While in this world of Caesar, seemingly detached and lost,
you are not, for your human imagination
is a wonderful power. It is yours to use lovingly, or as unlovingly as
those men did with their dreams of wars, in order to get a little medal and be
promoted. So what if they do? Eventually they will all be buried, and two
generations later no one will know they ever existed. Our cemeteries are filled
with monuments to those who thought themselves so important, yet no one recalls
who they were. So I say: what does it matter if you own the world and lose your
life?
I urge you to seek the kingdom of God ,
for when you do, you come into a power unknown to mortal man. All of the atom
bombs in the world cannot compare to the power you are destined to fall heir
to. You will possess a power that can still the world. But you will never know
this power without love. With this power, unrestrained, you would still a
nation, face its inhabitants toward the ocean, and put the idea of entering it
in their mind. Then when you release this power they would all march into the
ocean. But you will never know a power greater than you know love. The power
known to earthly man is nothing compared to the power of love. With that power
you can stop the thought process of another, change it completely, and when you
allow that energy to flow once more, he will move in a different direction, not
even realizing that a change had taken place within him.
When the embodiment of reason asked the Risen Lord: "Do
you not know that I have the power to crucify you and the power to set you
free?" Imagination replied: "You have no power over me were it not
given you from above." Just imagine knowing you have that kind of power! You came to play a part called Man, and
when you have experienced it, you will play the part called Jesus Christ. His
play takes place in heaven, which is within. And when you tell your story,
those who hear your words on the outside will either believe or disbelieve you,
and you will have no power to persuade them otherwise. Those who do not believe
sit in darkness, breathing war as recorded in this month's Atlantic Monthly.
Although the salaries of these men come from the pockets of civilians, they are
believing our country into a militaristic and aggressive nation, in order to
become more glorious in their own little minds.
I urge you to use
your imagination lovingly on behalf of everyone, and believe in the reality of
your imaginal acts. If you have a friend who would like to be gainfully
employed, listen carefully until you hear his voice tell you of his new
position. Feel his hand clasp yours. See the smile on his lips. Use every sense you can possibly bring to
bear into the imaginal scene. Persist until you feel the thrill of reality,
then drop it and let that scene fulfill itself on the outside. We are told
that the kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed. Your imaginal act created
for your friend in the kingdom of heaven is that seed. Don't pick it up to see
if it is growing; just leave it alone, and it will grow and bloom as a solid
fact in your world. Then you will have found this hidden cause within you
called Christ.
Christ, the power and
wisdom of God, is in you as your own wonderful eternal being. He will never
leave you or forsake you as told us in the 13th chapter of Hebrews. If,
perchance, one day you are swept into an unlovely state and go through hell,
remember: there is that in you who will not leave you or forsake you; and if you know this principle you can detach
yourself from the state and it will vanish, as you move into a more desirable
one.
There is truly nothing new under the sun. That which was
recently recorded in the Atlantic Monthly is the same as that which was
recorded in Genesis as the first frightful act, when Cain slew his brother
Abel. This same act is taking place over
and over again, and if a man knows how to detach himself he need not be pulled
into that state. While in the army I was told I could not get out, but I
dared to assume I was out. I acted, in my imagination, as I would act were I
free to come and go as I chose. I persisted in this assumption for nine days.
Then the one who first denied my request granted my freedom, and that day I was
honorably discharged.
Neville Goddard,
Edited Lecture, March, 1969
No comments:
Post a Comment