I was listening to Baxter Kruger while walking. He is a theologian who was a student of Thomas Torrance in Scotland. Overall organised religion is a turnoff to me. Playing church is not a game I enjoy. I wish I could buy it, but my heart is not in it.
So Dr. Kruger is a breath of fresh air. One comment he made was about our enlightened state referring to how science and knowledge have brought us into a new era over the last hundred years or so (I am not a good historian so that hundred years is an estimate).
In all our knowledge we as individuals have been reduced to believing who and what we are make little or no difference in life or time. We believe in the insignificance of our beings (my quote not his). If that is true and I suspect it is, no wonder we have the mental issues and stress related symptoms of our day. Hopeless is as hopeless does.
Now the bright spot. Dr. Kruger says that is not true and in trinitarian thought the Father , Son and Holy Spirit invite us to share in their being. Which translated into our everyday lives means all the groaning and stresses we go through are all part of the creation coming to know Him. We aren't designed to play harps on clouds, or be placid waiting for GOD to take us off the shelf. He wants us to be one with Him.
My soul has rechewed for two years a statement that Torrance made, " The Trinity invites us to know them as they know themselves". I still can't explain that because I still don't perceive the depth of it. It is becoming visible in my minds eye though. Perhaps that is "salvation", our working out our relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
So if all that is true and I suspect it is, then we are important to our Creator. He invites us to relate to Him. Through the incarnation of Jesus Christ we have access to this relationship. While Jesus is the only begotten, we share equally as adopted sons and daughters in this relationship. We are not illegitimate bastards who stand trembling at the entrance of the mansion waiting to be summoned. We are loved by the Father, Son and Holy Spirit just as Jesus is loved. A relationship working itself out in creation to a grand fulfillment. Loving and learning to be loved. Wow!
I hope that isn't too wordy or heady, but I think that's why they call it the Good News!
Keep Walkin
Ron