Chapter 9: How to be Made into God's Image. The one who is intimate with God has a true and grand view of the universe because he is receptive to divine instruction. When he first heard about God and his loving guidance, he readily believed because he already stood in awe of creation. Then, once he demonstrated his ability to learn, he became an eager pupil of the Lord. Now he devotes all his energy to learning, doing everything to obtain the knowledge he desires.
He understands that the Lord is the one who teaches man knowledge, as the prophet has said, Micah 4:2. As faith progresses, the godly man's desire for investigation of heavenly things increases. In this way, the one who is intimate with God tastes the very will of God, yields his soul to the things spoken, not just his ears. Because he understands the essence and principles of the things spoken, he conforms his soul to what is essential.
The one who is intimate with God understands biblical commandments in a different way than most people, speaking of commandments such as "Do not commit adultery" and "Do not kill." Others see only the commandments, but the one who is intimate with God understands the spirit of the law. In accord with what is right, the godly person never prefers the pleasant to the beneficial. This would be true even if he found himself in circumstances where a beautiful woman tried to entice him and wantonly urged him on.
For example, Joseph remained steadfast when his master's wife tried to seduce him. As she forcibly held his coat, he left it with her, becoming bare of sin but clothed with good character. Even though Joseph's Egyptian master could not see what Joseph had done, the Almighty did. We humans merely hear what people say, and we see their outward appearance, but God examines the source of the words and appearance.
Though sickness, misfortune, and even death come upon the one who is intimate with God, he remains unyielding in his soul. He knows that these things are a part of earthly life. He also knows that by God's power they become the instruments of salvation. They bring necessary discipline to those who are difficult to reform. By God's guidance, troubles are distributed according to need. The one who is intimate with God also enjoys God's creatures.
Out of thankfulness to the Creator, he uses them as a logos determinans and only to the extent he determines. When a person is intimate with God, he never cherishes resentment, and he never harbors a grudge against anyone. This is true even though somebody deserves to be hated for his conduct. But because he worships the Maker, the one who is intimate with God loves such hateful persons. He realizes that even those people are fellow sharers in the gift of earthly life.
He feels compassion for them because of their ignorance, and he prays for them. When the soul is conformed to the gospel in every facet of life, it becomes a temple of the Holy Spirit. Such a person withstands every type of fear, no matter how terrible. He endures poverty, disease, public disgrace, and even death. He is unconquered by pleasure, and he is lord over his own fleshly desires. He knows very well which things should be done and which should not. He also knows what to fear and what not to fear.
So he understands what the logos indicates is necessary. He distinguishes between what truly is good and what only appears to be good. And he discriminates between those things that really should be feared and those things that most humans commonly fear, such as death, disease, and poverty. The truly godly man is without fleshly desires. He has transcended the whole life of fleshly desires because his soul is now endowed with moral excellence.
The good man does not fear those occurrences that are considered terrible by other men, for they are not truly evil. The evil things that should be dreaded are no part of the one who is intimate with God, since they have no part with the good. It's impossible for contrary things to meet in the same person at the same time. The one who flawlessly acts out the drama of life, which God has given him to play, knows both what is to be accomplished and what is to be endured.
About martyrdom, doesn't cowardice arise from ignorance of what should and should not be feared? So the only truly courageous man is the one who is intimate with God, for he knows both present and future good things. And as I've said, he also knows which things should not be feared. He knows that evil should be hated. He realizes that it destroys that which brings true knowledge. Therefore, protected by God's armor, he wages war against evil. No one who is irrationally brave is a person who is intimate with God.
One might call children brave, but they do dangerous things because of ignorance. For example, they often touch fire itself. Likewise, wild beasts that rush up to the points of spears have a brute courage that might be called valiant. Some people might call acrobats valiant because they skillfully somersault on swords, performing their tricks for mere monetary gain. But the truly brave man seeing the danger from the mob surrounding him courageously waits whatever comes.
Some who are called martyrs bring perils upon themselves and purposely rush into the heart of danger. But the truly brave man sensibly protects himself until God calls him. Then he promptly surrenders himself and confirms the call, not wanting to be impulsive. He then offers himself to be tested in the exercise of true, rational courage. He doesn't endure small dangers in order to avoid greater ones, nor does he fear criticism from his equals or those of like feelings.
Rather, he continues steadfastly in the confession of his calling. He willingly obeys the call of martyrdom out of love for God, not for the sake of eternal reward. He has no other purpose than pleasing God. Some people undergo martyrdom because they want human glory. Others endure it because they fear some worse punishment from God. Still, others suffer because of their hope of receiving pleasures and delights after death, being children in faith.
All of these are blessed, but none of them have yet become mature in the faith. They have not come to know God in the fullest sense. In gymnastic contests, there are crowns for men, and then there are crowns for children. It's the same in the church. Love should be chosen for its own sake and for nothing else. So along with his knowledge, the one who is intimate with God develops the perfection of fortitude, for he has studied to gain mastery over the flesh, being spiritually fit.
In all circumstances, the soul of the one who is intimate with God is strong. It's healthy and robust, like the body of an athlete. Love makes the spiritual athlete fearless and brave. He's confident in the Lord, for love anoints and trains him. Righteousness assures truthfulness in his whole life. Let your yes be yes and your no no. That is the epitome of righteousness. The same is true of self-control. It shouldn't be practiced for love of honor, the way athletes do for the sake of crowns and fame.
Neither should it be practiced for love of money. Some pretend to exercise self-control, but they pursue what is good only with terrible suffering. Nor does a Christian practice self-control simply for the healthful benefits to the body. Furthermore, an uncultured man who has never tasted pleasures is not necessarily practicing self-control. Many who have led such lives lose all self-control when they finally taste pleasures for the first time. These are the ones who are only restrained by law and fear.
But upon finding a favorable opportunity, they abandon good. But true self-control, desirable for its own sake, is perfected through knowledge. It is ever-enduring, making the man the Lord and master of himself. So the one who is intimate with God is moderate and free from fleshly desires. He is incapable of being dissolved by pleasures and pains. The source of all these virtues is love. Colossians 3:14. It's the most sacred and sovereign knowledge of all.
By serving what is best and most exalted, love renders the one who is intimate with God into both a friend and a son of God. In the soil of truth, love has grown, a perfect man up to the measure of full stature. Ephesians 4:13. When two things are in agreement, they become one. The one who is intimate with God because he loves the one true God is the only man who really is complete. He is a friend of God and has even been made a son. This then is the crowning step for the soul of the one who is intimate with God.
He receives this crowning step only when he has become quite pure and is considered worthy to eternally behold God Almighty face to face, so to speak. Having become totally spirit-natured, having become of kindred nature to the spirit-natured assembly, the soul of the one who is intimate with God abides in God's rest. Hebrews 4:9-11.