Day Seven: Growing into Heaven
New Church Foundation
- To grow old in heaven is to grow young.
Readings
"The church is said to be where the Lord is acknowledged and where the Word is, for the essentials of the church are love and faith in the Lord from the Lord; and the Word teaches how people must live that they may receive love and faith from the Lord." (The New Jerusalem 242)
"Those who receive heaven from the Lord are the ones who have heaven in themselves, for heaven is in people, as the Lord also teaches: The kingdom of God is in you (Luke 17:21)." (The New Jerusalem 233)
"Eternal happiness, which is also called heavenly joy, is imparted to those who are in love and faith in the Lord, from the Lord. This is because this love and faith have that joy in them. The people who have heaven in them come into it after death. Meanwhile it lies hidden in their internal level. In the heavens there is a communion of all goods. There the peace, the intelligence, the wisdom, and the happiness of all are communicated to each; yet to everyone according to his or her reception of love and faith from the Lord. Hence it may appear how great the peace, intelligence, wisdom and happiness in heaven is." (New Jerusalem 236)