“The world you see is an illusion of a world. God did not create it, for what He creates must be eternal as Himself.” (W-pI.132.6:2–3)

The quotation, “The world you see is an illusion of a world. God did not create it, for what He creates must be eternal as Himself,” offers a profound meditation on the nature of reality, perception, and the divine. It gently suggests that the world as perceived by our senses is not the ultimate reality but rather a transient illusion, a fleeting mirage that pales beside the eternal and unchanging nature of true creation.

The Nature of Illusion

To call the world an “illusion” is not to deny its apparent reality to the senses, but rather to invite a shift in perspective. Our physical environment, with its beauty and turbulence, joys and sorrows, is shaped by the limitations and distortions of perception. Each object, each experience, passes away in time—subject to decay, loss, and transformation. This transience is the very mark of illusion, for true reality, according to the quotation, must be as enduring and unchanging as its Source.

Creation and the Eternal

Here, the divine is described as the source of all that is eternal. What God creates, the quotation asserts, must mirror divine qualities—timelessness, immutability, and perfection. If the world we see does not possess these qualities, it cannot be said to be God’s creation in the ultimate sense. This distinction draws a line between the eternal truths of spirit and the ephemeral images of form.

The Invitation to Look Beyond

Implied within these words is an invitation: to seek, beyond the illusion, the reality that endures. What is truly real cannot be threatened or diminished. Love, spirit, and the essence of being—these, the quotation suggests, are the true creations of God, and they reside beyond what the eyes can see. The world of separation, conflict, and change is but a pale imitation of the unity and peace that lie at the heart of divine creation.

Implications for Perception and Purpose

If the world we see is illusory, then our purpose shifts from grasping for what fades to remembering what is eternal. Forgiveness, compassion, and the inner recognition of shared divinity become the bridge across the chasm of illusion. As we loosen our grip on the world’s fleeting promises, we open ourselves to the experience of the eternal—peace that does not waver, love that does not end, and a sense of unity that cannot be shattered by time or circumstance.

Conclusion

To contemplate this teaching is to embark on a journey inward, seeking the real behind appearances. It is a call to remember that, though the world may dazzle and confound, its shifting forms cannot hold the truth of who we are, nor the reality of what God has created. That truth is eternal, serene, and quietly waiting to be discovered in the depths of our being.

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NORMAN R. VAN ETTEN