The God-spell
(The Gospel)
A journal entry from RA YUKAWA.
I grew up Christian and I still consider myself Christian, as well as Sufi Muslim, Yoruba Ifa, Ancient Kemetic, Shinto Buddhist—really, just an omnist, but those specific religions are the ones of my ancestors so I honour them most. As a whole, I call my religious practise Yukawa. I revere my body, my ancestors, scripture / written or spoken word, nature, and love, above all; I feel that it’s through these things that I truly remember my oneness with GOD. I’ve studied and practised directly under elders, priest(esse)s, preachers, and so forth, from the aforementioned belief systems, or at least visited their holy houses for prayer or meditation. I’ve also wholeheartedly laid down my sajjāda and made ṣalāh, or did Kemetic yoga, in the grass somewhere.
I really believe in GOD.
One GOD.
And for me, my spirituality is the most important thing in this world.
You’ll see all of this expressed in the following journal entry, as I share my musings on The Holy Bible. Keep it in mind, as you read. These are my own thoughts, from my own growing relationship with GOD, my own personal faith, being shared through The Alkhemey Of Temptation. Take what moves your spirit and leave the rest. Feel free to leave entirely, or share your own thoughts. Whatever you decide to do, however you feel, it’s all love from me.
Never limit yourself because of others’ limited imagination; never limit others because of your own limited imagination. Mae Jemison
I’ve been craving The Bible.
My first Bible was a Zondervan published New International Version HOLY BIBLE “With Helps” and “Words of Christ in Red Letter”, gifted to me by my mother on 22 June 2003. I was 10 years old. It’s the only Bible I’ve owned since. I used to read it piously. At one point, I carried it with me everywhere I went—and it ain’t pocket-sized. To say I loved that Bible was an understatement, and to say I loved it in past tense is inaccurate. I still love that Bible, to this day. It’s not the gold that adorns the edge of the pages, the red lettering, the plum leather-like cover, the neatly lined footnotes, nor the Comfort Print typeface, no—although, I definitely love those things—it’s the simple but powerful fact that my mum gifted it to me.
To be gifted, by anyone, holy text, of any kind, is the most beautiful thing to me. But to be presented with The Bible? My family’s religious scripture of choice? By my mother? My mother. Yeah, I knew I’d forever cherish it with my life from that day forward, and I have.
I was also gifted The Meaning of The Holy Qur’ān (translated with commentary by ‘Abdullah Yūsuf ‘Alī) from the owner of my mom’s favourite beauty supply store. I think I was initially meant to borrow it, but I had held onto it for so long that by the time I went to return it to Abdul, he said, “No, it’s for you. You keep it,” expressing the importance of that particular text that he was gifting me with.
I’ll deeply immerse myself into a study of the Qur’ān soon come—maybe weaving it into this new study of the Bible.
I cherish that book from Abdul with my life too.
I’ve learned a lot since I received my first Bible. With my collage of religious practises, you could say I’ve walked with GOD throughout much of the world, living an expansive life with so many experiences and relationships of all kinds. Footsteps in sands of many different tongues and ways of prayer which have all brought me full circle, back to the heart of 10 year-old Rasquiat…
I want to reconnect with Christia—no, discover and build my own Christianity, reconnecting with the part of my faith where the name Jesus breaks all strongholds keeping you from loving life courageously.
No weapon. ISA 54:17
I was casually speaking with my best friend, Chanel, and something compelled me to ask her, “Do you wanna study The Bible with me?” A little taken aback, she paused for a moment before replying, “That’s crazy… I bought this really nice Bible a while back, because I wanted to get back to studying, and I haven’t even picked it up once… Yeah, that’s funny you asked.”
Kismet.
Resolved by the synchronicity, I said, “Let’s do it. I need to get a new Bible though. I want something that I can deeply study with, something with historical context, study plans, maybe areas for journalling. I wanna really get into it.” As an adult, in this fully grown era of my life, I felt like it was time for a new Bible—of course, keeping the old one, but shifting my study into the new. I had been planning on going to the local Christian bookstore and seeing what Spirit moved me to get. But Spirit moved through Chanel, “Then you’d really like the Bible I have.” She shared the layout and content structure of her Bible and I was sold. It was exactly what I wanted. For it to be recommended by her, my Ace, that sealed the deal even tighter for me.
We scrolled Amazon and found the version of her Bible that was tailored towards a more masculine-presenting person like myself. I said, “That’s the one.” Before I could even check the price, she added it to her cart and ordered it for me.
Now, for the first time in 22 years, I have a new Bible—another divine gift of sacred Word, bestowed upon me by another person most near and dear to me.
This Bible is what I’ll be studying from throughout the course of this year, as I share my musings. I’ve decided to share my religious thoughts here because this is my sacrosanct realm of all things spiritual, a wonderland of the depths of my mind, and a map for reconnecting with truth. I hope that as you follow along, you develop a deeper understanding of my spirituality, thoughts on theology, and philosophical approach to life, which may in turn help you better grasp The Alkhemey Of Temptation—its memoir entries, in particular.
So, finally picking up my He Reads Truth Bible, I read the Introduction—beautifully written—and the How to Read the Bible section that followed. But as I got into What Is the Gospel?, deeper thoughts emerged…
Here’s what I read that moved me.
CREATION
Here are my thoughts.
(In roman numerals)
CREATION
God is the infinite, eternal Creator of all things. HEB 11:3
I feel this to be the only absolute truth there is, if there’s anything absolute. And not only is GOD the infinite, eternal Creator, but the boundless, limitless Destroyer. This reminds me of Islam, in which GOD (Allah swt) has 99 names (Al-Asma ul-Husna), or to me, 99 faces—one being, al-Mumeet (Al-Mumīt), which means “The Destroyer, The Bringer of Death” or “The Creator of Death”.
God created the heavens and the earth, and He made them all good. GN 1:1-31
With that said, I believe They (GOD) created the heavens and the earth, and may also destroy them. Likewise, They made all things good, as well as bad. GOD is The Source—of light, darkness, and everything in between.
God created mankind in His own image and likeness. GN 1:27
Since GOD is the Source of everything, The All Mirror (our perception of ourselves and our lives) through which we exist is of godliness, or in other words, the blueprint of who we are in our most inherent state is godly, having been fleshed out in GOD’s own image and likeness.
Being physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually made to be like and of GOD—who’s Ruler of the Heavens and is essentially heaven itself—it only makes sense to me that we come into this world already equipped with the keys to Their kingdom, meaning, we have the ability to attain or become heaven within and through our bodies, minds, and souls while here on earth (which I see as hell, or a location-based expression of it, because remember, “They made all things good, as well as bad. GOD is The Source—of light, darkness, and everything in between.”)
Hold on, let me bring it all together…
We were created to love, obey, worship, and be in a relationship with God, our Maker. MC 6:8
Heaven possibly has a “location-based expression”, such as what is described in Revelations as pearly gates and streets of gold, but the common consensus I’ve been able to find throughout The Bible, and within the studying of my other religions, is that heaven is a state of transcendence, of being or becoming, a rebirth, a release from everything but GOD. It is the experience and reward of simply being with The All. This is something that is beyond the need to be manifested outside of ourselves in a physical manner, it just is. Like love. Expansive, not restricted by silly laws of nature. Ha!
And this is why I feel that heaven is not exactly somewhere we go to after we die, but something we realise while alive, in our mind-state, our words, and our actions. This is the ultimate love story and the most magnificent romance of all. We were created to be in accordance with, in harmony with, in communion with, in love (to expand, grow, or evolve) with GOD. Here and now.
Likewise, hell is the here and now, in your mind-state, words, and actions. The “weeping and gnashing of teeth” is a reality on earth for many. Some won’t realise heaven within themselves and will return to their old earthly living (hell), sent back to a body with the same karmic debts (hell), or the same mind-state, words, and actions wherein they’re only “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (hell). This actuality of hell is the biggest spiritual tongue-in-cheek of all.
Here I stand.
DESTRUCTION
I find myself on a path of destruction, destroying any and every notion that keeps me from walking in the truth that the kingdom of heaven is within me (as well as on me), all around me, and is, essentially, me. I am heaven, because I am of the I Am. PS 23:4-6
Knowing and understanding this, I get to think as if I do. 2 CO 10:5
I am able to speak as if I do. IS 49:2
And act, in accordance with, in harmony with, in communion with, in love with GOD, PR 3:5-6
because, again, I AM.
More of my journal entries from my studies will surface in divine time. Thank you for following along with me. And remember that more than your eyes and mind, I’d like your tongue and soul—tell me what you know in your bones to be so.
