Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Theologically, this capacity for meaningful, conscious engagement with the divine future is rooted in the breaking in of eternal life into the temporal realm. As Jesus prays in John 17:3, "This is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent," indicating that eternal life begins here and now through relationship with God. The Spirit dwelling within believers (Romans 8:11) makes divine realities accessible, transforming how they perceive and experience the world. Meditation, then, becomes a deliberate act—an intentional choice to "step through the wardrobe" into this other realm by immersing oneself in Scripture and prayer, illuminating the unseen. The mystics of the early church and the medieval period, such as Bernard of Clairvaux in his sermons on the Song of Songs, describe similar spiritual journeys—ascents into union with God—that reshape the soul’s affections, making worldly pleasures secondary. This emotional transformation creates what might be called a " dimension": a heightened awareness where finite things are seen from the perspective of eternity, as signs pointing toward divine purpose rather than mere utility. Drawing inspiration from C.S. Lewis's allegory in *The Chronicles of Narnia*, meditation on Scripture can be seen as opening a door—like the wardrobe—through which believers enter a realm of divine mystery. This passage isn't about escaping reality but intentionally crossing into a sacred space, a "Narnia" representing a foretaste of the coming kingdom. Such moments are akin to prophetic previews of heavenly glory, as described in Hebrews 6:4–5, where believers have "tasted the heavenly gift" and experienced "the powers of the age to come." These encounters go beyond mere mental agreement; they inspire a deep, transformative excitement rooted in divine joy rather than fleeting worldly pleasures. The challenge then becomes: how does one remain rooted in the present world while focusing on eternity, so that spiritual joy surpasses temporary desires? Augustine’s reflection in *Confessions* (Book X) echoes this, suggesting that true rest is only found in God—"You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they find rest in you." Human purpose (telos) ultimately directs us toward divine fulfillment. This view holds that these meditative experiences are real in their ontological impact—they genuinely transform the soul, not just produce illusions. Regularly crossing this spiritual threshold cultivates a vision where earthly and eternal realities remain distinct yet interconnected: the finite world is shaped by the eternal, and glimpses of divine truth break into ordinary life. Such moments of transcendence, verified by spiritual writings like Jonathan Edwards’s *Religious Affections*, show that authentic divine encounters produce lasting joy and reorient desires, exceeding anything the world can offer. Therefore, the practice of intentional meditation isn't merely about seeking comfort but about fundamentally reshaping one’s entire existence—allowing the eternal to intrude into and redefine the boundaries of human experience. The idea that human life exists in a liminal state—being caught between two fundamentally different realities—resonates deeply within Christian teachings on the end times and mystical spiritual traditions. This duality isn't just a philosophical concept; it plays out at the level of conscious awareness, where a person moves through the temporary, limited world while simultaneously catching glimpses of the eternal realm beyond. For example, in Psalm 139:18 (in the Hebrew tradition), the psalmist expresses this closeness to God with the words, "When I awake, I am still with you," highlighting how God's presence continually sustains and energizes the believer. God's Word functions as a constant, life-giving force—so integral that it doesn't require repeated acts of salvation to remain effective. Instead, it works quietly within the believer's inner life, much like an unconscious process during sleep that only becomes consciously evident upon awakening. This idea aligns with the teaching in 1 John 3:9, which states that "God's seed remains in him," indicating that divine life is implanted within, growing through spiritual practices such as meditation and contemplation. This divine seed bridges initial spiritual rebirth with ongoing sanctification, creating a continuous transformation.

No comments:

Post a Comment