I was blessed to have several children and love and observe each one. The longer I see them, the more convinced I am that their behavior is more intimately tied to what they came here with, rather than the good or bad environment in which they’re raised.
In one tradition, Zion was established only after the most wicked people were killed during a massive upheaval of the earth. If this is true, then consider that being in the presence of God, and establishing a perfectly just and equitable society, or in other words, being raised in a harmonious environment, would not sufficiently alter the determination of “the wicked” to turn it into another selfish, rancorous nightmare.
Death can be looked up on as a punishment for the wicked. The pains and fear of death can also be an opportunity to transcend the ego-centric, fear-based life which that individual leads. It can be looked on as a regeneration, rather than a punishment.
The same can be said for working out the emotions, anger, selfishness, “possessions” or “generational curses” that we experience in life, that put us into a rut, or bog of the same behavior. During our lives, letting death come to things that ought to die in us is regenerative, renewing and additive, rather than the opposite. It is like having a sickness where you feel miserable and close to death for days, and one morning you wake up with dried sweat, the sun is shining, you feel amazing, and now have an immunity to the disease that took you.
While coming into the presence of God may be fearful (like the Israelites who shrunk from the mount and would not go up when invited) and may feel like being submerged into a lake of fire and brimstone as we consider what we really are, but the being who “cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance” cleans you up, regenerates you, elevates your vision, and brings you closer in the orbit of Christ.
Dickens’ archetypal character Arthur Clennam in Little Dorrit, was not so much a product of his familial situation (though I believe it’s troubles further helped him gain his own clarity) as he was a product of many opportunities of death and regeneration.
Breathings 