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LIFE - 07/20/14

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parthens

parthens
101 posts
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Location:
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07/17/2014 09:28

First & Last

"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end."
"I, Jesus, have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches." [Bible Lesson 8,9]

"In Revelation St. John refers to what 'the Spirit saith unto the churches.' His allegories are the highest criticism on all human action, type, and system. His symbolic ethics bravely rebuke lawlessness. His types of purity pierce corruption beyond the power of the pen. They are bursting paraphrases projected from divinity upon humanity, the spiritual import whereof 'holdeth the seven stars in His right hand and walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks' — the radiance of glorified Being" (Mrs. Eddy, '00, 11:26-12:5).

Mrs. Eddy continues with a description of the precarious condition of the church at Ephesus, which is also the first church of the seven to which Christ speaks in Revelation. "Thou hast left thy first love . . . Repent, and do the first works." This is typical of so many churches that begin aright, but eventually collapse under the unbearable weight of materialism, the failure of resolve to maintain "first-fire" fervency in fulfilling the First Great Commandment and the Second, good works in loving service to God's image and likeness.

Forsaking First Love portends losing it all, for it's impossible to serve God secondhand, putting God in second place.

From a practical standpoint, I can affirm my First Love at the first moment of my day, upon awakening: this is my time for appreciating as single-mindedly as possible, the omnipresence, omniscience, and omnipotence of God so that the dominion of that Alpha Presence fills every moment of my day's beginning, as I watchfully allow no other gods before Him.

Then, during the day, I can affirm my love for God both in private sessions of undisturbed communion with God as well as in public service to God and humanity, like Daniel and the three Hebrew children, filling this sacred space between the first and last moments of my day with "first works," that is, First-Love-inspired works. Honoring God as Alpha Presence at the beginning of each task, and Omega Presence at the end of each task is putting Him first always, for putting Him second is putting Him last.

Then, at close of day, I can cleave to God as God of my day's end, allowing the dominion of His Omega Presence to fill every moment therein as well. In this way, I can enthrone God as the Alpha and Omega -- the beginning, the middle, and the end -- of every day of my entire life. "To begin rightly is to end rightly" (SH 262:28), beginning with First Love and ending with First Love.

Edited by parthens - 07/17/2014 15:13




 
Susanne

Susanne
174 posts
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Location:
United States
07/18/2014 11:43

Re: First & Last

Thank you for this post, I find it beautiful, inspired and helpful!