Walking in God's Ways

Walking in God's Ways nThe divine way to actualize man's purposenNo quotation makes a better, or more dramatic, presentation of the quality of activities man must perform in striding to actualize his purpose, than "walking in God's ways". n We all surely agree that no activity in the universe is more exalted and positive than that which God performs. It is therefore logical to determine that this activity would be man's most exalted and positive as well. If, through this activity, we actualize our purpose, and it appears that it is indeed so, then evidently it could guide us to the way and the means of carrying it out.nnIt is discernible that this divine demand also encourages and creates a desire to perform this activity.nShould man walk in God's waysnPhilosophically, it could be claimed that God would not have asked and encouraged us to do so, when there are not weighty causes behind it. The exhortation to walk in God's ways, not only brings us to perform the correct activity and awakens within us not only the means to do so, but also brings us to consciously perform the true Good and thus to cease the doing of evil. Since we, as an imperfect creation, perform, by our very nature, both Good and evil, we require guidance and encouragement for the doing of Good. Walking in God's ways is the best way of doing so.nnAre we capable of walking in God's waysnIf we take into account the fact that this activity was proposed by our Creator, who knows our capabilities better than any other one in the universe, it is extremely plausible to suppose that we are, indeed, capable of following God's ways. Also, in terms of our similarity to God, according to his statement that we were created in His image, it can be concluded that we are capable of doing so. In order to essentially examine our ability to do so, we must first know His ways.nnWhat do God's ways includenAs we observe and sense, God's ways include the creation of this infinite universe and its ceaseless development, and also his love for this creation. What drove God to create this infinite universe? After all, had He wished, he could have not done so; if He created it anyway, it can be said He had and has an urge to create.nn If we believe this creation expresses absolute Good, it can be concluded that this drive for Creation was the urge to do Good. In order to express this Good, an 'address' is required. The creation of the universe and its infinite development supply an ever-present address for expressing this immense and wonderful urge.nnThe force that encourages this wonderful expression is His infinite power of love. According to the ancient world's philosophers' words too, God's infinite powers of love are the means by which He creates and develops the universe. The philosophers expressed themselves marvelously regarding love, saying that love is the reason for the universe's existence; without love, nothing could exist. This is the force that unites the entire universe with its source, the Creator.nn His love is multi-faceted: One face is the energy, which creates and develops the universe – we shall refer to it as "cosmic love". Another face is human love of the most exalted purity, multiplied a thousand fold, seeking expression.n In order to do it, God created creatures in the universe, who resemble Him; to bestow them with this love, in the hope that they will accept it and make adequate use of it.nMan's ability to walk in God's waysnn In the previous pages, our philosophical conclusion was that man has, in principle, the ability to walk in God's ways. At this stage we are familiar with his essential capability, which is: Man too has an urge to express Good, and he too possesses powers of creation and love, which bring this Good into expression, and also, he too has the ability of expressing these forces, most of the time.nn Despite man's ability being immeasurably smaller and more primitive than that of the divine, thanks to the fact that it fits man's degree of spiritual development, he can efficiently express it throughout his entire walk towards infinite progress. Hence, essentially, man can walk in God's ways throughout his progress.n nHow should we interpret the concept of man's walking in God's ways nGiven that man holds the role of deputy creator, and since he cannot currently create as God does, this term should be seen as a guidance; an exhortation; an instruction and even as a divine decree to perform his activities as deputy creator in the ways of love and creation, to benefit living beings generally and mankind in particular. We shall therefore term this walking in His ways as: Walking in the pattern of God's ways.