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They will be a new people, a new and transformed race of humanity (171:1) A race that will greet one another with the words "God is Most Glorious", that will be forbearing, that will not set its "affections on things below", nor "pride" itself on its "glory", nor be "ashamed of abasement" . A race that will consider one's daily occupation - from farming, to the care of children, to government - as an act of worship, and will approach such work in an attitude of humility and service to humanity. A race that will welcome and promote the diversity flourishing in its midst, that will see with its "own eyes" and "not through the eyes of others" and will know of its "own knowledge" and not through the knowledge of its "neighbor" . A race that will give of their abundance to those in need, who will manifest contentment in all things, who will sacrifice their own lives rather than to transgress even one of the laws of God. A race that will prepare for the new year with a period of thoughtful reflection, prayer and fasting. A race that will once every nineteen days, gather in a wondrous feast - one which combines collective worship and the function of government within the context of hospitality and fellowship - and there, among the servants of God, in an atmosphere of spirituality, consult on the affairs of the community, and offer their suggestions for its betterment. A race in which women will have taken their rightful place beside men in all facets of society, rendering, therefore, the perfect, the God-ordained balance of the feminine and masculine aspects of humanity, and enabling, for the first time, the bird of the human race to soar. A race without clergy, but one in which the noble function of the clergy will have been assumed as a duty by all people. A race that will search for themselves the truth in all things, and will seek to share with their fellow man in an attitude of "such humility and submissiveness that every atom of the dust beneath their feet may attest the depth of their devotion" , their understanding of God's exalted purpose. A race in which the governing love and serve the governed, striving to provide for their happiness and wellbeing, and in which the governed welcome this loving authority, and strive to carry out its will. A race in which children and youth are regarded as precious aspects of society, their education and training given real priority, their contributions to society welcomed and promoted, and their innocence and energy increased. A race in which parents will be lovingly obeyed by their children, all the days of their life (171:2) Such are a few grains of the bountiful harvest which humanity will reap as it builds a civilization "with a fullness of life such as the world has never seen nor can as yet conceive." (171:3) But oh, dear readers, the story does not stop here. This is in fact the mere beginning of the wonders brought by the Messengers of God. For it is not even for this that Baha'u'llah has come. His purpose is greater still - greater even than those blessed to live in His Golden Age can possibly conceive. Yes, the Lord of History comes to earth to guide and govern Humanity through His Revelation, and to offer Himself as a Sacrifice for humanity; He comes to produce a genuine likeness of heaven on earth, and to make human persons more perfect in this life; however, His ultimate and final purpose for coming to earth is to prepare us for that "hour that none can put back" , that final hour when we depart from this world and are called to meet our Maker
(171:4)
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