Posted on Facebook by Samoa Lualima
paralleling ASFG 1 lesson on “WHAT IS MY IDEAL?”
BIBLE READING: John, 9th & 10th Chapters; Genesis 29th through 32nd
(pages 26 and 27)
Jesus’ Teaching: “Climbs up some other way”
When Jesus said, “He that climbs up some other way is a thief and a robber” (John 10:1), Cayce explained that He was not speaking of a physical climb to a place, but of an inner condition of the soul. To try to find God or truth by any other way than the Christ-way (through love, surrender, and inner guidance) is to rob oneself. Sooner or later, such a soul has to start over again from the “bottom of the ladder.”
The prophets and Moses were not thieves; they were steps in humanity’s schooling. But once Christ came and showed the perfect way, there was no excuse for clinging only to the old forms. To know truth yet still live by the letter of the law rather than its spirit is to miss the opportunity for transformation.
Rachel’s Misstep: “Climbing up some other way”
The story of Rachel illustrates this. She had the opportunity to live by the one true God, but chose instead to hold onto her father’s household gods. She wanted the blessings of the promise but without the full surrender needed to be a true channel. Her divided loyalty robbed her of the deeper blessings—and caused trouble for Jacob as well. This shows how our wrong ideals not only harm us but affect others too.
By contrast, Jacob held to a spiritual ideal. His repentance toward Esau, his humility, and his plea for forgiveness showed the meekness that Jesus later said would inherit the earth. His wrestling with the angel represents the soul’s deep inner struggle to awaken to God. Though it left him physically weakened, it gave him spiritual insight—a reminder that growth sometimes requires stripping away what does not measure up to God’s ideal.
Jacob’s Example of the Ideal
Reconciliation with Esau: Jacob admitted his guilt, humbled himself, and sought forgiveness, embodying Christ-like meekness.
Separation from Laban: Jacob expressed the ideal of peace in the verse: “The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent from one another.”
Wrestling with the angel: This mystical struggle reflects the way meditation or inner striving can open us to deeper truth, though it may be costly to the body.
The True Ideal
What Cayce means by the true ideal:
It is the highest spiritual goal on earth.
It must be found in Christ, who is the Way, the Guide, and the Example.
Ideals may be expressed differently, but in essence they mean aligning our thoughts, words, and deeds with God’s will.
A true ideal is not just outward obedience, but Christlikeness: being a channel of peace, love, and service.
When our lives toward others reflect patience, forgiveness, and blessing, we know we are living by the true ideal.
The lesson from both Jacob’s story and Christ’s teaching is this:
An ideal is not just a good idea or a tradition—it is a spiritual pattern to live by.
If we cling to old ways (like Rachel with her idols), or try shortcuts, we rob ourselves.
But when we surrender to Christ as the true ideal, even in struggle, we grow into the fullness of God’s purpose.
Our actions toward others—humility, forgiveness, blessing—are the truest reflection of whether we are living by our ideal.
In summary:
The “true ideal” is Christ. To try to find another way is to cheat ourselves. Jacob’s life shows both the struggle and the blessing of living toward that ideal, while Rachel’s compromise shows the danger of divided loyalties. Our task is to hold to Christ as our ideal and let that be reflected in how we treat others—with humility, compassion, and peace.
“The True Ideal”
1. Jesus’ Teaching: “He that climbs up some other way…”
Jesus warns against trying to reach God or truth by shortcuts.
To seek God without following Christ’s way of love, surrender, and inner guidance is to rob ourselves.
Moses and the prophets gave a foundation, but once Christ came and showed the perfect way, there is no excuse for staying in the old forms.
Lesson: We must start at the bottom of the ladder if we try another way—Christ is the one true way.
2. Rachel’s Example: Divided Ideal
Rachel wanted the blessings of God’s promise but clung to her father’s idols.
She deceived Jacob and her father to keep them—showing a divided heart.
This robbed her of the deeper blessings and even caused trouble for Jacob.
Lesson: Wanting spiritual blessings without surrendering false attachments weakens us.
3. Jacob’s Example: Holding to a Spiritual Ideal
Jacob’s separation from Laban: showed the ideal of peace (“The Lord watch between me and thee…”).
Jacob’s reconciliation with Esau: humbled himself, admitted guilt, sought forgiveness. This reflects Christ’s teaching: “The meek shall inherit the earth.”
Jacob’s wrestling with the angel: symbol of inner struggle and meditation. Though it left him weakened physically, it gave him deeper spiritual realization.
Lesson: The spiritual path may involve struggle, but holding to the ideal brings true blessing.
4. The True Ideal (supporting material from image)
The true ideal = the highest spiritual goal in life.
It must be found in Christ, the Way, the Guide, the Example.
Ideals are not just outward acts but living patterns: to love, to forgive, to serve.
A true ideal means becoming a channel of God’s will, letting His attributes of peace, compassion, and love flow through us.
Lesson: Our true ideal is Christlikeness—measured not by words but by how we live toward others.
5. Application to Us Today
Like Rachel, we are often tempted to hold on to “old gods” (habits, attachments, selfish desires).
Like Jacob, we must wrestle with our inner struggles until we surrender to God’s ideal.
When we live Christ as our ideal, each word, thought, and action becomes a blessing to others.
Final truth:
Only in Christ do we reach our true ideal and become what we are meant to be.
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