Life: A Journey Towards Paradise

LIFE: A JOURNEY TOWARDS PARADISE This life is a journey to Paradise, not Paradise itself. We should make ourselves deserving of Paradise by developing a divine personality within ourselves in this world. For seekers of Truth, a reason-based understanding of the creation plan of God is essential. God, according to His will, created a perfect world called Paradise. A world as per all of our desires as human beings in that it is free of all limitations and disadvantages, free of fear and pain, and free of all imperfections. An eternal world where there is no death or old age. An ideal world where we can achieve complete fulfilment. As a less-than-perfect being cannot inhabit a perfect Paradise, God has created a perfection-seeking being—man. God intended that man must spend a period of trial in this present and imperfect world, and after this, according to man’s deeds, he can earn the right to inhabit the perfect and eternal world of Paradise or live in eternal deprivation. As part of this test, Paradise is hidden from us. This world, therefore, has all the components necessary for a test. It has perfection-seeking beings in a less-than-perfect world, beings who are free to choose their actions. We, thus, have a choice— we can misuse our freedom to do evil, or we can use our freedom wisely, submit to God, and qualify for Paradise. The test of man rests on his discovery of God, Who is in the unseen. Before we can see God, we should voluntarily surrender ourselves to Him. Man’s desire for Paradise should make him willingly adopt divine ethics. He should develop his personality intellectually and spiritually to be eligible to inhabit Paradise’s refined world. Only those who maintain a high moral character