Sunsets Into Sunrises
Bishop Martin - The Progress of a Soul in the Beyond
- Chapter 90 -
JESUS AS LORD, FATHER, AND BROTHER. - PARABLE OF THE SOVEREIGN AND HIS MINISTERS.-RESPECT AND LOVE.
1
(Say I): "Rise, dear brother, and do not constantly think of My majesty, but only that in your love you are My brother. This will make it easier for you to bear My presence. A Lord I am only to those who rebel against My Word and still imagine themselves great in wisdom. To those, however, who have filled their hearts with love, I am not a Lord, but an almighty brother, giving them all that I have like a true father. Therefore, dearest brother, stand up and do not regard Me with such holy awe in future.
2
In the world, if a mighty sovereign goes to his ministers and they throw themselves at his feet out of respect, there is nothing wrong about that, for as long as they are his servants, he is their lord. If, however, those servants love their sovereign above everything and say to him: 'Lord, you are a very kind sovereign! You not only deserve our highest respect, but also all our love. Accept our most loyal services without reward, and since we love you more than our lives, we shall serve you faithfully without regard for our lives. And should you demand a hundred lives of us, we will give them to you, because you have now become a true sovereign of our hearts!' What would you think, brother, the sovereign would do to such servants?
3
He would be moved by such true love in the innermost core of his being and he would say to them: 'Oh, my dearest friends, since you have erected such a magnificent throne for me in your hearts as well as in your minds, I shall not rule over you through my power and might, but in you through your great love for me! All of you, who have been hallowed through the presence of my grandeur in your hearts, are now carrying the same in your hearts as I do. For that reason, you are now what I myself am and, therefore, my dearest brothers who shall share with me all that I myself possess.'
4
Just as such a wise sovereign would speak to his servants if they took him so much into their hearts, and maybe raise them to the nobility, I speak to all those who carry Me in their hearts as you do. Therefore, to those who love Me like that and are hallowed through My presence in their hearts, I am no longer a Lord, just as I am no Lord to Myself, but a loving brother forever! And what I have, they have too, since through their great love they are carrying Me within themselves!
5
Do you now comprehend, dear brother, what it means if I call you brother as I used to call my twelve disciples brothers? If you comprehend it, rise now and lead these poor to your house, together with Me. But do not reveal Me to your guests too soon. These hundred will not know for some time yet anyway that I am the Lord. They are Chinese who, on earth, were on the point of accepting My Word, although considerably misrepresented, and for that they were put to death, together with the missionary. What they could not attain in the world, they shall have here in the fullest measure. Now you are fully informed, so stand up and take action, together with Me - for from now on, My house and your house will be united and become one house!"