly aligns with my thoughts about the Spirit, even our spirit once departed this body. My cousin has now lost two Godly women to ill-fated surgeries. One can only imagine the trauma of his grief, yet his beautiful heart is so open to hear from God in this moment.
Though cautious to think I could add anything to his benefit, I will make myself available to him as he processes his thoughts. Perhaps the best gift I can provide given the added reality of the holiday season.
As he spoke of his dear departed spouse, I could almost sense her strong presence, as if aware in some way, even perhaps still walking along side of her love. Do we really depart when we die or simply leave our physical frame, that "matter" which returns to the dust, our spirit now free!
Is that "energy" now dancing in some far off land, or just as light penetrates this atmosphere, in our case from a star 93 million miles away in only 8 seconds, their energy is still within our presence? Think "great cloud of witnesses," sure makes me want to cleanup my act, if Momma is among 'em!
Was the minimal awareness of matter and energy, the galaxies, etc. among those relatively primitive writers of scripture a limitation among those such as Ezekial, Moses, Elijah, unlike the knowledge base available today?
When they wrote their thoughts, still within the confines of their bodily selves, their physical matter, even though inspired by the Spirit, perhaps quite limited in their revelation. Even Paul's "third heaven" language seems evidence of this, given that we now know the universe to be quite different.
In case you are one of those Junebugs, gasping for air, still limited by the jar of religion, there are leaks within scripture indicative of such possibilities as this "can of worm" my thoughts may have opened for you:
"Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.) While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen."
Luke 9:30-36 NIV.
Merry Christmas, just breathe!
You are loved and so was Ezekiel, he just did not know what you now do!