THEOSISGregory the Great
If He disturbs everything or unites them, who can stand against Him? Or who is able to question Him, saying, Why do You act this way? Job 11:10. The Lord 'destroys the heavens' when, in His awe-inspiring yet hidden ways, He diminishes human contemplation's heights. He 'devastates hell' when He permits an individual's soul, gripped by temptations, to plunge into the depths of despair. He 'ruins the earth' when adverse circumstances hinder the fruits of good deeds from flourishing. He 'disturbs the sea' when the instability of our spirit is amplified by sudden fears. The heart, troubled by its own doubts, fears everything and thus finds itself in a state of indecision; it resembles an agitated sea when our fear of God is further exacerbated by the terror of His judgment.
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Having briefly outlined how the heavens, hells, earth, and seas may be 'devastated,' a more challenging task now arises in demonstrating how they may be 'united.'
Frequently, the spirit has raised the mind to divine heights, yet the flesh weighs it down with temptations; when the soul strives for heavenly realities, the flesh retaliates, revealing ungodly behaviors. The afflictions of the body suddenly strike those who, through holy contemplation, have transcended it. Thus, heaven and hell are intertwined when the same mind is both illuminated by the uplifting of contemplation and obscured by the burden of temptation; the soul, drawn to divine aspirations, also grapples with troubling thoughts of shame due to its earthly struggles. For the light draws us heavenward, while the darkness of hell restrains us. Heaven and hell are thereby linked when a soul, perceiving the light shining above, simultaneously grapples with the shadows brought on by fleshly challenges. Consider Paul, who had ascended to the splendor of the third heaven and uncovered the mysteries of Paradise, yet remained vulnerable to bodily temptations, lamenting, But I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. Rom. 7:23. What then characterized this eminent preacher's heart, if not that God 'bound' heaven and hell within him? He had already been granted the illumination of spiritual vision while still enduring the darkness of his physical nature. He discerned the joy of divine pursuits above him, while within, he recognized the cause for mourning due to his fears. Although the light of the heavenly realm had begun to shine upon him, the shadows of temptation obscured his soul. Thus, he navigated both hell and heaven, as his enlightenment uplifted him while his lamentations pulled him down into despair.
Moreover, it often occurs that faith remains strong within a soul, yet it encounters moments of doubt; thus, it finds itself both firmly anchored in belief, aspiring toward eternal truths, while simultaneously succumbing to uncertainty that brings alarm at times. Frequently, the mind ascends to seek eternal things, only to falter at the emergence of troubling thoughts, resulting in a conflict within itself. Consequently, 'earth and sea are linked together' when the same mind, rooted in the certainty of faith, is also stirred by the winds of doubt, stemming from minor fluctuations. Did not the heart of one who, although hopeful through faith yet wavering due to disbelief, proclaim, Lord, I believe; help my unbelief? Mk. 9:24. Why did he declare his belief and simultaneously seek assistance for his doubts, if not because he had come to recognize that 'earth and sea were entangled' in his thoughts, believing enough to plead through faith while also struggling with the tempest of disbelief?
It is allowed, under divine providence, that when a soul begins to be fortified in righteousness, it may be thwarted by remnants of its past wickedness, providing an opportunity for either strengthening righteousness through resistance or, if enticed by pleasures, falling away from it. This speaks precisely to the point: If He upheaves everything or ties them together, who can stand against Him? Or who may challenge Him, saying, Why do You carry out such actions? For the decree of God cannot be contested by anyone's objection nor can it be affirmed by pleas when He either withdraws the grace He has generously bestowed or permits a person to yield to evil inclinations without completely removing that grace. The heart often swells with pride when buoyed by examples of success; yet when our Creator discerns the lurking pride within, He retracts support, revealing to a person the truth of their own nature and helping them realize how mistakenly self-assured they have been. Thus, while stating His ability to 'overturn all things or bind them together,' He continues: