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An intimate relationship with God, who is the source of our noblest hope and our most profound and enduring happiness (3:8) Without the new vision and new perspective, we operate on a level of narrow self-interest and confusion. Hedonism becomes our hope, and pleasure our prime purpose in life (3:9) 'William Barker tells about a machinist with the Ford motor company in Detroit who had, over a period of years, 'borrowed' various tools from the company but never bothered to return them. While this practice was not condoned, it was more or less accepted by management, and nothing was done about it. The machinist, however, experienced a religious conversion. He was baptized and became a devout believer. Even more importantly, he took his baptism seriously. The very next morning he arrived at work loaded down with tools he had taken from the company during the years. The foreman was so astonished and impressed by his action, that he cabled Mr. Ford, who was visiting a European plant, and explained the entire story in detail. Immediately Mr. Ford cabled back: 'Dam up the Detroit River, and baptize the entire city!'' Not only the residents of Detroit but all the citizens of the planet need a 'baptism of the spirit.' (3:10) Like everything else that comes in touch with human beings, religion gradually becomes polluted with hypocrisy, fanaticism, dogmatism, prejudice, irrationality, emotionalism, divisiveness, worldliness, complacency, and pride. When the pollution reaches a critical point, God in His Wisdom sends a new Redeemer or Messenger with a new outpouring of knowledge, love, and wisdom. But by then people have become fully addicted to the age-old pollutants. They draw comfort from their prejudices, superstitions, and illusions. Abandoning them causes withdrawal symptoms. Sometimes, some of the addicted recognize the danger of being exposed to the pollutants and try to install a few filters. But the pollutants are so strong, and the state of sickness so severe, that filters make no difference (3:11) True faith elevates the human spirit to peace and ecstasy, it inspires an unshakable hope and happiness. It is a heavenly wine that intoxicates the soul. Today its powers are diluted, its influence diminished. It is in desperate need of reviving. 'A young man announced during the children's sermon, 'I'm against liquor-by-the drink.' 'That's good,' said his pastor. 'But why are you against it?' 'I'm against it because my mother's against it,' the boy said. The pastor should have stopped while he was ahead, but he didn't 'Why is your mother against it?' 'She's against it,' the young man said 'because she says they water those drinks down too much.'' (3:12) Picture God as the most beautiful and majestic star veiled behind the clouds. In each age or dispensation, He removes a bit of the veil and allows His glory to become more visible. Without looking up, basking in His beauty, and rejoicing in the knowledge of His presence, we are doomed to a life of quiet desperation. Without the light of His love, we can live only in the twilight of doubt, fear, and spiritual apathy: (3:13) True knowledge, therefore, is the knowledge of God, and this is none other than the recognition of His Manifestation in each Dispensation. 23 The Bab (3:14) Today, many search for their god in gold and for their well-being in wine and wealth. Many think the true remedy is to raise their standard of living. They set standards for poverty, so that the poor can be identified and uplifted. What we need to raise first is the spiritual standard of living. Spiritual poverty and starvation are threatening our very survival. The following are among the harshest words addressed to the people of our time, especially to those who seek their god in gold and search in vain for their well-being in wealth: (3:15) You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Christ (Rev. 3:17-18) (3:16) Left to ourselves, we are mere rocks and pebbles. Only by loving God and living by His laws can we turn the rocks into rubies and the pebbles into pearls (3:17) No created thing shall ever attain its paradise unless it appeareth in its highest prescribed degree of perfection. For instance, this crystal representeth the paradise of the stone whereof its substance is composed. Likewise there are various stages in the paradise for the crystal itself...So long as it was stone it was worthless, but if it attaineth the excellence of ruby-- a potentiality which is latent in it-- how much a carat will it be worth? Consider likewise every created thing (3:18) Man's highest station, however, is attained through faith in God in every Dispensation and by acceptance of what hath been revealed by Him...24 The Bab (3:19) All the facts presented lead us to this conclusion: There is an overwhelming need for the renewal of religion, for a faith that can transform our lives, that can lift us from worldliness and apathy to spirituality and ecstasy (3:20) References: |