This essay continues a sequence. Read the previous one here.
…lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge,
and the judge deliver thee to the officer,
and thou be cast into prison.
Verily I say unto thee,
Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.–KJV, Matt 5:25-26
Many visible traits reflect an apparently unrelated inner quality. When you know how to look, human nature is not difficult to read.
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Why Didn’t You Agree?
We explored the meaning of agree with thine adversary quickly in the previous essay. But why is it difficult?
The positions we are stubborn about are often manifestations of our inner weaknesses e.g. inflexibility in financial matters may be evidence of avarice or greed.
Sowing & Reaping Is Inescapable
In natural processes there is sowing, germination, blooming, and fruiting. This also applies to human will.
The results of one’s will develop like a tree that is rooted in one’s soul. Our nature in conjunction with the Laws of Creation (the Power of God) provides the nutrients.
The fruit will reflect the seed and the nutrients:
Either make the tree good,
and his fruit good;
or else make the tree corrupt,
and his fruit corrupt:
for the tree is known by his fruit.
— Matt 12:33
If our nature changes drastically, we will no longer supply nutrients to the tree, and it will wither. The harvest will be minimal by the time the tree matures.
The Wisdom & Love Of The Laws Of Creation
This highlights two important things:
- The Laws of Creation will always develop something out of our will. In a future essay we shall discuss Matthew 12:31 (“…But the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men“) and its connection with this process.
- The opportunity for forgiveness is built into Creation. Self-reformation automatically leads to reduced nourishment of evil and correspondingly reduced harvests.
lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge,
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The development of this “tree” is also influenced by the affected parties (the “adversaries”). If they forgive us for our misconduct, then there is no more development of the branches of the “tree” in that particular direction.
Mind Your Neighbour
But if the adversary is the average person, then we are not likely to be forgiven. Our faulty nature coupled with the attitude of the other party provides ample nutrients for the development of a tree bearing bad fruit.
The negative feelings generated by our poor conduct compound the already-developing effects of our stubborn volition.
This is all powered by the Laws of Creation, which are the judge.
and the judge deliver thee to the officer
Destiny Is Harvest
When harvest time approaches the spiritual activity crystallizes in visible material terms, evidencing the nature of the fruit e.g. we may meet someone who influences us to make a particular decision that leads to a consequential result; our schedule may change such as to force us to attend a particular event at which we are going to experience the harvest; etc.
This is what The Word likens to the officer: our material condition is shaped such that we become a captive of the impending material harvest.
and thou be cast into prison.
The Word makes a distinction between being delivered to the officer and being cast into prison.
For example: A man’s destiny has led to him buying a ticket to board an ill-fated flight, but there has been a change in his nature in the interim. Shortly before departure, his loving wife has a “bad feeling” about the trip and asks him to cancel. This is the opportunity for forgiveness. Of course, he remains free to stubbornly ignore her…
Reformation is the living road to forgiveness. Changing for the better positively influences the harvest, and is equivalent to “escaping from prison”.
The Laws of God simultaneously bring retribution and forgiveness i.e. Justice and Love. Our previous decisions combined with our present nature determine the outcome.
Today’s Resolution:
- We will give thanks to God for his wonderful Laws, which allow us to reap multiples of good while still granting the possibility of forgiveness for our wrong actions.
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