Those who demand proof about God’s existence often question whether He has a real personality and whether it is possible to see Him. They argue that only ‘seeing is believing’. Different schools of religious thought have left valid theories about His omnipotence and have declared that He is beyond the comprehension of human intellect but His presence can surely be felt intuitively. Their claims about God’s existence have stemmed out of the application of the five-fold arguments based on moral, cosmological, theological, mystical and ontological evidences and their conclusion based on study, logic and experience. Hence their declarations can stand the test of time.
Very often, man stands at the crossroads wondering what he should do next to reach his goal. Likewise when problems stare at him and his mind is in a state of utter confusion and he is stricken by remorse, he may not be able to act in a particular manner or desist from doing so. Even among those who have studied the holy texts, such a dilemma may arise when confronted with ticklish situations.
It is under these circumstances that men should seek Divine guidance, when prayer to God, will surely give light. What is required is faith in His power. How can one know that God will extend His mercy? Imagine a person thrown amidst darkness when lights go off during midnight. What will be his joy if a torch suddenly illumines his path? If there is no such relief, he will have to sit at the same place, dreading the situation I which he is thrown in.
Another question may arise in the minds of men, is how to repose faith in one whom they have not seen and how to depend on such an invisible force and totally depend on Him. To clear this doubt a story is told of a person who fell from a cliff. Down below was deep valley. But as he was falling, he managed to catch hold of a branch of a tree and was hanging precariously. He shouts to save him from this peril went unheeded. Suddenly there was a Divine voice from among the clouds “I shall protect you if you leave your hands.” Here faith was necessary because the assurance came from a source not seen and at the same time, there was no guarantee that as to what would happen if he gives up his hold on the branch. Faith in Divine dispensation alone is the answer. God will never fail to rescue His devotees.
All of us are God’s children. When we travel we may feel that all our fellow passengers are our well-wishers. But they will leave us at their respective destinations. In life too, none can be called one’s real kinsmen. The only permanent relative of ours is God. A dog biting a hollow bone enjoy the blood that trickles, but little does it realize that the same comes from its own wounded gums. We are also imagining in the same way. When we enjoy sensual objects, we derive momentary pleasure and think that our joy and strength are derived from them. If the mind is balanced, one can bear any amount of happiness or grief with equanimity. Even worldly worries will not cause burden. Sorrows will cease to exist.
When thinking of the eternal bliss attainable through God-realisation, we will not upset by any jolt. While walking down the road carrying a load on the head, the mere thought that the resting place is near will make the weight seem less. But if one knows that the destination is far away, that very thought will make one weary. So too if we know that God is with us, the burden of life will be lessened. Having got into a boat or a bus, why should we carry the luggage on our head? When we dedicate all our acts to God, He will take care of us.
Some people regret that even though they have been prying to God for many years, they continue to suffer. This is because their prayers were prompted by desires. Because of our desires, we see God as an agent who works for us. Though the Lord himself says that He is a servant of His sincere devotees, yet to use him as an instrument to get our desires fulfilled, is not a right approach.
Knowing that He is our sole guide and protector, e should try to escape from this world of sorrows with as much earnestness as one has to rush out of a burning house. Only after developing the power of discrimination between the ephemeral and the eternal, we can lead a perfect householder’s life, regardless of difficulties encountered. We must be aware that bliss is within us, and when our selfish motives disappear, we will become a fit vessel to receive God’s grace.
The mystery of God cannot be easily understood, but it is certain that He will forgive us as soon as we are willing to accept Him. The world is groping in the dark and people are not able to get their spiritual needs fulfilled and they do not know that God loves them. The sinful acts we commit are responsible this blindness and for corrupting our minds. People feel it difficult to visualise God as they get deeply in the pleasures of life. An emigrant worker who earned and saved money was taking a diamond home to sell it and cash it. In the ship in whish he was sailing, he demonstrated his prowess in jugglery and threw the diamond in the air a number of times and caught it admirable. He went on increasing the height in stages, but when the vessel suddenly listed due to high tide, he lost it in the sea. There is a `jewel’ in our body, but we should never jiggle with it. We should try to get back to God.
The Bible says that when Jesus was delivered by the `Power of the Almighty’ as a human being, the first message was `Peace on earth and goodwill towards men,’ i.e. the birth of Jesus on this earth, as a human being to a human being, heralded God’s presence on the earth with `heavenly love’ towards humanity. He could have by his Godly power ordered `love and peace’ to reign on the earth, but the Almighty thought it proper, to take the form of a human being, live as one, suffer the ordeals till death and thus set an example to the world how love can help man to rise above all sins. By his life on this earth, he proved that love would not only bring peace on the earth, but also help one to endure any amount of suffering for a righteous cause.
Jesus practiced what he preached and was a living example to his followers. He aid: `Love thy neighbour as thyself, offer what is due to your rulers, be satisfied with what you have or what you earn in the right way, don’t revile when you are reviled,’ etc. He showed his love by reaching out to the needy, whoever he or she was. He never violated the laws of the land, wherever he lived. He, as well as his disciples, lived within their means and lastly, knowing the weakness of mankind and because of His love for them, He patiently bore all false accusations and torture in absolute meekness.
When a devout Christian says that he is healed or saved by the sufferings of Jesus on the Cross, he means that he has learnt to love his enemy and live in peace. Jesus lived and died on the Cross only to live within the reach of every human mind.
Where does God live and how do we worship Him?
Contrary to popular opinion God does not live in buildings mad by human hands but in the people who have been cleansed from their sins and transformed by Him. Paul writes, `you yourselves are God’s temple and God’s Spirit lives in you’ an `we are temples of the living God’. Further, Jesus told the Samaritan woman, `God is Spirit, and His worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth’.
We cannot share the mystery of Christ by ourselves. We are weak and prone to failure.
We need to derive strength from God to do His work in His way. We must share the mystery of Christ with love. Though the mystery is an objective fact, to make it felt in our midst, e must allow the Spirit of God to make us rooted in love, so that we will become the channels of His blessings. Let our prayer be ` God, from Your glorious riches, strengthen us with power through Your Spirit in our inner being, so that Christ may dwell in our hearts. Help fill us to measure of all your fullness’.
Today millions of people, all over the world, are gripped with fear, shackled by racial, tribal and caste barriers, and cry for justice and dignity. In such a situation, God, by His amazing grace ha revealed to us, the mystery of Christ with the purpose that people everywhere will be made known that when they respond to the Good News, they can approach Him with freedom and confidence through Christ, and enter a new, privileged and blessed life in Christ.