Eternal Vigilance

2000-1-2 23:00:00

Sterling writes:

"I have to take strong exception with you on this one.

"The price of freedom is eternal vigilance. It is precisely the awareness of the bad that COULD happen that keeps it from happening when appropriate measures are taken.

"Take Y2K for example. Right now it looks like nothing substantial will materialize on this (though we are hardly out of the woods on it). You might say therefore that all the hype was a waste of time. The truth is that all the hype is what got us sufficiently prepared that this is so far turning out to be a non-event."

JJ
Sterling, my friend, I think we are in complete harmony here. It is entirely appropriate that the world be made aware of the problem. Any problem must be recognized before it can be solved, and if Y2K did create chaos then it would have opened a window for the dark brothers. On a personal level there was little I could do about it except prepare, if necessary and my inner self told me that personal preparations were unnecessary. On a worldwide level tremendous effort had to be made by those who were involved.

It is entirely possible that those who sounded the alarm, such as yourself, roused those in power to focus more needed attention on the problem. I might add that the $600,000,000,000 invested in the solution didn't hurt either.

Sterling:
"Another example I will site is how back in 1992 there were a huge number of people, in the circles I am familiar with, who were anticipating a Soviet First Strike on our country. That didn't happen. If I hear you correctly, your response is that we were foolish to think such a thing would happen, and to pour so much energy and resources into preparing for that eventuality which didn't eventualize.

"I would argue strongly that this nation was indeed poised on the brink at that time and such a thing very well could have happened, but that it was because of the repentance and preparedness on the part of a sufficient core of people that averted it from happening.

"I bet this has happened over and over with various threats."

JJ
When I spoke of worries that never happened, I didn't mean to imply that the nuclear threat in 1992 or the many others through the years such as the Cuban Missile Crisis from Russia was not something that needed to be dealt with at the time. But if we could have seen the future back then we could have all avoided a lot of worry over it. My point was that we often spend a lot of unnecessary energy worrying over something we can do nothing about and in the end nothing happens anyway. This was also the point Jesus was making.

As far as the tension of war or weapons of mass destruction goes anyone who has any power or influence in the matter should do all they can to neutralize the situation.

I believe that Project Peace and Goodwill, which presents an actual solution, will give the average person an opportunity to help by promoting it.

There are many illusionary scary predictions that are always out there that are centered in illusion, and I'm sure you will admit that if we buy in them all and let them all worry us, they are likely to make kooks out of the best of us. The popular one now is that about half of the world is going to sink underwater in the next couple years. Actually, it was already supposed to be happening but they keep moving up the date.

Sterling
"You yourself spoke of how the rise of Hitler very well could have played out to a full fulfillment of Rev. 13, but that the Western World rose to the occasion and defeated this enemy of freedom and righteousness.

"It is our vigilance that keeps us safe, not precarious. You have this one backwards.

"Now is hardly the time to get off our guard and stop worrying about what might happen and prepare for it."

JJ
I have always stressed being vigilant, but one of my points is to pierce the cloud of illusion and become vigilant toward real threats where such vigilance can make a difference. The real threats, not centered in illusion, are the weapons of mass destruction and the hatred that is out there because of religious and cultural differences. This is the time to do all in our power to bring the nations together in a peaceful way working through their free will.

My point about the ceasing of worry is this: Seek first the Kingdom of God and come into the Oneness Principle where you will only be concerned about what the Spirit tells you to be concerned with. Now with me, as an individual, the Spirit did not tell me to be concerned over Y2K. It does tell me to be concerned over the threat of the extinction of civilization and to do all in my power to prevent it.

Many fundamentalists have the idea that Jesus is going to show up and exterminate the wicked and somehow force everyone to live in peace. The scriptures are true, but the second coming will not take place as they expect. The picture of bringing peace by killing everyone, who doesn't accept you, is of the adversary indeed.

We must take individual responsibility for our destiny as beings in the image of God, but my whole point was to seek within for guidance through the Spirit, so each of us will know our own part. Then if we play that part successfully, we will be told what to do for the highest good of the whole, and if we follow it, there will be no need to worry, even if the worst should happen on a personal level.

By the way your quote "The price of freedom is eternal vigilance" is one of my favorites.