Shri Nathji would say:
God is like a father, and man is like a child. God walks with man during the initial stages of his spiritual development, and later makes man walk with Him. This is like the father who walks slowly with the child, when the child is too young to walk, and later makes the child run with him when the child has grown up.
God was the loving, benevolent father. He could scold his child, but never disown him. Shri Nathji’s portrayal of God was such that people were brought to love God as a kind, forgiving, benign Creator, rather than a fierce, revengeful God. He was to be worshipped out of love, not out of fear. The following verse was often said by Shri Nathji:
Bandaa nawaaziyon pe khudaaye kareem thaa
Kartaa naa main gunaah to gunaahe azeem thaa!
When the Mercy of God went out towards all
To not to have sinned would have been the greatest sin of all.
Shri Nathji laid emphasis on repentance. The Mercy of God was always forthcoming when tears of repentance washed out the sins of man.
Phir uske shaane kareemi ke hausale dekhiye
Gunahgaar ye kaihde ke gunahgaar hoon main
Behold then the glories of His Mercy,
Let the sinner but say ‘I have sinned’
But, Sir, does not the concept of repentance violate the law of Karma? a philosopher asked Shri Nathji, a man who has sinned must be punished for his sin according to the law of Karma; if he is forgiven merely on the basis of repentance would that not be unjust?
Shri Nathji said: “If forgiveness were given to any one person on the basis of his repentance we could day that it was unjust. But if this is a general law that all who repent with genuineness are forgiven, then how can we say that it is unjust? It is a law that applies to everyone!
Shri Nathji continued:
Repentance and the consequent forgiveness do not violate the law of Karma. When a man is genuinely repentant, he suffers intensely in the innermost depths of his soul. The suffering is concentrated over a short period, but it is very real. He is sufficiently punished by such a feeling of repentance. The agony of one who genuinely realises the enormity of his sin is unendurable. If he is forgiven, it is in accordance with the law of Karma, for he has been punished enough already. A piece of lead contains more concentrated weight than a large collection of cotton puffs. There is sufficient suffering in a short time in genuine repentance. And only genuine repentance draws the Mercy of God.
Someone once asked Shri Nathji why God did not punish the evil-doer the moment he performed an evil act. Shri Nathji replied: “If God were to mete out immediate punishment, He would reveal Himself.
“Agar Bhagwan fauran sazaa de den to vo pragat ho jaayen!
“And such a revelation is too big a reward for someone who does not deserve it.