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:
1. Awaken the Giant Within, A. Robbins p. 19
2,3. The Index of Leading Cultural Indicators, W. Bennett, vol. 1, March 1993.
4. Facts, Figures, and Quotes, National Education Association.
5. Awake! April 8, 1994.
6,8, 9,10. Focus on the Family, Newsletter, May 1993, Nov 1994 p. 3, Nov 1994 p. 3, Nov 1994 p. 3.
7. NEA Newsletter, 1994.
11. The Plain Truth, November-December, 1994, p. 29.
12. Obstetrics and Gynecology, vol. 71, no. 4.
13. Abnormal Psychology and Modern Life, R. Carson, J. Butcher, S. Mineka
14,15. American Educator, Winter 1994-95, p. 6, 17.
16,17. To Hell and Back, M. Rawlings p. 228, 227.
18. Speaker's & Toastmaster's Handbook, H. Prochow p. 241.
19. The God of Stones and Spiders, C. Colson p. x.
20. Breakpoint with Chuck Colson, May 17, 1994, No. 40517.
21. The Plain Truth, November/December, 1994, p. 6.
22. tbh 156
23,24. swb 89, 88 (3:21)

End of Book