Part 41 (1/2)
”Because, when sin was banished from our world, it dragged in its train every evil thing and left all bright and joyous behind it. Even the unconscious soil was so improved in character that, whereas in the former time it had brought forth by nature the thorn and brier and noxious weed, there now sprang up spontaneously all manner of healthful plants and fruits.”
”But,” said I, ”we do not attribute moral excellence to the ground that produces our food. How could the absence of sin make it any better?”
”Like everything else,” replied Thorwald, ”it reflected the spiritual condition of our race. By long and patient cultivation, by a constant use of good seed, and by a persistent fight against every tendency to evil growth, men had so changed the nature of the soil that it yielded only that which was good. Even if left without care the ground did not deteriorate, but the products took on the character of the times and gradually improved. To such a degree had our once sinful world been changed.
”The disagreeable features in nature's laboratory were lost to every sense, while everything that was beautiful in sight or sound, or that was pleasant to the taste, now possessed an added charm. The birds sang in more joyous notes, the flowers glowed in brighter hue, and all created things burst forth in a song of praise to their Maker.”
”Is it possible,” I asked, ”that the growth of love in the heart will so transform a world and make even inanimate things more beautiful? The earth is full of selfishness and I fear will be so for a long time, and yet we think we have a few things that are perfect. I cannot conceive, for instance, how anything could ever grow, sin or no sin, that would surpa.s.s in beauty one of our finest roses.”
To which Thorwald replied:
”Is this not of value to you, to learn that the roses of the future are entirely beyond your conception? Let me a.s.sure you that, with each new advance in your progress toward a higher condition, there will unfold within you new powers of appreciation for the increasing beauties in nature, and new desires for spiritual perfections which are now too high for your mind to grasp. Is it not a pleasure to know that there are many things in reserve for the earth of whose character and perfections you cannot conceive?”
”It surely is,” I replied, ”and we shall never cease to thank you for this hour's talk. But now let me ask if you were not really in heaven when you reached such a happy state. With both man and nature redeemed from sin, with the tears wiped away from all eyes, with all griefs a.s.suaged and sickness and sorrow forgotten, and with love supreme in the heart, what more was needed to make a heaven? Many of our generation on the earth believe that the earth itself will be our heaven, when sin has been driven out and peace and joy abound.”
”Oh, no, not heaven,” answered Thorwald. ”The earth will be better in a thousand years than it is now, much better in ten thousand years, but it will never be heaven.”
”But why?” I persisted. ”We cannot understand how there could be any more blessed place than the earth would be if it should ever reach the condition which you have pictured to us as existing here.”
”You have just stated the trouble,” Thorwald replied.
”You cannot understand. With your present capacities you think a state such as I have described would be perfection; but you--I mean, of course, your race--will come in time to see imperfections even in such a life, and will, with increasing spiritual vision, see still higher things to strive for. Let me urge you to keep your hearts attuned to the heavenly music and your minds open to divine influences.”
Here Thorwald was about to leave us, as we remained in quiet thought after his solemn and impressive words. But I kept him a moment to ask if they had solved all the mysteries of G.o.d's moral government. ”By no means,” he replied. ”There are still many things unexplained in G.o.d's dealings with us, and we think this is well. Life would lose much of its value if the time should come when there would be nothing to learn.
We know much of G.o.d's character, but are not acquainted with its full depths, and whenever we see or experience anything mysterious in his providences we are content to wait for a fuller revelation of truth in the future.
”We shall see the time when all our questions will be answered--that is, in the world to come--and, in the mean time, we try to strengthen our high and beautiful conception of G.o.d's character by referring everything we do not understand to his loving and gracious qualities, which we know so well.”
CHAPTER x.x.xIX.
A SUDDEN RETURN TO THE EARTH.
That night, when the doctor and I were alone, I said to him:
”Well, doctor, what do you think of it all?”
”It would take me a long time,” he replied, ”to tell what I think. I confess I am beginning to imbibe a little of the spirit of this place.
I have spent my life in the pursuit of material facts, which we supposed were the only substantial and valuable things in life Now I find myself thinking lightly of such matters, with my mind held in the grasp of far different thoughts. I realize now something of the substance and reality of unseen things, and believe that man has a spiritual side to his nature, which must be developed if he is to fulfill the high expectations of our friends in this world. Taught by Thorwald's words and by all I have seen here, I have come to that point where I can say I am losing my doubts and acquiring a love for things which formerly did not exist for me. If we ever return to the earth we shall find occupation enough for the rest of our lives in teaching the lessons we have learned here.”
”Yes,” I said, ”if we ever return. But doesn't that seem impossible?”
”It certainly is difficult to imagine how it can be accomplished, but going home ought not to be any more impossible than our coming here.
Perhaps we had better bestir ourselves, for Mars is now getting farther away from the earth every day. Thorwald says the two planets were nearer each other at the recent opposition than ever before since their records began, and this is probably what drew our moon here, so fortunately for us. For the return trip we might get these generous people to loan us Demios or Phobos.”
”What are they?”
”Why, don't you know? They are the little satellites of Mars, named after the favorite horses of the war G.o.d.”