Changes

==Session 9==

==Session 9==

*03/10/92 Tuesday a.m., Melchizedek's parting message to Virginia on the eve of Eric's departure from the Fort Lauderdale trip:

*03/10/92 Tuesday a.m., [[Melchizedek]]'s parting [[message]] to Virginia on the eve of Eric's departure from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Lauderdale,_Florida Fort Lauderdale] trip:

===Lesson===

===Lesson===

Many modern people think that the Heavenly Father is remote, that thousands of years ago He was active in the people's lives, but following a series of remarkable events He has withdrawn from the world. They think that perhaps His test is complete and now all that remains for the people is to pass His muster and meet in heaven. This is far from the truth. In fact, the Father's participation has increased in the world, although it is also true that if the lives of the people are consumed with worldly things and selfish pursuits, then it is difficult to find the Father. He lives in and through each person, a direct participant in the decisions and consequences of your daily life. He does this for two reasons. First, although He is omniscient -- knows all -- there is a difference between knowing something and experiencing something. You well know the advantages of experience compared to theoretical knowledge. How much more so for our great God! You see, the Father has His own unique problems. He made everything, including the power of free will choice, which not even He will overrule, and choice means that error is possible, even sin. Yet He cannot know either error or sin, because He is all good. By intimately participating in your life, then, He can experience the consequences of error -- and occasionally, sin -- and thereby know what is going on in His creation. You are actually providing Him a service, and allowing Him to become more understanding and more powerful.

Many [[modern]] people think that the [[Heavenly Father]] is remote, that thousands of years ago He was [[active]] in the people's lives, but following a [[series]] of remarkable [[events]] He has withdrawn from the world. They [[think]] that perhaps His test is complete and now all that remains for the people is to pass His muster and meet in [[heaven]]. This is far from the [[truth]]. In [[fact]], [[the Father]]'s [[participation]] has increased in the world, although it is also true that if the lives of the people are consumed with worldly things and [[selfish]] pursuits, then it is [[difficult]] to find [[the Father]]. He lives in and through each [[person]], a direct [[participant]] in the [[decisions]] and [[consequences]] of your daily life. He does this for two reasons. First, although He is [[omniscient]] -- knows all -- there is a [[difference]] between knowing something and [[experiencing]] something. You well know the [[advantages]] of [[experience]] compared to [[theoretical]] [[knowledge]]. How much more so for our great [[God]]! You see, [[the Father]] has His own [[unique]] problems. He made [[everything]], including the [[power]] of [[free will]] choice, which not even He will overrule, and [[choice]] means that [[error]] is possible, even [[sin]]. Yet He cannot know either error or sin, because He is all [[good]]. By [[intimately]] [[participating]] in your life, then, He can [[experience]] the [[consequences]] of error -- and occasionally, [[sin]] -- and thereby know what is going on in His [[creation]]. You are actually providing Him a [[service]], and allowing Him to become more [[understanding]] and more [[powerful]].

Second, although He has created the ranks of the angels, cherubim, seraphim, and others, to perform different functions in the administration of heaven, those creatures are fundamentally different from you. They are created in perfection and even though they grow in experience they do not basically change. You are not like them. You people evolved from animals. Each of you passes the full range of life progress in the gestation process. Upon conception, you begin as a single-cell organism, and race through all the stages. Your scientists have observed nearly all the steps in this process, and can easily estimate the remainder. You pass through multi-celled, fish-like, amphibian-like, reptile-like -- all the pattern forms of animal on your world. Each of you is an example of evolution unfolding in its mystery. Each of you begins as animal and evolves into human. You could not be less like God, except that you have a quality that is especially dear to Him. The angels and other spirit ministers -- the perfect ones -- are His servants, but you are His family. That is why He calls you His children, and calls Himself Father. You are His family, and He has no other.

Second, although He has created the [[Paper 39 - The Seraphic Hosts|ranks of the angels]], [[cherubim]], [[seraphim]], and others, to perform [[different]] functions in the [[administration]] of heaven, those creatures are fundamentally different from you. They are created in [[perfection]] and even though they grow in [[experience]] they do not basically [[change]]. You are not like them. You people evolved from [[animals]]. Each of you passes the full range of life [[progress]] in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gestation gestation] process. Upon [[conception]], you begin as a single-[[cell]] [[organism]], and race through all the [[stages]]. Your [[scientists]] have observed nearly all the steps in this [[process]], and can easily estimate the remainder. You pass through [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-cellular multi-celled], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fish fish]-like, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphibian amphibian]-like, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptile reptile]-like -- all the pattern forms of [[animal]] on your world. Each of you is an example of [[evolution]] unfolding in its [[mystery]]. Each of you begins as [[animal]] and evolves into [[human]]. You could not be less like [[God]], except that you have a [[quality]] that is especially dear to Him. The [[angels]] and other spirit ministers -- the [[perfect]] ones -- are His servants, but you are His [[family]]. That is why He calls you His [[children]], and calls Himself Father. You are His [[family]], and He has no other.

And because He loves you, and wants you to grow and succeed, He sent His son, Jesus, to serve as an example and to serve as a bridge between the perfect and the imperfect. The son Jesus lived a fully human life -- the complete range of creature experience -- just like you. Therefore he can now say that none approach the Father, except through him. The life that Jesus lived was perfectly pleasing to his Father. He traveled about, teaching that the people should love one another and he called all people Brother and Sister. He taught that the kingdom is freely available to all. No person is barred. This disturbed the religious authorities, who had only a dim idea of the afterlife. All the Jews, even the apostles, expected the Messiah to restore the earthly kingdom. So the authorities schemed against him, and caused him to suffer an agonizing, humiliating death. He endured the entire terrible ordeal, to prove that it could be done; and he arose again, to prove that it could be done. So too shall these events take place for you, for God has not abandoned you. Far from it.

And because He [[loves]] you, and wants you to [[grow]] and succeed, He sent His son, [[Jesus]], to serve as an example and to serve as a bridge between the [[perfect]] and the imperfect. The son [[Jesus]] lived a fully [[human]] life -- the complete range of [[creature]] [[experience]] -- just like you. Therefore he can now say that none approach [[the Father]], except through him. The life that [[Jesus]] lived was perfectly pleasing to his Father. He [[traveled]] about, [[teaching]] that the people should love one another and he called all people Brother and Sister. He taught that [[the kingdom]] is freely available to all. No person is barred. This disturbed the [[religious]] [[authorities]], who had only a dim [[idea]] of the [[afterlife]]. All the [[Jews]], even [[the apostles]], expected the [[Messiah]] to restore the earthly kingdom. So the [[authorities]] schemed against him, and caused him to [[suffer]] an agonizing, humiliating [[death]]. He [[endured]] the entire terrible [[ordeal]], to prove that it could be done; and he arose again, to prove that it could be done. So too shall these [[events]] take place for you, for [[God]] has not [[abandoned]] you. Far from it.

 

Each day He awaits the [[time]] that you spend [[together]], in [[prayer]], and He has asked His servants to arrange help for you in the [[difficult]] times, especially the passage from this life to the [[afterlife]]. [[The Father]] is never too [[busy]]; He always has time for His [[children]]. He is a [[good]] [[father]] -- the best that could ever be. Each of you must make this transit to the [[afterlife]]. This [[body]] is holding you back. Look how much time has been thus far spent in supporting this body. In the [[afterlife]] you will have a [[glorified]] body, like the body of [[Jesus]] after his [[resurrection]]. Some of his closest associates failed to [[immediately]] recognize him, but it was him nonetheless. There is a point in life where you [[realize]] that this [[material]] body is an impediment to you, that you cannot soar while chained to this earthly [[body]]. It is not a matter of deciding to die -- it is deciding to live! That will set you [[free]]. That [[moment]], that [[decision]], is the beginning of your new life, and the ministers rush to your aid. You will be working with them a long time, accompanied by [[friends]] and [[family]], in the [[embrace]] of [[divine]] [[love]] and [[guidance]]. That is true [[freedom]].

==Session 10==

==Session 10==

*March 15, 1992

*March 15, 1992