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We will never, and can never know, the essence of God, yet according to our capacity, as ordained by God, we can benefit from His life-giving spirit, and we can manifest His qualities in our spiritual growth. We cannot know God directly, but we can know His attributes. This is what we can know of Him. We cannot attain to the presence of God, neither can God come and dwell on earth. His divine nature does not permit this (138:1) The intermediary between the sun and the blade of grass is the light that the sun radiates. The intermediary between God and man is His Holy One: (138:2) The door of the knowledge of the Ancient Being hath ever been, and will continue for ever to be, closed in the face of men. No man's understanding shall ever gain access unto His holy court. As a token of His mercy, however, and as a proof of His loving-kindness, He hath manifested unto men the Day Stars of His divine guidance, the Symbols of His divine unity, and hath ordained the knowledge of these sanctified Beings to be identical with the knowledge of His own Self. Whoso recognizeth them hath recognized God. Whoso hearkeneth to their call, hath hearkened to the Voice of God, and whoso testifieth to the truth of their Revelation, hath testified to the truth of God Himself. Whoso turneth away from them, hath turned away from God, and whoso disbelieveth in them, hath disbelieved in God (138:3) Every one of them is the Way of God that connecteth this world with the realms above, and the Standard of His Truth unto every one in the kingdoms of earth and heaven. They are the Manifestations of God amidst men, the evidences of His Truth, and the signs of His glory. Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 50 (138:4) All created things - the spheres in the heavens, the mountains, deserts, oceans and creatures of the earth, and of course, God's beloved children - manifest to a prescribed degree the greatness of their Creator. Each, within its own domain, is a reflection of the purpose of God. However, the Holy One of God, the Prophet of the age, is the incomparable Manifestation of His attributes; indeed He, and He alone, is the very channel through which the grace of God flows to His creation. No mere human can ever attain the degree of distinction possessed by these Manifestations of God, for God has ordained that these sanctified Beings, though they appear in the form of a human temple, are invested with His infinite knowledge, His infinite power, His infinite love and authority. The lives of all peoples are between Their fingers. The universe itself lies in the hollow of Their hand (138:5) The Holy One of God, the Manifestation of God for the Age, is thus the Lord of History (138:6) The Manifestation of God and The Tree of Life (138:7) The Manifestation of God is the channel through which, and through which alone, the grace of God flows to all creation. He is the very source of life to the world: (138:8) "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you." John 6:53
(138:9)
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