PARADISE AND MAN — World As A Selecting Ground

and bad, has proved to possess a character worthy of Paradise. He is the one who will be selected and accommodated in the eternal world of Paradise. God’s invisible angels are ever present with man and they are preparing the records of his deeds at every moment. This is the test of man and it is on the basis of this test that the future of every human being will be decided. The test is of man’s acknowledgement of the greatness of God on every occasion, which is whether he pays attention to the voice of his conscience or ignores it. When he is confronted with logical argument, does he surrender to the truth or go against it? when there is a choice between ego and truth, does he accept the truth or become an egoist? God gave man the opportunity to stay here without applying any curbs on his freedom. Similarly, while dealing with people does he adhere to justice or does he become unjust in his own interests? Is he a good person in private just as he appears to be in public? Does he make truth his supreme concern or does he make anything else his supreme concern? In the same way when he gets a position of power does he become corrupt or does he adhere to justice? When he receives wealth or when he experiences poverty, does he prove himself to be on the path of moderation or does he deviate from it? In social life, when he is given a front seat, how does he behave and given a back seat, how does he react? Does he subjugate his desires and emotions to principles or does he do the opposite? The decision about the eternal future of every man and woman will be based on this very record. The present world has been created for a limited period of time. After the completion of this period, all human beings born in this world will be presented before God. According to records prepared by the angels, God will decide the future of each and every one. Those men and women whose records show that they lived in the world with nobility of character, and used their freedom according to God’s will, thus proving that they were fit to be lodged in the environs of Paradise will be selected to inhabit the Gardens of Paradise. And all those who fail to demonstrate nobility of character will be rejected and sent to the universal dustbin to spend a life of frustration and regret, and will never escape from this condition. o