the celestial way

The philosopher and evangelical writer, Dallas Willard, puts immortality in a way I very much admire when he speaks of living an eternal kind of life now and everyday. Rev. Tilden, in this morning's Leaflet, speaks of our "double immortality." "The celestial way is still open," faithful hearts are the key.

IMMORTALITY (Scripture Readings)

"AND leaving Nazareth, Jesus came and dwelt in Capernaum, . . . That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
Now, a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, . . . Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. . . .
Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. . . .
Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.
Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. . . .
For he is not a God of the dead, but of the Living: for all live 'unto him.

Matt. Iv. Luke xx. John xl.

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IMMORTALITY (Tilden's Meditation)

GREAT lives spring from great Faith. The golden hands on the great clock of nature never go back. The inspiring truth of man's double immortality, earthly and heavenly, having once been given to humanity, will never be let go. No season ever passes when some one may not say to a friend, "He whom thou lovest is sick;" but sickness, as Jesus says, is not unto death; for when the light of the glory of God falls upon it, it is transmuted into life. Death is not the dark valley, leading down ; but the bright archway, leading up. There is another continent beyond the sea. The map of this life suggests another life; it is needful to complete the sphere; both hemispheres of life are ours, and the sea does not separate, but unites. The celestial way is still open. Can anything but our faithless hearts close the gate ? Even they cannot quite close it; for light enough shines through, every time it opens, to make us say,
"Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief."

Blessings