Part Two
Part Two The Life Of The One Who Knows God
Bearing The Cross The one who knows God will follow the Lord's footsteps, bearing the cross of the Saviour. It is said, "The world is crucified to him, and he to the world." (Gal. 6:14) The Lord says, "He who loses his life will save it." (Matt. 10:39) We can
"lose our lives" in one of two ways. First, we can risk our lives, just as the Lord did for us. Secondly, we can separate our lives from the customary things of this world. Bearing the cross means to separate our souls from the delights and pleasures of this life. If you do this, you will find your life again—resting in the hope of what is to come. Dying to ourselves means being content with the necessities of life.
When we want more than these necessities, it is easy to sin.
"We must therefore put on the armor of God, to be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. The weapons of our warfare are not physical, but powerful through God to pull down strongholds, and cast down arguments and everything exalting itself against the knowledge of God. We must bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ," says the divine apostle. (Eph. 6:11) What is needed is a man who handles the circumstances of life ina discerning and praiseworthy manner. I'm speaking of the contrasting circumstances that may come our way.
Such as riches and poverty. Honor and dishonor. Health and sickness. Life and death. And work and pleasure. The world sees a great difference between these contrasts. But the one who knows God views them all with indifference.
Page 56 The One Who Knows God The Need For Endurance Endurance is another godly trait. Daniel, who was filled with divine faith, was a good example of one who had endurance. He lived in Babylon, similar to the way that Lot lived in Sodom and that Abraham lived in Chaldea. (This
Abraham was called the friend of God.) The Babylonian king threw Daniel into a pit of wild beasts, but the King of all, our faithful Lord, brought him out unharmed.
The one who knows God will have this same kind of patient endurance. When under trial, he wilt bless God like
Job did. Like Jonah, he will pray when swallowed by a great fish. He will pray, and faith will bring him back to prophesy to the people of Nineveh. Though penned up with lions, he will tame them. Though cast into the fire, he will not be destroyed. Rather, he will be covered with dew. He will testify both day and night by his words, his conduct, and his very life. His best friend will be the Lord, and he will share the same hearth with the Spirit. He will be pure in the flesh, in his heart, and in his speech.
Spiritual Warfare When we lived in the flesh, we were feeble. This was due, [in part], by our poor discipline. We used to indulge all of our desires without limit. However, now we recognize our fleshly desires as being imprints on our souls—imprints left by the wicked spirit forces with whom we struggle. The powers of evil try to leave their mark on everything they touch. They thereby try to win back those who have renounced them. As might be expected, these evil powers re-conquer some.
However, others of us enter the struggle against them with more athletic energy, so to speak. (I'm using the terms of the public games by way of illustration.) The evil powers attack the faithful with every weapon they have, locking arms in bloody combat. But eventually the evil powers have to give up the battle. They retreat with admiration for the victorious
Christian.
Bearing The Cross Page 57 We humans have the faculty of reason. Therefore, we should not be carried away by mere appearances. Rather, we should look beyond them. The powers of evil hold out beautiful sights to humans, such as worldly honors, adulteries, fleshly pleasures, and similar alluring fantasies.
They try to lure men the way a herdsman leads cattle with food. They deceive those who can t tell the difference between true and false pleasure.
Or between fading beauty and that which is holy. Having deceived such people, they lead them into slavery. Each false allurement leaves its imprint on the spirit by constantly pressing against it. By our falling for the bait, our soul unwittingly carries about the imprint of our fleshly desires.
The powers of evil try to lure men the way a herdsman leads cattle with food.
Love Not The World The one who knows God has the same attitude towards both body and soul. He treats all persons alike—whether they are his neighbors, his servants, or his legally-declared enemies. He does not despise his brother, who according to the divine law, is of the same father and mother. He helps those in need by giving comfort and encouragement, and by providing the necessities of life. He gives to all who need. But he does so justly—according to what each one deserves. So the one who knows God grows to the point of knowing to whom he should primarily give, liow he should give, when he should give, and flow much he should give. The practice of giving liberally, which prevails among us, is properly called
"righteousness." But the power of discerning who deserves what amount of assistance is a form of the very highest righteousness.
He even gives to the one who persecutes and hates Christians, if that person has need. He doesn't care if people think he is helping his persecutor out of fear. He knows that his motive is not fear, but is only to give help. So when we know
God, we share our belongings with our enemies. We hate evil—even when it's done to our enemies. How much more so, then, are we filled with love for those who belong to us.
Who could become the enemy of aman who gives no cause for hatred in any way? Is not that how it is with God? We say that God treats no one as an enemy. For he is the Creator of all. And nothing that exists is what he wills it not to be.
Love Not The World Page 59 peepee nets a ee ee ee ee Instead, we declare that those who are disobedient and who do not live by God's commandments treat God as an enemy.
They are hostile to his covenant. So the one who knows God can never view or treat anyone as an enemy. Rather, those who follow a different path treat the man of God as an enemy.
Some people practice control over pleasures in a very crude way. They are like the pagans. For some pagans abstain from earthly delights simply because they have no way of obtaining them. Or because they fear what others will We hate evil— | think. Or because they want even greater pleasures.
Likewise, some believers exercise self-restraint only because of the promise of reward or out of fear of God. Of course, this kind of self-restraint is a start.' even when it's done to our enemies.
It's the basis of knowledge, and it's the first step towards something better. It's an effort after perfection. For it is said that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." (Prov.
Al But the perfect man "bears all things" and "endures all things" out of love. (1 Cor. 13:7) He does it "not to please man, but God." (1 Thess. 2:4) Although praise may follow him as a result, he does not do things to receive praise. He does them for the benefit of those who do the praising. He also does them to set an example for others.
To put it another way, the person who merely controls his wrong desires is not truly a moderate man. The true man of moderation is one who has also mastered good attributes. He has acquired the great things that come from knowledge. He produces godly qualities as the fruit of this knowledge. The one who knows God is never dislodged from his way of life, even in an emergency. The good he possesses through knowledge is firm and unchangeable. For he has the knowledge of things both divine and human. This type of knowledge can never turn into ignorance, any more than good can turn into evil.
Page 60 The One Who Knows God The one who knows God eats, drinks, and marries, not as ends in themselves, but simply as necessary things. | include marriage in this list only to the extent the Word dictates and only as it is suitable. For having become perfect, the one who knows God has the apostles as examples. One is not really proven to be a man by the choice of the single life. But the one who has been disciplined by marriage, the raising of children, and the care of his household surpasses other men.
When he cares for his household without pleasure or pain, he becomes inseparable from God's love. For he has withstood all temptations arising through children, wife, servants, and possessions. But he that has no family is free of temptation to a large degree.
But, to the extent possible, we must subject the soul to various disciplines so it will be more open to receive knowledge. For example, wax first has to be softened before it can be imprinted with a stamp. Likewise, copper has to be purified before it can be imprinted.
Death is the separation of the soul from the body.
Likewise, knowledge is a sort of death caused by reason.
It separates the spirit from the desires of the flesh. And It is impossible for it leads the spirit into a life of doing good, so that the spirit can say with confidence to God, "I live as you want me to." He who makes the one who truly knows God to serve pleasures it his purpose to please men cannot please God. For the crowd does not choose what is profitable, but what is pleasant. But when we please
God, we also win the favor of good people. that oppose God.
How can the things concerning meat, drink, and passionate pleasure be compatible with a man of God? He is suspicious of anything that stimulates fleshly pleasure: a word, a pleasant movement, or a thought. "For no one can serve two masters, God and Mammon," it is said. (Matt. 6:24)
Mammon refers not simply to money, but to the pleasures
Love Not The World Page 61 ee Oe money can buy. In reality, it is impossible for the one who truly knows God to serve pleasures that oppose God.
There is only one who was free of immoderate desire his whole life. That was the benevolent Lord, who became man for us. Whoever tries to receive the stamp imprinted by him must strive to be free of immoderate desires. And this takes practice. The one who has fallen to immoderate desires, but thereafter restrains himself, is like a widow who becomes a virgin again by celibacy. (1Tim. 5:9,10) Such is the reward of knowledge: refraining from evil and doing what is good, by which salvation is acquired. These things are rendered to the Savior and the Teacher, as he himself has asked.
People make a living doing what they have been taught.
In the same way, the one who knows God is saved, obtaining life by what he knows. But he who does not desire to completely uproot the sinful desires of the soul kills himself. So it seems that ignorance starves the soul and knowledge sustains it.
Prayer Life The souls of those who know God are likened by the gospel to the consecrated virgins who wait for the Lord.
(Matt. 25:1-13) They are virgins in the sense of refraining from what is evil. They wait out of love for the Lord, and they light their lamps in expectation of the things to come. They are wise souls, saying, "Lord, we have long desired to receive you. We have lived by what you have counseled, disobeying none of your commandments. So we aiso claim your promises. And we pray for what is beneficial since it is not necessary to ask of you what is most excellent. We shall view everything you bring us as being good. This is so even though the trials we face, which you bring on us to train us in steadfastness, may appear evil."
When a person knows God, his whole life is prayer and conversation with God. If he is pure from sins, he will certainly obtain what he wishes. God says to the righteous man,
"Ask, and I will give to you. Think, and I will do." If what he asks is beneficial, he will receive it at once. If it is harmful, he
Page 62 The One Who Knows God will never ask for it. So he will not receive it. In this way, it shall be as he wishes.
However, someone may say, "Even some sinners get what they request." My reply is that this rarely takes place, because of God's righteousness and goodness. But God answers those people who are capable of doing good to others. So the gift is not given for the sake of the one who asked. Instead,
God gives it because he foresees that someone will be saved because of it. So the gift is still given for a righteous purpose.
Truly good things are given to those who are worthy, even without their asking.
Whenever a person is righteous by free choice—not from necessity, or fear, or hope [of reward ]—this is called the royal road. For the royal people travel it. Other roads are slippery and steep. For example, look at the most famous of the philosophers, who speak so boldly. If the motives of fear and fame were removed, | doubt they would be willing to endure hardships any longer.
Working For God Lusts and other sins are called "briars and thorns." (Matt.
13:7) So the one who knows God labors in the Lord's vineyard. He plants, prunes, and waters. He is the divine gardener of what is planted in faith. Those who have simply abstained from evil deeds think they deserve the wages of ease. But he who has done good deeds out of free choice demands his pay as a good workman. He shall certainly receive double wages. God will reward him both for the good he has done and for the evil he has not done.
The one who knows God is not tempted by anyone except with God's permission. Then it would be for the benefit of those who are with him. He strengthens them for faith, encouraging them by brave endurance. Surely the apostles were brought to trial and martyrdom for this same reason. By their sufferings, they established and confirmed the churches.
The one who knows God hears a voice ringing in his ear, saying, "You should have compassion on the ones I plan to punish." He pleads so that such persons will repent, even
Love Not The World Page 63 a ee ee ee though they hate him. For the public punishment of criminals along the highways is not even for children to witness. The one who knows God, who has trained himself in righteousness, cannot enjoy or learn from the punishment of his enemies. He is unable to be softened by pleasures, and he never falls into sin. So he is not corrected by the examples of other men's sufferings. He has shown a noble contempt for the rewards held out in this world. So he receives no enjoyment at all from earthly pleasures and entertainment.
"Not every one who says 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter into the kingdom of God, but he who does the will of God." (Matt.
7:21) This is the laborer who knows God. He has mastered worldly desires while still in the flesh. He regards the unseen future to be more real than the earthly things around him.
This competent workman rejoices in what he knows. Still, he feels cramped because of having to take care of life's necessities. So he uses this life as if it belonged to another.
Fasting He understands the real purpose of fasting on Wednesday and Friday.* His very life is a fast—a fast from envy and sensuousness. For all sins stem His very life is from those. The one who knows God fasts 'according to the Law' a fast—a fast by abstaining from evil deeds. He fasts 'according to the perfection of the Gospel' by abstaining SensSuousness. from evil thoughts. As I have said, temptations are brought before him, not for his purification, but for the good of his neighbors. He treats trials of labor and pain with disdain, passing them by. from envy and The same is true of pleasure. When someone has been tested by fleshly pleasures, it is a supreme achievement for him to abstain from pleasure. What great thing is it if a man restrains himself when he is not tempted? So according to the *Literally, the Fourth and Preparation.
Page 64 The One Who Knows God gospel, a person keeps the Lord's day when he abandons an evil nature and when he takes on the nature of one who knows God. He thereby glorifies the Lord's resurrection in himself. When he understands through knowledge, he feels as though he has seen the Lord. Of course, he still sees the evil things of this world with his literal eyes, even though he would rather not. But he directs his eyes towards invisible things. He disciplines his eyes when he realizes that he is enjoying the things his eyes see in this world. (1 John 2:15-17)
For he would rather see and hear only those things which concern [eternity].
When he looks at the souls of his brothers [in Christ], he also sees the beauty of their flesh. For his soul has become accustomed to look solely upon that which is good, without carnal pleasure. They are truly his brothers, because God created them. Furthermore, they have the same character and the same deeds. They do, think, and speak the same holy and good works, endowed with the feelings that the Lord wishes the elect to be inspired with. Acommon faith is demonstrated by their choosing the same things.
Acommon knowledge is demonstrated by their learning and thinking the same things.
And a common hope is shown by their desiring the same things.
Il Sojourners If, because of the necessities of life, the one who knows God must spend a small portion of time in providing sustenance, he feels cheated. For some of his attention is diverted by business. Not even in his dreams does he look on anything unsuitable to a chosen man. He is a complete stranger and sojourner on this earth. He lives in the city, but despises the things in the city which others admire. He lives in the city as though he were living in a desert. (Heb. 11:13-16)
In summary, the one who knows God makes up for the fact the apostles are no longer with us. His does this in several ways: By the uprightness of his life. By the accuracy of his knowledge. By taking care of his relatives. By helping his neighbors remove their mountains of doubt and by helping them put away the sins of their soul. Still, each of us is his own vineyard and laborer.* Although he does the things that are most excellent things, he wishes to escape the notice of men. He would rather know before the Lord and himself that he is actually living in accordance with the commandments. He prefers these things because he truly believes them to exist. "For where anyone's mind is, there also is his treasure." (Matt. 6:21)
Through the perfection of love, he impoverishes himself so he will never overlook a brother in need. This is especially
*In other words, each of us must answer for himself.
Page 66 The One Who Knows God so if he knows that he can bear want easier than his brother.
He considers the other's pain his own grief. If he suffers any hardship by giving out of his poverty, he does not complain.
Rather, he increases his generosity. For he possesses a sincere faith that is worked out in everyday life. He praises the Gospel both in thought and in deed. He truly wins his praise
"not from men, but from God," by doing what the Lord has taught. (Rom. 2:29) Drawn by his own hope, he does not taste the good things of this world. Instead, he has a noble contempt for all things here. He pities those who are chastised after death, who unwillingly make confession as a result of punishment. In contrast, he has a clear conscience as to his departure, and he is always ready for it.
He is "a stranger and pilgrim" regarding earthly possessions. (1 Pet. 1:17) He is mindful only of those things that are his own. But he regards all earthly things as not his own.
He impoverishes himself so he will never overlook a brother in need.
He not only delights in the Lord's commandments, but partakes of the divine will through knowledge. Because of his righteousness, he is truly a select, intimate friend of the Lord and of the Lord's commands. As one who knows God, he is both princely and kingly. He disdains all the gold on the earth and under the earth. And he disdains rulership from ocean shore to ocean shore. He disdains these things so he can cling to the Lord's service. So in eating, drinking, marriage (if the Word commands), and even his dreams, he does and thinks what is holy.
As a result, the one who knows God is always pure for prayer. He prays in the society of angels, for in a sense he is already of angelic rank. And he is never out of the holy keeping of the angels. Even though he prays alone, he has the choir of the saints standing with him.
He recognizes that there are two elements [in faith]. First, there is the activity of the one who believes. Secondly, there is the excellence and worth of the thing believed in. And there
Sojourners Page 67 Se ee ee ee en ee are two kinds of righteousness: one resulting from love, and one resulting from fear. For that reason, it is said, "The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring for ever and ever." (Ps. 19:9)
Yet, even those who turn to faith and righteousness because of fear (rather than love) will still remain forever. But fear only leads a person to refrain from what is evil. Love, however, leads to the spontaneous doing of good. As a result of love, a person can hear the Lord's words, "I call you no longer servants, but friends." (John 15:15) Such a person can apply himself confidently to prayer. In his prayers he gives thanks for the past and the present. He also gives thanks for the future, for to him, through faith, the future is already present. He asks to live his present life as one who knows God. He asks for a life free from the flesh.
He asks to attain the best things and to flee from the worst.
He not only asks forgiveness for his sins, but he also asks for help to repent and acknowledge his sins.
On his departure, he comes quickly to the One who called him. He is eager to give thanks because of his good conscience. Once he is with Christ, he shows that he is worthy, through his purity, to receive the power of God that is administered through Christ. He receives this power through a process of blending [into Christ]. He does not wish to be warm by merely receiving heat. Neither does he wish to glow by merely reflecting the light of the flame. No, he wants to be light himself.
He properly understands the statement, "Unless you hate father and mother, and your own life, and unless you bear the sign* [you cannot be my disciples]." (Luke 14:26,27) He despises the excessive sentiments of the flesh. For these sentiments contain the powerful spell of pleasure. He has a noble disdain for all things pertaining to the procreation and sustenance of the flesh. He also resists the fleshly element in the soul, putting a bridle bit on the deviant spirit. "For the flesh lusts against the Spirit." (Gal. 5:17) "To bear the sign [of the cross]" is to carry death with you, by saying farewell to the things of the flesh while still alive. i.e., of the cross.
Page 68 The One Who Knows God Having made a habit of doing good, he exercises generosity as a natural response—quicker than speaking. He prays that he may help carry the burden of his brothers' sins.
For he wants to help his brother to the point of confession and repentance. He is also eager to share his own good things with those dearest to him. Nurturing the seeds planted in him, in accord with the management of the Lord, he continues free of sin. He develops self-control, and he lives in spirit with those who are like him. He is among the choirs of the saints, though he is still detained on earth.
All day and night, he speaks and does the Lord's commands. He rejoices heartily when he wakes up each morning.
Not only that, he rejoices at noon, when walking, when in bed, and when dressing and undressing. If he has a son, he teaches him. He is inseparable ii yi from the commandments [of The word holy God] and from the blessed sums up all duties | hope. He is always giving thanks to God, like the living creatures Isaiah mentioned. toward God and the entire life we (Isa. 6:6) He is submissive in every trial, saying "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away." (Job 1:21) For Job was that way. After his possessions and health were destroyed, he relinquished everything to the Lord through love. So Job was one who knew God. It is said that Job was "just, holy, and separated from all wickedness." (Job 1:1) are to follow.
The word "holy" sums up all duties toward God and the entire course of life we are to follow. We must not cling too much to our earthly things, even if they are good. For they are of the body. On the other hand, we shouldn't hate them either, even if they are bad. Rather, we must be above both good and bad. We trample the bad things under foot. And we give the things that are good to those who need them.