And Jesus did not place this high value on the soul of any particular man. To Him the souls of all men are priceless. He is no respecter of persons. The Father "maketh His sun to shine on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." There is none so humble that he is beyond the reach of the love of God, nor none so worldly great that he does not need it. Said Jesus, "Whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea."
Man, the offspring of God.
It is because Jesus knew and recognized the divine possibilities of every man, great or small, that He thus valued him so highly. Jesus taught always that God is the Father in heaven—and that not figuratively. We are indeed the offspring of God; and being the offspring of God, there resides in all of us the possibility to become gods. Indeed, in the dispensation of the fulness of times, in which we live, it has been revealed that God is Himself an exalted man; that He has Himself passed through such a probationary state as that in which man now lives; and that it is possible for man to become like God. Jesus, likewise, taught this truth to those who heard Him. When the Jews were about to stone Him because He declared Himself the Son of God, Jesus said, "Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are Gods?" When exhorting the people to live righteous lives, He urged, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." And the disciples caught the meaning of {72} the doctrine; for, wrote John, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God When thegreat military hero andworld conqueror.."
Since, then, the soul of man is of such divine origin, and therefore of such surpassing value, we need seek no further for the answer to our questions. The heavenly Father feels the loss of a child even more keenly than does an earthly father. Man is a son of God, and may himself become a god; therefore, God is mindful of him.
Reverence for God.
Now, since he is the offspring of the Almighty Father, man owes certain duties both to God and to himself. In the first place, as a faithful and devoted son, he should hold the Father in reverence. "Ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time," said Jesus, "Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths. But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: nor by the earth; for it is His footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King." The Father of us all is to be held in awe. "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain."