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SPIRITUAL SPRINGTIME 63 |
In the world of existence man has traversed successive degrees
until he has attained the human kingdom. In each degree of his
progression he has developed capacity for advancement to the next
station and condition. While in the kingdom of the mineral he was attaining
the capacity for promotion into the degree of the vegetable. In
the kingdom of the vegetable he underwent preparation for the world
of the animal and from thence he has come onward to the human degree
or kingdom. Throughout this journey of progression he has ever
and always been potentially man.
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In the beginning of his human life man was embryonic in the
world of the matrix. There he received capacity and endowment for
the reality of human existence. The forces and powers necessary for
this world were bestowed upon him in that limited condition. In this
world he needed eyes; he received them potentially in the other. He
needed ears; he obtained them there in readiness and preparation for
his new existence. The powers requisite in this world were conferred
upon him in the world of the matrix, so that when he entered this realm
of real existence he not only possessed all necessary functions and
powers but found provision for his material sustenance awaiting him.
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Therefore in this world he must prepare himself for the life beyond.
That which he needs in the world of the Kingdom must be
obtained here. Just as he prepared himself in the world of the matrix
by acquiring forces necessary in this sphere of existence, so likewise
the indispensable forces of the divine existence must be potentially
attained in this world.
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What is he in need of in the Kingdom which transcends the life
and limitation of this mortal sphere? That world beyond is a world
of sanctity and radiance; therefore it is necessary that in this world
he should acquire these divine attributes. In that world there is need
of spirituality, faith, assurance, the knowledge and love of God. These
he must attain in this world so that after his ascension from the
earthly to the heavenly Kingdom he shall find all that is needful in
that life eternal ready for him.
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That divine world is manifestly a world of lights; therefore man
has need of illumination here. That is a world of love; the love of God
is essential. It is a world of perfections; virtues or perfections must be
acquired. That world is vivified by the breaths of the Holy Spirit;
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in this world we must seek them. That is the Kingdom of life everlasting;
it must be attained during this vanishing existence.
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By what means can man acquire these things? How shall he
obtain these merciful gifts and powers? First, through the knowledge
of God. Second, through the love of God. Third, through faith.
Fourth, through philanthropic deeds. Fifth, through self-sacrifice.
Sixth, through severance from this world. Seventh, through sanctity
and holiness. Unless he acquires these forces and attains to these
requirements he will surely be deprived of the life that is eternal. But
if he possesses the knowledge of God, becomes ignited through the fire
of the love of God, witnesses the great and mighty signs of the Kingdom,
becomes the cause of love among mankind, and lives in the utmost
state of sanctity and holiness, he shall surely attain to second
birth, be baptized by the Holy Spirit and enjoy everlasting existence.
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Is it not astonishing that although man has been created for the
knowledge and love of God, for the virtues of the human world, for
spirituality, heavenly illumination and life eternal, nevertheless he
continues ignorant and negligent of all this? Consider how he seeks
knowledge of everything except knowledge of God. For instance, his
utmost desire is to penetrate the mysteries of the lowest strata of the
earth. Day by day he strives to know what can be found ten metres
below the surface, what he can discover within the stone, what he can
learn by archaeological research in the dust. He puts forth arduous
labors to fathom terrestrial mysteries but is not at all concerned about
knowing the mysteries of the Kingdom, traversing the illimitable fields
of the eternal world, becoming informed of the divine realities,
discovering the secrets of God, attaining the knowledge of God, witnessing
the splendors of the Sun of Truth and realizing the glories of
everlasting life. He is unmindful and thoughtless of these. How much
he is attracted to the mysteries of matter and how completely unaware
he is of the mysteries of divinity! Nay, he is utterly negligent and oblivious
of the secrets of divinity. How great his ignorance! How conducive
to his degradation! It is as if a kind and loving father had
provided a library of wonderful books for his son in order that he
might be informed of the mysteries of creation; at the same time
surrounding him with every means of comfort and enjoyment; but
the son amuses himself with pebbles and playthings, neglectful of all
his father’s gifts and provision. How ignorant and heedless is man!
The Father has willed for him glory eternal and he is content with
blindness and deprivation. The Father has built for him a royal palace
but he is playing with the dust; prepared for him garments of silk but
he prefers to remain unclothed; provided for him delicious foods and
fruits while he seeks sustenance in the grasses of the field.
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Praise be to God! you have heard the call of the Kingdom. Your
eyes are opened; you have turned to God. Your purpose is the good-pleasure
of God, the understanding of the mysteries of the heart and
investigation of the realities. Day and night you must strive that you
may attain to the significances of the heavenly kingdom, perceive
the signs of divinity, acquire certainty of knowledge and realize that
this world has a creator, a vivifier, a provider, an architect,—knowing
this through proofs and evidences and not through susceptibilities,—nay, rather, through decisive arguments and real vision; that is to
say, visualizing it as clearly as the outer eye beholds the sun. In this
way may you behold the presence of God and attain to the knowledge
of the holy, divine Manifestations.
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