I am here, John, apostle of Jesus.
I come tonight to say only a few words, and these in reference to Love–the Divine Love of the Father [God] which He rebestowed upon mankind at the coming of the Master.
This Love is the greatest thing in all the world, and the only thing that can make man at-one with the Father and change the soul of man, as it has existed since his creation, into a Divine Substance filled with the Essence of the Father. There is nothing else in all the Universe of God that can cause man to become a new creature and an inhabitant of the Father’s Kingdom. When men possess this Love, they possess everything that will make them — not only the perfect man but also — the divine angel. They will understand the moral precepts of brotherly love and the Father’s Oneness. When they possess this Love, they will not have to seek for other help in order to bring the qualities of the Love into the life of the human race. For this Love in the souls of humans will bring peace and good will to the human race. Then will each man know that every other man is his brother; and he will be able to do unto each as he would have the other do unto him, and this without effort or sacrifice on his part. For, Love worketh its own fulfillment, and all its beneficence floweth towards the fellowman as falls the dews from heaven. Envy and hatred and strife and jealousy, and all the other evil qualities of a man, will disappear, and only peace and joy and happiness will remain.
The Divine Love is so abundant that it may be possessed by all men by the mere seeking and the sincere longing for its inflowing. Man must understand that it is not his by matter of right, nor is it ever forced upon him, but comes only in response to the sincere, earnest prayer of a soul that is filled with longings for its coming.
This Love comes not with observation of the mere moral rules, or with good deeds and the exercise of the natural love of a man towards his fellows, because no man can possibly merit it by any deeds or acts or kindness of heart that he may have. All these things are desirable and they work out their own rewards, and they bring the happiness and peace that result from good thoughts and kind deeds; but all these do not bring this Great Love into the soul of man. The Father, Alone, brings this Love, and only when the soul is opened up to its reception can this Love possibly find its home in that soul. It is greater than faith or hope because it is the real Substance of the Father, while faith and hope are the qualities which a man may possess by his own efforts, and which are given to him that he may realize the possibility of obtaining this Love. However, they are merely means – It (the Divine Love) is the end and fullness of their exercise.
Men must not believe that all love is the Divine Love, for it is very different in its Substance and Qualities from all other loves.
All men have the natural love as a part of their possessions, and they need not pray for a bestowal of that; although, since it has become defiled by sin, it needs to be purified and freed from this blight. The Father is ever willing and ready to help men obtain this purification.
This Divine Love is not a part of man’s nature, nor can he obtain or possess It except he seek for It. It comes from without and is not developed from within.
It is the result of individual acquirement, and not the object of universal possession. It may be possessed by all; It can be possessed by only a few; and each man must determine for himself whether or not it shall be his. With God, there is no respect of persons; neither is there any royal road to the obtaining of this Love. All must pursue the same Way, and that Way is the one that Jesus taught: the opening up of the soul so that this Love may find a lodgment therein, which can be brought about only by sincere prayer and longing for its inflowing.
This Love is the life of the Celestial Heavens and the only key that will unlock the gates; and, when the mortal enters therein, all other Love is absorbed by it. It has no substitute, and is, of Itself, a thing apart. It is of the Essence of the Divine, and the spirit which possesses it is divine, himself. It may be yours; It may be all men’s, and It may not. You must decide that question for yourself. Not even the Father can make the decision for you. In closing, let me repeat that It is the greatest thing in all God’s universe; and not only the greatest but also the sum of all things. For from It flows every other thing that brings peace and happiness.
I will not write more tonight and, with my love to you and the Blessings of the Father, will say good night.
Your brother in Christ,
John
(The above Angelic Message was received by James Padgett and taken from Ch. 7, “The Divine Love of the Father and the New Birth of the Soul”, pp. 136-138, Angelic Revelations of Divine Truth, Volume I. An electronic copy of Volume I can be found at www.truths.com)