What causes thoughts to arise? Desire and fear of the unknown, behaviour is largely a product of thinking. Everything done is preceded, accompanied and followed by thinking. The Bible puts the focus on the inner person, not his circumstances. James 1:14/15. Each one is tried by being drawn out and enticed by his own desire. Then the desire, when it has become fertile, gives birth to sin.

In the last days mankind will be lovers of themselves, money and pleasures. This inner conflict is called War in the Bible, and he who won this conflict did not trust his own strength but that of god.

Just like the body that needs healthy food, that needs to be chewed and well digested which takes time and effort. So does your mental body need healthy food to become spiritually sound. You need to chew on these words so they can be assimilated into the heart and mind. Matthew 4:4. whatever and whenever something is lovable, virtuous, praiseworthy, consider these things and god’s peace be with you. Continue to consider. Patience is needed for spiritual growth, it does not happen overnight, do this and in spirit I will be there.

I often come across people who tell me they are born again Christians, but what they are actually saying is, I stopped believing in Christ and personal experiences fitted my ideas on how it should be so I started to believe again.

John 3:5-7 holds a key here. The reference to being born of water and of Spirit. These are to be understood not as physical births but reveres to water and fire baptisms. Also note in 3:6 itself “That which is born of flesh is flesh; and that which is born of Spirit is Spirit”. Again note we have two different types of birth. This said, the same parable continues later to have Christ saying that he is speaking of “heavenly things”, i.e. things of Spirit. This rebirth is also the eternal life (John3:14). As you will see if you continue the reading of the passage, the context shifts away from the idea of a physical birth and towards the spiritual birth/awakening.

You will also notice that some, when confronted with this, will directly go into a defence mode or simply close off for it. Some will call it blind faith, I call it faith in self, in ego.

It will be clear that this illusionary self, ego, will fight for its survival, hold on to its self-created believes, yes they might use the very scriptures in their defence and say I follow what the Bible tells me, but they never discovered who this me really is. This me that translates what it reads by its own measuring rod.

This is often the same for scientists, they too are conditioned, their attitude towards non-scientist, the holding on to their own theories, their own gained knowledge, a unhealthy dose of pride, lust for power and fame. Some of you who have an interest in the research done on Bible codes etc. might have noticed fights such as that of Dan Winter and Stan Tenen, over intellectual property claims, copy rights, patents, they all dare to claim what is given to all.

I am the Lord, and there is no other. I have not spoken in secret, from somewhere in a land of darkness; I have not said to Jacob’s descendants, “Seek me in vain”. I, the Lord, speak the truth; I declare what is right. Isaiah 45:18c-19. The truth is not hidden at all, it is mankind that let himself be blinded.

I now like to move to a fashionable word that is often spoken of, “soul-mate”, by those who say to be spiritual.

Have you noticed a decline in divorce? None, it is likely to be higher than ever before. What is it that attracts you to the other? The physical and mental desires, some will say no, it is deeper than that( as in deeper because you cannot define it?). How would you be able to see if one is a soul-mate? Because you are on a similar growing curve? But if you could see then everyone you come across in your life has something to give you, something you can learn from. Do you know the deepest recesses of mind and body? What causes favourable taste? Like and dislike? You were so sure when you fell in love, what made you fall out of love? A true soul-mate is a unity on a spiritual level that is aware in the physical and mental also. Free but not a slave of the lower two. A love that has no condition attached to it . A love that is all forgiving and compassioned that claims nothing but gives all. The pain Christ suffered was not the physical pain they caused him, but the blindness that led to the act, because he knew the karmic law and the experiences they would need to go through before they could see, open their eyes and ears.

There are stories about students that fall in love with their guru/teacher, but the love that flows from a true teacher is not personal(think again where this word “personal” comes from).  It is not to feed the ego but to free the soul.

30-01-2008

Moshiya van den Broek