Paradise: God’s Neighbourhood

PARADISE: GOD’S NEIGHBOURHOOD transformed. His divine nature is awakened, and, as a result, he develops all those qualities that meet the standard of elevated human ethics. Divine ethics is, in fact, a phenomenon that arises after the realization of God. God, being the Creator, loves His servants. Therefore, man also begins to love other human beings. The belief that God is the judge on the Day of Judgement produces in man a strong sense of accountability. He refrains from using words and committing deeds that would cause God to hold him to account and punish him severely. Such a person believes that God is both the Giver and the Taker—one who can take away what He has given. This feeling puts a complete end to human arrogance. Viewing someone as inferior becomes an attitude he cannot afford. Where the social code of ethics permits certain freedoms, the divine code of ethics—the result of the believer’s relationship of servitude to God—sets boundaries. In short, the former code of ethics is worldly, whereas the latter is heavenly. Social ethics is narrower in scope, unlike divine ethics, which encompasses everything. Everything has a price, and the price of Paradise is the realization of God. Nothing less can open the gates of Paradise. The truth is that if anything less than the realization of God is regarded as the price of Paradise, it constitutes a belittling of Paradise. Those selected for Paradise are the ones who have made God their supreme concern in this life. Their thoughts and feelings have been devoted to God. Their mornings and evenings have been filled with the remembrance of God. These are the