The Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
Genesis 2:7
Dear members and friends,
Who are we as humans? What is our purpose on earth? These are two questions we have been asking since the dawn of our self-consciousness. From ancient Mesopotamia to ancient India to ancient Egypt, people wondered and asked what makes humans to be humans. They all seemed to acknowledge that humans are not merely part of the physical world, but more. The Bible gives two explicit hints regarding the specialness of being humans: we are made in the image of the Creator according to the Divine likeness (Genesis 1); we became living beings by receiving the breath of life from the Creator (Genesis 2). What do these hints mean? If we are to accept these as what make us special, then the purpose of our life here on earth could become clearer and more comprehensible.
After creating the physical universe, according to Swedenborg, the Creator made beings who could be the connecting bridges between inner reality and outer reality by having a dual existence in their life’s journey. In a way, humans serve the grand design of the Creator by simply living a full life as it is given to them, because their existence itself supports the interconnectedness and interdependence of spiritual reality and physical reality. However, there is a way of living that could be more fulfilling for oneself, while there is a way of living that could be fundamentally meaningless. According to the Bible, the former is done by enacting caring, kindness, fairness, and justice in their life, while the later becomes real by choosing selfishness, greed, unfairness, and cruelty.
My brothers and sisters in God, let us take a moment of prayer this week. Let us find a quiet time and space, opening our hearts and minds to the inflow of the Divine Presence and guidance. Let us listen deeply to the voice of our Creator. Blessings,
Rev. Junchol Lee