pg. 134-136
“”This is what we were talking about at breakfast,” she responded. “Let me begin by asking you a question. When something happens to you, how do you determine whether it is good or evil?” Mack thought for a moment before answering. “Well, I haven’t really thought about that. I guess I would say that something is good when I like it-when it makes me feel good or gives me a sense of security. Conversely, I’d call something evil that causes me pain or costs me something I want.” “So it is pretty subjective then?” “I guess it is.” “And how confident are you in your ability to discern what indeed is good for you, or what is evil?” “To be honest,” said Mack, “I tend to sound justifiably angry when somebody is threatening my ‘good,’ you know, what I think I deserve. But I’m not really sure I have any logical ground for deciding what is actually good or evil, except how something or someone affects me.” he paused to rest and catch his breath a moment. “All seems quite self-serving and self-centered, I suppose… “He hesitated before finishing his thought, but Sarayu interrupted. “Then it is you who determines good and evil. You become the judge. And to make things more confusing, that which you determine to be good will change over time and circumstance. And then beyond that and even worse, there are billions of you each determining what is good and what is evil. So when your good and evil clashes with your neighbor’s, fights and arguments ensue and even wars break out.”… “I can see now,” confessed Mack, “that I spend most of my time and energy trying to acquire what I have determined to be good, whether it’s financial security or health or retirement or whatever. And I spend a huge amount of energy and worry fearing what I’ve determined to be evil” Mack sighed deeply. “Such truth in that,” said Sarayu gently. “Remember this. It allows you to play God in your independence. That’s why a part of you prefers not to see me (she’s the Holy Spirit). And you don’t need me at all to create your list of good and evil. But you do need me if you have any desire to stop such an insane lust for independence.” “So is there a way to fix it?”asked Mack.” ” You must give up your right to decide what is good and evil on your own terms. That is a hard pill to swallow; choosing to only live in me. To do that you must know me enough to trust me and learn to rest in my inherent goodness.” Sarayu turned toward Mack; at least that was his impression. “Mackenzie, evil is a word we use to describe the absence of Good, just as we use the word darkness to describe the absence of Light or death to describe the absence of Life. Both evil and darkness can only be understood in relation to Light and Good; they do not have any actual existence. I am Light and I am Good. I am Love and there is no darkness in me. Light and Good actually exist. So, removing yourself from me will plunge you into darkness. Declaring independence will result in evil because apart from me, you can only draw upon yourself. That is death because you have separated yourself from me: Life.”
I thought this passage was challenging in regards to my thought life and how much of me is playing judge.
The latter half reminded me of the difference between believers and nonbelievers, and how much I died to my self-destructive independence. I find it fascinating that the mask of Independence looks so enticing- enough that our entire world bought into it, yet it is the very thing that leads to death. I daily need to be reminded who my Master truly is.
I didn’t take the part about removing yourself from Life literally, b/c according to the Word, God never gave us the power to draw in and out of his presence. Once a believer, John 10:28-29 confirms you will remain a believer by Gods power.
