You Dare To Assume

Neville Goddard 06-19-1970

Spiritual growth is a gradual transition from a God of tradition to a God of experience. In Blake’s works – one of his letters, rather (23 August 1799) – he had this little difference of opinion with the Dr. Reverend Trusler; and Trusler said to him, “You need someone to elucidate your ideas.”

Blake wrote him a letter saying, “You ought to know that what can be made explicit to the idiot is not worth my care. The wisest of the Ancients discovered that that which was not too explicit was fittest for instruction, because it rouses the faculties to act.” Then he asked the Reverend, “Why is it that the Bible is the most instructive work in this world?” Then he answered the Reverend himself, “Is it not because it is addressed to the Imagination, and only mediately to the understanding or reason?”

Well, the Bible is addressed to the Reality of man, for the true identity of man is Jesus Christ; and Jesus Christ is the human imagination! That is the Lord Jesus Christ. “By him all things were made and without Him was not anything made that is made.” [John 1:3] And that is the Creator of the world.

Now we will turn to the 17th chapter of the Book of Acts, and you will find a story that is not spelled out because, as Blake said, it is addressed to the imagination. Dig it out. So, Paul addresses the Athenians, and he said, “O men of Athens,” – and then he compliments them on their religious devotions; but then he added, “But as I passed by, I observed over one of your altars this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.” Then said he to the Athenians, “What, therefore, you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you: The God who created the world and everything within it is not far off from each one of us. It is in Him that we live, and move, and have our being.” (Acts 17:22, 23, 27, 28)

Now you’ve got to dig it. Start asking questions. I live in Him. I move in Him, and I have my being in Him, and He created the world and everything within it. Blake said,

“I am not a God afar off. I am a brother and Friend;

Within your own bosoms I reside, and you reside in me,”

But the perturbed Man, away turned down the valleys dark,” (from “Jerusalem”)

— couldn’t take it.

Well, I am going to go a little bit beyond that. I will say that God is not far off; in fact, He is never so far off as even to be near, because nearness implies separation. So, He’s not even so far off as even to be near. He became – actually became – as we are. His name is I AM. Can you speak of yourself when you say, “I am,” and point elsewhere?

In a dream, who is dreaming? I am.

In a vision, who is having the vision? I am.

In the prison, who is imprisoned? I am. And who is set free? I am.

You can’t get away from it. So He can never be so far off as even to be near, for nearness implies separation.

This is the God of Whom Paul spoke when he addressed the Athenians, “O men of Athens,” – he praised them, yes, for all their wonderful devotions – religious devotions. Then he brought up the point, “But as I passed by, I observed this inscription over one of your altars, TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. What, therefore, you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to thee…. The God who created the world and everything within it is not so far off from each one of us, for in Him we live and move and have our being.”

That God is your own wonderful human imagination. That’s the God of the Universe. One day you will know it. But you are keyed low for Divine purposes, so you don’t know it, and you are having this strange, strange, wonderful dream. And this is the dream, but who is dreaming? I am dreaming. One day you will awaken in that immortal head of yours, where the whole drama started and where it comes to an end; and you will discover that you really are the God who created the universe and all within it! But while you are on this level, you can test it and see if this thing is really true.