The path that leads to God is hard and not easy to follow in this life, because God tests us when we say we believe.

 

110. The path is hard. The path that leads to God is hard and not easy to follow in this life. God tests us when we say we believe. God tries the heart to see if we truly believe and are not just talking and to help us grow spiritually preparing us for the next life:  Judaism: Exodus 20:20 “And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you.” Psalms 7:9 “The righteous God trieth the hearts.”  Christianity: 1 Peter 1:7 “The trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire.”

 ISLAM: Qur’an: 155. “Be sure We shall test you.” 186. “Ye shall certainly be tried and tested.” (The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah 2 and 3) 2. “Do men think that they will be left alone on saying, ‘We believe,’ and that they will not be tested? (put to proof) ” 3. “We did test those before them, and Allah (God) will certainly know those who are true from those who are false. Do those who practice evil think that they will get the better of us? Evil is their judgment” (The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah  29)

BAHA’I FAITH: “Thus hath the Dove of holiness proclaimed: ‘Do men think when they say ‘We believe’ they shall be let alone and not be put to proof?”’

(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, Gems of Divine Mysteries p. 25)

 BABI RELIGION: “Think men that when they say, ‘We believe,’ they shall be let alone and not be put to the proof?”

The Bab: (Shoghi Effendi, The Dawn-Breakers, p. 309)

 ZOROASTRIANISM: “Whatever torments You may send to me Ahura (God), I would taste them as delights” “Test us, by what are your tests in this respect. What ever Your tests are they are for finding out the strong.” (ZOROASTER, Hymns of Atharvan pp. 269 and 360)

 HINDUISM: “I CALL with prayers Visit, to prove us,” “Sorrow and suffering, trial and endurance, are a part of the Hindu ideal of a Perfect Life of righteousness. Repeated trials bring out in brighter relief the unfaltering truth.”

(Hindu, Vedas, Rig Veda – Book 6, and Ramayana, R. Dutt, abridged tr)

 Hinduism: Hindu: “In its wild joy Indra (Brahma, (God) hath proved him faithful.” (Hindu Vedas, Rig Veda – Book 6)

 BUDDHISM: “The sorrow arising through this or that loss or misfortune (test) which one encounters, the worrying oneself, the state of being alarmed, inward sorrow, inward woe this is called Sorrow.” “Easy to do are those karmas Which are bad and not benefitting oneself But those which are good and beneficial Are difficult indeed to be performed.”

(The Eightfold Path), Buddha and The Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 3 (tr. J. Richards))

 SABEANISM: “(The First Life, Haiyi/God) perfecteth our souls,” when we say we believe we are sampled for “brilliance and purity;” “The Great Light (abideth) in Its purities.” “For my heart hath testified to the First Life (Haiyi/God) and I endure the persecution of the world.” “Behold me, who have sought purification before Thee! Look on me, who have borne persecution for Thy name!” (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapters 46, 49, 77, 92 and 410)

BAHA’I FAITH: “Do men think when they say ‘We believe’ they shall be let alone and not be put to proof?”

(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 8)

 BABI RELIGION: “O YE who are invested with the Bayan! Ye shall be put to proof, even as those unto whom the Qur’án was given.”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 140)

Clearly we can see that God does in fact test those who claim to believe to see if they are truthful in word and deed and not just talking to appease the people around them; and He does this throughout His various religions. What He also does is try to help mankind grow spiritually so man becomes more like God, in whose image he is created in; and this is a path not easily followed.  Judaism: Exodus 20:20 “And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that His fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.” Deuteronomy 8:2 “And thou shalt remember all the way which The LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep His commandments, or no.” Proverbs 3:12 “For whom The LORD loveth He correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” Psalms 7:9 “Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts.” Ecclesiastes 1:18 For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Isaiah 48:10 “Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.”  Christianity: Hebrews 12:6 “For whom The Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth.” Hebrews 12:7 “If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?” Matthew 7:13 “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at:” Matthew 7:14 “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Because the path that leads to God is not easily followed and few see the truth. Matthew 13:21 “tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word,” Mark 4:17 “Affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake,” Acts 14:22 “Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 4:12 “We bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: Being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.”

 BABI RELIGION: “This is the true Path of God, The Almighty, and He is indeed watchful over your actions.” “O THOU Remnant of God! I have sacrificed myself wholly for Thee; I have accepted curses for Thy sake, and have yearned for naught but martyrdom in the path of Thy love. Sufficient witness unto me is God, the Exalted, the Protector, the Ancient of Days.”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, pp. 56 and 59)

 ISLAM: Letter 55. “You must know and understand that Allah (God) has made this world a place where one is to stay only to provide for a happy life for himself in the Hereafter by his deeds. People are put to test here so that they may be rewarded according to their merits. Our life does not end here and we are not created only for this world. Nor are we ordered to concentrate our energies only to acquire pleasures, power and pomp here. We are brought here simply to be tested in accordance to our knowledge, intentions and activities.”

(Ali b. Abi Taalib, Letters from Nahjul Balaagh)

Islam: 2. “Do men think that they will be left alone on saying, ‘We believe,’ and that they will not be tested? We did test those before them, and Allah will certainly know those who are true from those who are false.” 214. “Or do ye think that ye shall enter the Garden (of Bliss) without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you?”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surahs 2 and 29)

Islam: 155. “Be sure We shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere.” 214. “Or do ye think that ye shall enter the Garden (of Bliss) without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you?”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah   2)

Islam: “Allah’s Apostle said, ‘If Allah wants to do good to somebody, He afflicts him with trials.”

(Hadith, Bukhari Vol 7, Book 70, # 548)

Islam: “Let every nation follow what they used to worship, and now we are waiting for our Lord.’ Then the Almighty will come to them in a shape other than the one which they saw the first time, and He will say, ‘I am your Lord,’ and they will say, ‘You are not our Lord.”’ They will be blind to the new manifestation of God, Allah will send them. They have eyes to see, but don’t see the true light of Allah when it dawns, and fail to hear the truth of His words. 13. “The same religion has He established for you as that which He enjoined on Noah-the which We have sent by inspiration to thee-and that which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: Namely, that ye should remain steadfast in Religion, and make no divisions therein: to those who worship other things than Allah, hard is the (way) to which thou callest them. Allah chooses to Himself those whom He pleases, and guides to Himself those who turn (to Him).”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah 42 and Hadith, Bukhari Vol 9, Book 93, # 532)

 ZOROASTRIANISM: Denkard. Zoroaster, “The explicit reason of allowing the opponent to commingle (in this world), therefore is the benefit derived by His own creatures even from undergoing the test (of virtue).” “Evil is not wholly evil. In tackling it the soul acquires moral strength i.e. competence for nearness to God.” “Even evil operates for the ultimate good.” (ZOROASTER, Hymns of Atharvan pp. 120 and 121)

 Zoroastrianism: “An aspirant has to acquire the strength to pass through all trials. The greater the difficulty, the greater is the gain when one overcomes it.” “A staunch devotee welcomes troubles as it makes his spirit stronger.” (ZOROASTER, Hymns of Atharvan pp. 362 and 364)

 Zoroastrianism: “We worship the souls of the holy men and women, born at any time, whose consciences struggle, or will struggle, or have struggled, for the good.”

(Zoroaster, The Zend-Avesta, Khorda Avesta – Book of Common Prayer pt. 1)

 HINDUISM: “Sorrow and suffering, trial and endurance, are a part of the Hindu ideal of a Perfect Life of righteousness.”

(Hindu, Ramayana (R. Dutt, abridged tr))

 Hinduism: “Truth under trials and temptations, their endurance under privations, and their devotion to duty under all vicissitudes of fortune, form the Hindu ideal of a Perfect Life.” “Sorrow wakes our deepest kindness and our holiest feelings prove!” “Repeated trials bring out in brighter relief the unfaltering truth.”

(Hindu, Ramayana (R. Dutt, abridged tr))

 Hinduism: 14. “Rise, awake! having obtained your boons.’ understand them! The sharp edge of a razor is difficult to pass over; thus the wise say the path (to the Self) is hard.”

(Hindu, Upanishads vol. 2, Katha-Upanishad)

 BUDDHISM: 12. “Things which are wrong and to one’s own disadvantage are easily enough done, while what is both good and advantageous is extremely hard to do.” 18. “It is hard for the man of conscience, always striving after purity, alert, reserved, pure of behaviour and discerning.”

(Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 1 (tr. J. Richards))

 Buddhism: “Faith, by virtue, by energy, by meditation, by discernment of the truth you will overcome this great sorrow, perfected in knowledge, behavior, and mindfulness.” 26. “The one I call holy, though having committed no offense, patiently bears reproach, ill-treatment, and imprisonment, has endurance for one’s force and strength.”

(Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 2 (tr. J. Richards))

 Buddhism: 18. “Hard is the life of a modest one Who ever seeks after purity, Who is strenuous, humble, Cleanly of life, and discerning.”

(Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 3

 SABEANISM: “Who establisheth our strength and cutteth us not off From the House of our trust; Who restoreth our souls at the House of Ransom On the Day of Judgement, and perfecteth our souls.” “To my Chosen do I call, I say to them, ‘My children (who walk) in my road, My children (who follow) my road, Swerve not from it or its boundary! Let him who deviateth from its boundary Cling to the boundary-stone. He who hath turned aside from both will fall into the uttermost ends of the world.”’ For hard is the path one must walk in the ways of “my lord Manda-d-Hiia.” (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapters76 and 90)

Sabeanism: Thou hast proven thyself by thy sojourn on earth And thy destiny leapt upward from its struggles, From its struggles thy destiny leapt upward.” Overcoming these difficult struggles of this life “perfecteth our souls,” and we are prepared for our new life in the next world. (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapters 35 and 92)

 BABI RELIGION: “Tabarsi He pays a glowing tribute to the constancy, the zeal and courage of the besieged, mentioning in particular Mulla Sadiq-i-Muqaddas. “For eighteen days,” He says, “they remained without food. They lived on the leather of their shoes. This too was soon consumed, and they had nothing left but water. They drank a mouthful every morning and lay famished and exhausted in their fort. When attacked, however, they would instantly spring to their feet, and manifest in the face of the enemy a magnificent courage and astonishing resistance…. Under such circumstances to maintain an unwavering faith and patience is extremely difficult, and to endure such dire afflictions a rare phenomenon.”

The Bab: (Shoghi Effendi, The Dawn-Breakers, p. 395)

BAHA’I FAITH: “Be the image and likeness of God. This is not easy. It necessitates the focalization of all heavenly virtues. It requires that we become recipients of all the perfections of God. Then we become His image and likeness.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 248)

Baha’i Faith: “O Thou Whose tests are a healing medicine to such as are nigh unto Thee,”

(Bahá’í Faith, Compilations, Baha’i Prayers, p. 189)

Baha’i Faith: “Know ye that trials and tribulations have, from time immemorial, been the lot of the chosen Ones of God and His beloved, and such of His servants as are detached from all else but Him, they whom neither merchandise nor traffic beguile from the rememberance of the Almighty, they that speak not till He hath spoken, and act according to His commandment. Such is God‘s method carried into effect of old, and such will it remain in the future. Blessed are the steadfastly enduring, they that are patient under ills and hardships, who lament not over anything that befalleth them, and who tread the path of resignation….”

(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah, p. 129)

 BABI RELIGION: “No sooner had that eternal Beauty revealed Himself in Shiraz, in the year sixty, and rent asunder the veil of concealment, than the signs of the ascendancy, the might, the sovereignty, and power emanating from that Essence of Essences and Sea of Seas, were manifest in every land. So much so, that from every city there appeared the signs, the evidences, the tokens, and testimonies of that Divine Luminary. How many were those pure and kindly hearts which faithfully reflected the light of that eternal Sun! And how manifold the emanations of knowledge from that Ocean of Divine Wisdom which encompassed all beings! In every city, all the divines and nobles rose to hinder and repress them, and girded up the loins of malice, of envy, and tyranny for their suppression. How great the number of those holy souls, those essences of justice, who, accused of tyranny, were put to death! And how many embodiments of purity, who showed forth naught but true knowledge and stainless deeds, suffered an agonising death! Notwithstanding all this, each of these holy beings, up to his last moment, breathed the name of God and soared in the realm of submission and resignation. Such was the potency and transmuting influence which He exercised over them, that they ceased to cherish any desire but His Will, and wedded their souls to His remembrance.” “Reflect: Who in the world is able to manifest such transcendent power, such pervading influence? All these stainless hearts and sanctified souls have, with absolute resignation, responded to the summons of His decree. Instead of making complaint, they rendered thanks unto God, and, amidst the darkness of their anguish, they revealed naught but radiant acquiescence in His Will. It is well known how relentless was the hate, and how bitter the malice and enmity, entertained  li  by all the peoples of the earth towards these Companions. The persecution and pain which they inflicted on these holy and spiritual beings were regarded by them as means unto salvation, prosperity, and everlasting success. Hath the world, since the days of Adam, witnessed such tumult, such violent commotion? Notwithstanding all the torture they suffered, and the manifold afflictions they endured, they became the object of universal opprobrium and execration. Methinks, patience was revealed only by virtue of their fortitude, and faithfulness itself was begotten by their deeds.” “Do thou ponder these momentous happenings in thine heart, so that thou mayest apprehend the greatness of this Revelation, and perceive its stupendous glory.”

The Bab: (Nabil, The Dawn-Breakers, p. xlix)