Chapter 4 - Removing Your Worldly Outer Layer
The Price Paid
Genesis 1:9-10 - “Then God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so. 10 And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good.”
Linking Genesis 1:9-10 to the concept of leaving the "old worldly you" behind involves examining the symbolism of creation and change. In these verses, God commands the waters beneath the sky to gather in one place, revealing dry land.
This act of creation entailed separating and arranging the chaotic, indistinct waters, thereby establishing order and clear boundaries. The dry land then transforms into a space suitable for habitation, and life flourishes.
The symbolism of leaving the old self behind represents personal transformation and spiritual renewal. It involves recognizing and letting go of negative habits, harmful desires, and previous ways of life where you made poor choices.
Just as God divides the waters to reveal dry land, this signifies a conscious act of distancing ourselves from what blocks growth and embracing a new identity.
The connection between the two ideas highlights how the land-water division serves as an analogy for personal transformation. The earth's formless and empty condition can symbolize a chaotic or unproductive phase in a person's life, marked by negative habits or influences.
God's command, "let the dry land appear," can represent the choice and action to create space for a more meaningful and fruitful way of living. Moving on from the "old you" involves intentionally separating from past behaviors and mindsets to make way for a renewed self, just as dry land surfaced from the waters.
Both concepts underscore the importance of deliberate separation and boundaries in establishing the conditions necessary for new beginnings and growth. Ultimately, they depict a transformative process driven by separation and the creation of order, opening the door to growth and renewal.
This passage illustrates the act of separating and organizing to establish order and purpose. Just as God discerned the good in His creation, when preparing to sort and sell items, you need to assess their current usefulness as well as their value. This includes evaluating their condition, recognizing their potential worth, and deciding which things are appropriate and not appropriate for sale.
Gathering waters and revealing dry land can be compared to sorting items you plan to sell from those you will keep. This process helps you concentrate on the goal of the sale. Just as God named and designated functions for the dry land and seas, when you sell items, you assign a purpose – to be sold – and set a price that reflects the item's value, helping it find a new owner and serve a new purpose.
Seeing the "Good" in the Sale: Purging items that clutter up areas of your home is freeing mentally and physically. The thought of wanting to lighten your load and actually doing it provides an incredible sense of accomplishment, skyrocketing your self-esteem. Just as God considered His creation to be good, removing unwanted items can be seen as a positive action. It helps you declutter your space, allows others to buy items they need at a great price, and lets you earn a little extra money in the process. This creates a win-win-win situation.
Presentation is key! Organize and clean items to boost their appeal to buyers. Clearly indicate prices and group similar items under a single price sign to streamline the process.
Be ready to discuss prices with buyers, especially for costly items. Consider offering discounts as the day continues to move remaining items. By planning carefully, setting thoughtful prices, and focusing on maximizing sales and decluttering benefits, you create a meaningful connection to the themes of order and purpose seen in creation stories.
Who influences you?
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How and why? (for better or worse?)
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Do you know what your purpose in life is?
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Negative habits (past and present) that need to be purged:
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Harmful thoughts/desires you need to get control of:
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What price will you ultimately have to pay to free yourself of all this negativity you picked up along the way?
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Brain Teaser:
Genesis 1:9-10 - “Then God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so. 10 And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good.”
This section speaks of the waters under the heavens being gathered. How do you picture heaven? Do you envision it as having more than one layer? Are there other Bible verses to consider? Interesting.
What do you think?
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Google AI Overview states
The Bible describes three heavens: the atmospheric heaven (where birds fly), the heavenly space (where the sun, moon, and stars are), and the third heaven (God's dwelling place). The firmament, often translated as "expanse" or "vault," is the sky that separates the waters above from the waters below.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
- First Heaven: This refers to the atmosphere, the space where birds fly.
- Second Heaven: This is the vast expanse of space where the sun, moon, and stars are located.
- Third Heaven: This is considered the highest heaven, the dwelling place of God.
- The Firmament (Rakia): In the Genesis account, the firmament is created on the second day to separate the waters above from the waters below. It is often depicted as a solid dome or vault.
Google AI Overview provides the following picture to explain the text provided above
