Lessons In Truth - Lesson 10 - Annotation 2
How close is God to us? Should we approach Him direct?
2. God is as close to us as our own breath, for God is our life, our breath, all that we are in Truth. The poet Tennyson puts it very clearly in these words,
"Closer Is He than breathing, and nearer than hands and feet." Can anyone say how close the beauty and perfume of the rose are to the rose? Or can we say how close the song is to the singer? Just as close to us is God. Our Scripture tells us,
"He is not far from each one of us: for in him we live, and move, and have our being" (Acts 17:27, 28).
Also we are told,
"We are a temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them" (II Cor. 6:l6).
Lessons In Truth Lesson 2 Annotation 9 brought out that God is both impersonal principle of all creation, and the loving Father-Mother of each of us. His presence dwelling within us is referred to by many names, such as the Christ, the I AM, the Father. It is in His immanent presence that we find our oneness with Him.
Yes, we must approach God direct. Any attempt to try to contact God through another person or place is doomed to failure because of His indwelling presence in each individual. It is true that other persons as well as books may help us to find the road that leads to conscious contact with our Father, but only we ourselves may actually walk this particular "road." Prayer is our direct approach, for through the highest phase of prayer, which is "the Silence," we become acquainted with God's own nature of Absolute Good comprising all of the ideas (qualities) of life, love, power, strength, faith, substance, intelligence, and so forth.
When we know intellectually that God is as close to us as our own heartbeat, is in fact the power that causes the beating, then we see why we must make a direct approach to God. Jesus pointed this out in referring to Peter's revelation, when He said,
"Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jonah; for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 16:17).
When intellectual understanding gives way to spiritual understanding, we approach God through the drawing power of His love. We know, then, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that no one else can take us into God's presence.
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Preceding Entry: Explain why "finding the secret place" may be instantaneous but the full development of the Christ consciousness cannot be hurried.
Following Entry: How are the qualities of life and love consciously incorporated into our soul, body, and affairs?
