As to Paradise: It is a reality and there can be no doubt about it, and now in this world it is realized through love of Me and My good pleasure. Whosoever attaineth unto it God will aid him in this world below, and after death He will enable him to gain admittance into Paradise whose vastness is as that of heaven and earth. Therein...the day-star of the unfading beauty of his Lord will at all times shed its radiance upon him and he will shine so brightly that no one shall bear to gaze at him. Such is the dispensation of Providence, yet the people are shut out by a grievous veil.9 Baha'u'llah (2:1)

This quote equates God's love with paradise: (2:2)

O SON OF BEING!
>Thy paradise is My love; thy heavenly home, reunion with Me. Enter therein and tarry not.10 Baha'u'llah (2:3)

Recently a relative of ours-- a wonderful and well-educated Baha'i-- died at a young age. Soon after her death she appeared to her aunt in a dream. When her aunt asked her how everything was there, she said, "Better than we were told." Then she added, "I appear to you the way I choose." As evidence, she instantly changed the color of her dress. By saying, "Better than we were told," she was referring to Baha'u'llah's references to indescribable glories and beauties beyond, such as the following statements: (2:4)

Such is the station ordained for the true believer that if to an extent smaller than a needle's eye the glory of that station were to be unveiled to mankind, every beholder would be consumed away in his longing to attain it. For this reason it hath been decreed that in this earthly life the full measure of the glory of his own station should remain concealed from the eyes of such a believer.11 (2:5)

We dare not, in this Day, lift the veil that concealeth the exalted station which every true believer can attain, for the joy which such a revelation must provoke might well cause a few to faint away and die.12 (2:6)

Know thou, of a truth, that if the soul of man hath walked in the ways of God, it will, assuredly, return and be gathered to the glory of the Beloved. By the righteousness of God! It shall attain a station such as no pen can depict, or tongue describe. The soul that hath remained faithful to the Cause of God, and stood unwaveringly firm in His Path shall, after his ascension, be possessed of such power that all the worlds which the Almighty hath created can benefit through him.13 (2:7)

This life is a preparation for our final exams. If we wish to enter the heavenly mansions and see the banquet of the Kingdom, we must secure our permit here and now, in the days that are still ours. As Jesus declares, the doors will remain closed to late-comers and procrastinators (Matt. 25:1-13). (2:8)

Our life here is like a grand piece of art. We hold a brush in our hand. We have a choice to make a masterpiece, a mediocre work, or a horrible design. Every act touches the canvas. (2:9)

This world is a place of testing. The final certificate depends on the grades we earn here. Our Creator tells us how we should live, and then leaves us alone to choose the course of our destiny. Like a teacher, He leaves the responsibility for learning and applying the knowledge entirely to us. (2:10)

God's great ingenuity does not lie so much in creating the universe as in designing human beings in such a way that all of them do not seek or desire all His heavenly gifts. Some take only a drop from His vast ocean of blessings, others a handful or a cup. But a few are content with nothing short of drowning themselves in His infinite, ever-flowing, ever-enchanting riches and bounties. What keeps so many content with so little is one of the greatest mysteries in the universe. "The evangelist was approaching the finale of his fiery discourse, and his voice rose as he thundered out, 'Do you want to go to Heaven? Everyone who wants to go to Heaven, stand up!' The congregation rose as one, except for Jed Hatfield, the local ne'er-do-well. For a moment, the preacher was speechless, then he demanded, 'Brother Hatfield, don't you want to go to Heaven?' Jed looked up and drawled, 'Nope. These Tennessee hills is good enough for me.'" (2:11)

We can only theorize that when God made the universe, He knew that some people love to "heap up their sins to the limit" (I Thess. 2:16) to become citizens of hell, and that others love to sanctify their souls to the limit to become citizens of heaven. Since God loves all people, He made sure that both groups could satisfy their desires. Astonishing as it may seem, many do everything within their power to become qualified for hell. They miss no opportunities to receive a space for their soul in "the fire" of remoteness from joy. The highway to heaven is quite smooth: It is paved with peace, love, harmony, hope, faith, and joy. The highway to hell is quite rough: It is paved with prejudice, anger, revenge, hatred, greed, and grudges. Yet, many choose the rough road straight to the valley of death and remoteness from God. (2:12)

Another potential God gave us is the ability to engage in self-deception. Without it, life would become extremely painful. Self-deception helps us conceal our true motives and extend our freedom of choice. Have you ever met anyone who believes he will go to hell? It seems everyone thinks he was made especially for heaven. (2:13)

Atheist: "Do you honestly believe that Jonah spent three days and nights in the belly of a whale?"

Preacher: "I don't know, sir, but when I get to heaven I'll ask him."
Atheist: "But suppose he isn't in heaven?"
Preacher: "Then you ask him!" (2:14)

While on earth we have two duties: first, to know, love, and glorify God; second, to prove our love and faith by good deeds, demonstrated best by serving others. We can express our deepest love for God by acknowledging His latest Redeemers, the Bab and Baha'u'llah. Christ said that those who denied Him denied God. Baha'u'llah makes the same statement. The following statement from the Bab shows the consequences of denying the Redeemer of the age: (2:15)

For if a prophet cometh to you from God and ye fail to walk in His Way, God will, thereupon, transform your light into fire. Take heed then that perchance ye may, through the grace of God and His signs, be enabled to redeem your souls.14 (2:16)

In the following passages, the Bab reveals the blessings of remaining loyal to God's covenant: (2:17)

There is no paradise more wondrous for any soul than to be exposed to God's Manifestation in His Day, to hear His verses and believe in them, to attain His presence, which is naught but the presence of God, and to partake of the choice fruits of the paradise of His divine Oneness.15 (2:18)

There is no paradise...more exalted than to obey God's commandments, and there is no fire...fiercer than to transgress His laws and to oppress another soul, even to the extent of a mustard seed. On the Day of Resurrection God will, in truth, judge all men, and we all verily plead for His grace.16 (2:19)

This world, in spite of its many pains and pressures, appears enchanting and glamorous. We often become so blinded by earthly glamours that we lose sight of heavenly glories. A little spiritual wealth is worth more than all the earthly riches, yet most people worry more about earning pennies than about entering paradise. Great Messengers seek to awaken us from our illusions of attachment to this planet, to draw our attention away from passing pleasures to the splendors of heaven: (2:20)

Night hath succeeded day, and day hath succeeded night, and the hours and moments of your lives have come and gone, and yet none of you hath, for one instant, consented to detach himself from that which perisheth. Bestir yourselves, that the brief moments that are still yours may not be dissipated and lost. Even as the swiftness of lightning your days shall pass, and your bodies shall be laid to rest beneath a canopy of dust. What can ye then achieve? How can ye atone for your past failure?17 Baha'u'llah (2:21)

Life is brief but precious. We are moving with incredible speed. Our goal is to find the highway of happiness and the exit to heaven. If we hesitate to look and miss the chance, if we waste the precious gift of freedom that is ours, there is no returning. Today people are constantly rushing and running. Do they have a destination? "The loudspeaker of the big jet clicked on and the captain's voice announced in a clear, even tone: 'Now there's no cause for alarm, but we felt passengers should know that for the last three hours we've been flying without the benefit of radio, compass, or radar, due to the breakdown of some key components. This means that we are not quite sure in which direction we are heading. You'll be glad to know, however that we're making excellent time!'" (2:22)

After passing from the earthly realm, all souls will have a chance to advance in the heavenly realm. Since everyone will have this chance, those farthest from God here will, in relation to others, continue to be farthest from Him. This is why hell and heaven are said to be eternal. The consequences of how well we do here will stay with us always. (2:23)

Whatever we weave here we will wear hereafter. After passing away, as 'Abdu'l-Baha declares, the soul will continue its journey forward from "the degree of purity to which it has evolved during life in the physical body."18 (2:24)

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