Awaken to Love Part 5 - BUILDING A NEW WORLD

A. “Being of Use”

We have said that, as Swedenborgians, we believe it to be a spiritual law that each of us ultimately becomes what we most truly love.

If love and goodness itself (what we call God) are what matter most to us, then we will gradually take on the character, the imprint and the form of that love and goodness. We will be living a relationship where the presence of that love and goodness shapes more and more of our daily lives.

Whatever our roles in life – as partner or parent, worker or citizen, neighbour of volunteer – doing what we do in the most loving ways we can, always guided by and looking to God, means we are “doing our best” and thus “becoming our best”, that is, our own unique form and expression of God’s love in the world. Depending on our particular temperament and gifts, place and time, culture and upbringing, we become the unique blessing God always intended us, and created us, to be.

It doesn’t matter whether we are a crossing guard or a brain surgeon, a dad reading to his child or a CEO running her business. As long as our motivation is the welfare of another and the glory of God (rather than merely our own welfare and glory), then spiritually we are fulfilling our purpose as our truest and best selves.

Swedenborgians call this “being of use” and it’s one of our basic teachings. Being of use means that we are being “a light to the world” as Jesus says, doing our part to help build the new world that God is so patiently, gently bringing into being, in hearts and minds everywhere.

B. Building the “New Jerusalem”

We all long for a world where everyone is safe, cared for and at peace, where the highest good of each is the good of their neighbour, and there’s no more need for fear, greed or violence.

This is the future God has promised us, that in the Bible is called the “New Jerusalem” (see Revelation 21: 2-4), the new spiritual age which is slowly emerging right now in people of every race and religion and walk of life who are attuned to the Spirit’s call.

This is what Swedenborgians call “the Second Coming of the Lord”. We don’t wait for the Lord to come at the end of time to inaugurate a “golden age” for his “elect”. Rather, the Lord is coming right here and right now, in the Spirit, to everyone, seeking all those who will join him in the work of building that new world, so richly diverse in ways and beliefs, yet so deeply at one in his love.

 

C. The Importance of “Walking the Talk”!

That is the mission of all Swedenborgians and indeed all people and we do it by “being of use” according to our gifts and abilities, becoming channels of kindness and compassion to the world.

It is for this reason that Swedenborg so often wrote that “service to the neighbour is true prayer”. This is another way of saying we must all “walk the talk” of our faith, putting “love into action”, otherwise our faith isn’t real and we do not grow into all that we are.

But the question arises: can we really “be of use” in making a difference, given how big the world’s problems really are?

The answer is yes, we can! In the first place, it was revealed to Swedenborg that our actions have consequences to eternity. Our daily duties and routines may be humble and ordinary but, done intentionally, infusing them with the love of God, they make all the difference in ways we cannot ever know or imagine. Each kind deed of ours sparks off a chain reaction of new possibility and hope that extends over space and time to bring more light into the ongoing story of Creation.

Thus it is very true that we all have great and important gifts to give to the world and that only we can give. Moreover, it is in the giving of them that we are changed. In blessing the world, we are blessed; in doing the work of the angels we bind ourselves to their company, both here and hereafter.

Living in awareness of this fundamental truth is what it means to be Swedenborgian.

It’s why, historically, Swedenborgians have always been part – sometimes a leading part – of movements leading to greater social justice, inter-faith dialogue, peace and reconciliation, environmental commitment and community-building.

The new world we build with God is both in our hearts and minds and, to make it real, also in all we say and do for the welfare of others. The inner world nourishes the outer and vice versa and out of it all comes the new life we call the New Jerusalem, the kingdom within and amongst us (Luke 17: 21).

 

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