Bringing Good Out of Evil
Type of Event: Worship Service: Children & Adult
Date Recorded: August 08, 2010
Location: Ivyland New Church, PA
Topics: Bible / Word of God, Spiritual Freedom, Angels
The Lord allows the hells in the next life to lead the good into temptation, consequently to introduce falsities and evils. But at that time the Lord Himself is present directly - and by means of angels indirectly - with those undergoing temptation and is offering resistance by refuting the falsities of the spirits from hell and dispersing their evil. From this come renewal, hope, and victory. In this way the truths of faith and forms of the good of charity present with those who are governed by the truths of good are implanted more deeply and strengthened more firmly.
The spirits who bring about temptations intend nothing but evil. But the Divine turns that evil into good, in accord with order existing from eternity; and life is thereby imparted to those governed by the truths of good. For it should be recognized that the spirits from hell who are allowed to attack the good in that way intend nothing but evil. They wish with all their might to drag them down from heaven and cast them into hell; for to destroy anyone's soul, thus to destroy him forever, is the sheer delight of their life. But they are not allowed by the Lord to do anything at all except for the sake of the end that good may come out of it, that is to say, so that truth and good may be made firmer and stronger with those who undergo temptation. In the entire spiritual world there reigns the end in view, emanating from the Lord, that nothing whatever should take place, not even the smallest thing, except in order that good may come out of it. This is why the Lord's kingdom is called a kingdom of ends and useful purposes. (Heavenly Secrets #6574)
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Lessons and text
Exodus 1:1-14; Psalm 126; Arcana Coelestia (AC) 6663
(AC 4493, 6574, 6663, 8478, 8560)
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