Love is the Fulfilling of the Law
ON LOVE; PART CXLV
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GoodWill IS Love in Action
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“This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth: And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters: And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died” (Genesis 5:1-5).
Although we started with it, we did not complete our discussion on the verses above but went off in the direction of the result for man of the forces of illusion and glamour and the sayings of the Master and His apostles cautioning us of these effects as the causes of deception. We note that there is continual disillusionment regarding the words of the Book of Genesis and in this very word we find the complexities of what we are trying to understand. One definition of the word disillusionment tells us that it means to: destroy the ideals, illusions, or false ideas of 12, while another tells us that it means a freeing or a being freed from illusion or conviction; disenchantment 7. Can we sense the dilemma here in that what one man believes to be True can be seen as illusion by another and this is the rub, that men who believe in the Good, the Beautiful and the True can be disillusioned and taken away from these beliefs as they are made to believe that they are the illusion as they are subjected to the human works of doctrine and accepting such because this is what everyone else believes. Few are there that are willing to stand apart from the common beliefs within their own circle of influence. This same idea of disillusionment can free that same man from the illusions of tradition and doctrine if he can stand against the personal desire and urge to conform to the common belief.
Our illustration is to give that understanding of illusion that shows that there is no common ground upon which we can stand; what we believe to be True is seen as illusion by others and we look at their beliefs in the same way. And this becomes a personal thing as well and from multiple perspectives. In our own Life can we see those things that we believe that are contrary to the common belief of those in our circle of influence, and even family? And, at the same time can we see that those contrary things that we believe can be doubted by us ourselves when our mood is not right? By example I believe, rather I believe that I KNOW, that it is my right and proper work to write this daily blog and that for much of my remembered Life I have been working toward this goal. Is this an illusion? As I work daily, sometimes struggling to get an essay done nearly every day, am I fulfilling the will of the Soul or of the personality? Is this that I do for the comfort of the the lower self or is it Truly the will of the Christ Within. These are some of my questions and I would think that we are all faced with similar dilemma.
We are provided with answers to these questions and doubts from the perspective of Wisdom. Wisdom should be understood as the reality of Truth as we can see and understand it in this world and this definition of ours would suffice for most every instance whether it be the Solomon type Wisdom as shown to the True and false mothers of the child in the Old Testament story, the Wisdom of Einstein that allowed his vision of the Truth of energy and matter or the Wisdom of which tells each of us the right path to follow in Life. Now in saying this we should be able to see that Wisdom, like most other things, is not a constant; one man’s wisdom is another man’s foolishness and this is shown us by the Apostle Paul who gives us much help in this matter; Paul says: “Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” and again that “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness” (1 Corinthians 1:20, 3:19). In these sayings we see that there is wisdom and there is Wisdom or rather there is what a man considers wisdom and what is considered such by God and the God within each. In each of our examples above we are speaking about Divine Wisdom, “the wisdom that is from above” according to the Apostle James and none of these are that type that sometimes qualifies as wisdom in the world. Solomon used “the wisdom that is from above” to craft a divine solution to a worldly problem; Einstein used “the wisdom that is from above” to see into the reality of the body of God and we use this same Wisdom as aspirants to discipleship to help us to see the Path ahead.
There is then a real difference between that Wisdom from above and the wisdom of the world as Paul tells us above and it is the Wisdom from above that the James defines for us as our ready aid in ascertaining the source and the motives of our thoughts and our actions. It is within the ideas furnished by his definition which we have discussed before in much detail that we can find the line between our divine reality and illusion as this IS the only sense of illusion that matters to those who are seeking the Path and His Kingdom. We can say this because in this position of striving and seeking the Lord we will not be overly focused upon the things of the world and we already recognize the inherent illusion and glamour in which we Live and work. This being said, we still find those periods of doubt and these will likely continue until that point in Life where we can KNOW without doubt and this is of course our goal and our destiny; in THIS KNOWING is the final act that allows us to say with the Master “I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Short of this realization that illusion and glamour abound and that these are forces that effect the Life of ALL men who are not yet FREE, we are subject to them unwarily and it is here that we can understand better the words of Paul saying: “the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope” (Romans 8:20). It is here that we understand that no matter what it is that we think and believe to be True, it could just as well be founded in the illusion and glamour of the world and that unless we understand that we are subjected to this as Life in form itself, as a part of the Plan of God, we are forever at its mercy. Understanding that illusion and glamour are real forces of Life in the world, we know as aspirants that these are powerful influences in the lives of ALL men. At the same time, how then do we KNOW the difference between reality and illusion; between our vision for ourselves and Life and glamour? By seeing the thoughts and the emotions that come forth into our lives as Wisdom and understanding that these are either from above or they are from our own personal self in the world. We look again to the words of James:
“Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace” (James 3:13-18).
Perhaps a bit of biblical reality can be seen in the comparison of the words of James with those of Paul above. Paul tells us of “the wisdom of this world” that it is “is foolishness with God” and tells us that this is the way of things in the world saying “hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” and putting this onto an equal footing with the vanity to which we have been subjected. In this we should try to see that this illusion and glamour that we speak of, the vanity of the apostle, is the same as the wisdom of this world. Can we also see that the wisdom of this world IS NOT Wisdom at all? This James tells us by defining the nature of the wisdom of the world which we must see as self serving as are most all attitudes and actions that are carnal in nature. James tells us of “bitter envying and strife in your hearts” and tells us that these things are “not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish” and, as we have seen in previous discussion on these words, these ideas themselves are clouded and colored by illusion and glamour. Generally seen as envying or jealousy plus a sense of selfish ambition, these ideas are not counted for the actual harm that they can do; they are treated as words that we can cast upon others seeing them as envying and jealous, as self seeking in ambition and yet seldom see them as our own frailties. Vincent gives us some help on these words by inserting the idea of emulation where we read bitter envying in the King James Version. Webster’s 1828 version defines emulation as An ardor kindled by the praise-worthy examples of others, inciting to imitate them, or to equal or excel them. Contest; contention; strife; competition; rivalry accompanied with a desire of depressing another 1. Here we can see a different dynamic than in the common understanding of envy or jealousy, one that is much more personal. We should note here that this definition includes strife as a part of it which plays into the next part of James’ saying. Vincent tells us that strife here is a A wrong rendering, founded on the mistaken derivation from e]riv and here he tells us it should refer to those who serve in official positions for their own selfish interest, and who, to that end, promote party spirit and faction 4.
The entirety of Vincent’s remarks on this verse can be found in In the Words of Jesus part 323. From the above definitions and Vincent’s comments we should see a better reality of James’s words here regarding what IS NOT Wisdom from above. In a word, Wisdom from above IS NOT self-serving, it has naught to do with the separated self in this world. It is likely that most any word or term that includes the prefix of self is contrary to this Wisdom from above and here is our KEY to KNOWING the reality of our thoughts and motivations. Heretofore we have looked to the more positive list for our clarification and this is a True and workable way to do so but the very words of the positives given by James can be in themselves confusing to the man who is not focused upon the things of God as his primary motivation. Here, in the negative list there is the utmost of clarity however, not so much to say what IS Wisdom from above, but definitively to say what IS NOT. It is difficult for the average man in the world to understand that this is True, that the lower self, the carnal man, does not enter into any thing of divine nature and this is written for us by Paul who clearly tells us this:
- We see this idea of the carnal nature alive in the corruption that is spoken of by the apostle and in our most favorite and much used saying we read that “the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Romans 8:21). Here we see this word used in regard to man’s Life in the world as this verse follows upon that which we repeat above regarding our subjection to this Life of vanity, this Life enmeshed in the illusion and the glamour of the world.
- In this next saying there is much to understand and we post the entirety of our selection here now as a place marker for a future post as there is in these words another approach to our still current discussion regarding the creation of man; Paul tells us: “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold , I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep , but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:45-55). Today our verse of interest is “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption” and it is in these words that we get some additional insight into the relationships between flesh and blood and the corruption of Life in form. We see also our premise that the lower self, the carnal man, does not enter into any thing of divine nature.
- The Apostle Peter tells us this same thing saying: “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:4). Here again we see the parallel between corruption and the things of the world and Peter makes this yet more clear by tying this corruption to lust which is but strong desire for things for the self.
Our idea here is that there is nothing in that Wisdom from above that has aught to do with the lower self, the carnal man in the world which is referred to in in the words of the apostles as corruption. This corruption is the result of what we read in Paul’s writings to the Romans which we cite above, the result of that vanity to which ALL men are subjected and this is the illusion and the glamour. We should see here that when a man lives his Life focused upon the world it is because he is yet a prisoner of this vanity, this illusion and glamour; he has not yet been freed, not yet “delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God“
We did not complete our thoughts on the saying at the top nor did we get to the ideas that we have below which show for us the role of deception and the lack of man’s understanding of the role of these forces of illusion and glamour. We instead went off into a discussion of Wisdom which we will complete in the next post; it is this Wisdom from above that is the divine power that can dispel the illusion and the glamour of the world and this of course only in conjunction with Love which, when Truly understood, removes the lower self as the centreal point in the Life.
- “For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them” (Matthew 13:15).
- “And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in , choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful” (Mark 4:19).
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Aspect of God |
Potency |
Expressed as Fire |
Aspect of Man |
In Relation to the Christ |
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GOD, The Father |
Will or Power |
Electric Fire |
Spirit or Life |
Life |
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Son, The Christ |
Love and Wisdom |
Solar Fire |
Soul or Christ Within |
Truth |
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Holy Spirit |
Light or Activity |
Fire by Friction |
Life Within the Form |
Way |
Note on the Quote of the Day
This daily blog also has a Quote of the Day which may not be in any way related to the essay. Many of these will be from the Bible and some just prayers or meditations that may have an influence on you and are in line with the subject matter of this blog. As the quote will change daily and will not store with the post, it is repeated in this section with the book reference and comment:
Since we are centered on the ideas of Wisdom today we offer the following from Proverbs as our Quote of the Day. Solomon, who is KNOWN for his Wisdom, which we read in the story of his Life was His gift from God, a gift that he receives because he does not want for the things of the world. But Solomon gains as well the things of the world in plenty and as his Life story proceeds we can see clearly that it is his Life in the world that is to his detriment. The wisdom however produces for us the writings of the Book of Proverbs and it is this that he is remembered for. His Life is interesting reading and is well documented in the Books of Kings and Chronicles.
….incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path. When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee (Proverbs 2:2-11).
We include this other text on Wisdom today for your reading pleasure and for a greater understanding of the role of Wisdom in Solomon’s time for the man in the Earth, a role that is supplanted by the combination of Love and Wisdom by the Master as they are joined together as the Second Aspect of the Trinity that IS God:
“I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions. The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength. By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. By me princes rule , and nobles, even all the judges of the earth. I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures. The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways” (Proverbs 8:12-32).
- 1 Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, 1828 and 1913
- 4 Word Studies in the New Testament; Marvin R Vincent D.D. 2nd edition, 1888
- 7 Dictionary.com Unabridged based on Random House Dictionary – 2011
- 10 Dictionary.com. Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition. HarperCollins Publishers
