Some religions hold that God gives us just one chance; if we don’t surrender to him in this life, he casts us into hell forever. 

Such a conception of God is undeniably unmerciful. Even an ordinary parent gives an errant child multiple chances. Is the flawless divine parent less loving than a flawed human parent? 

Gita wisdom reveals a far more loving vision of God. He gives unlimited opportunities for every soul to come to him. He descends periodically and repeatedly as incarnations; he manifests as his eminently accessible holy names; he makes himself available as his deities. Even if some godless souls never turn to any of these divine manifestations, he makes himself available to them right in their own hearts. He accompanies every living being as the indwelling Supersoul. Even if a soul is godless, God is not present less in their hearts. 

Why, then, are we alienated from God? It’s because we have locked the door to him from our side, not he from his side.

What might prompt us to open that door? During our life, we will sometime feel existentially dissatisfied because whatever we pursued as our life-goal was unattainable or unfulfilling or unenduring. At that time, he will speak from within, as the still small inner voice, prompting us to unlock the door to him. The Bhagavad-gita (04.36) declares that those who ascend the boat of transcendental knowledge, even if they are the most sinful, can cross beyond the ocean of distress to the shore of eternity. Such is God’s unlimited, unending, untiring grace. 

When we understand the magnitude of his grace, we feel inspired to discover the door to him, open it and walk through to his shelter. 

 

Think it over:

  • What is wrong with the idea that God gives us only one chance?
  • How is the door to God always open from his side?
  • What might prompt us to open the door to God from our side? 

 

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04.36 Even if you are considered to be the most sinful of all sinners, when you are situated in the boat of transcendental knowledge you will be able to cross over the ocean of miseries.

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