Bahá’u’lláh proclaims in the Hidden Words that God inspires
His servants and is revealed through them. He says, “Thy heart is My home;
sanctify it for My descent. Thy spirit is My place of revelation; cleanse it
for My manifestation.” Therefore, we learn that nearness to God is possible
through devotion to Him, through entrance into the Kingdom and service to
humanity; it is attained by unity with mankind and through loving-kindness to
all; it is dependent upon investigation of truth, acquisition of praiseworthy
virtues, service in the cause of universal peace and personal sanctification.
In a word, nearness to God necessitates sacrifice of self, severance and the
giving up of all to Him. Nearness is likeness.
Behold how the sun shines upon all creation, but only
surfaces that are pure and polished can reflect its glory and light.
(‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a talk, 26 May 1912, New York, ‘The Promulgation of the
Universal Peace’)
