While reading “Practicing the Presence” by Joel S. Goldsmith, I discovered the following inspirational story:
There is an old, old story about a great spiritual teacher who knocked at the gates of heaven for admission into paradise. After some time, God comes to the door and inquired, “who is there? Who knocks?
To this query, come the confident response, “It is I.”
“Sorry, very sorry. There is no room in heaven. Go away. You will have to come back some other time.” the good man, surprised at the rebuff, wen away puzzled. After several years, spent in meditating and pondering over this strange reception, he returned and knocked again at the gate. He was met with the same question and gave a similar response. Once again he was told that there was no room in heaven; it was completely filled at that time.
In the years that passed, the teacher went deeper and deeper within himself, meditation and pondering. After a long period of time had elapsed, he knocked at the gates of heaven for the third time. Again God asked, “Who is there?”
This time his answer was, “Thou art.”
And the gates opened wide as God said, Come in. There never was room for Me and thee.”
“Thou art” is loosely translated as ‘you are’ or ‘I AM’.
According to Joel Goldsmith … “There is not God and you or I, there is only God expressed, manifested as individual being.”
In other words, God and I are one — God and you are one! As long as we believe we are separate or independent from God, we remain outside of heaven (both spiritually as well as physically).
Meditate on that for a time!