(not original copy)

Thank you very much for your letters and the photograph. I wrote to you earlier, put a stamp on the letter, but didn’t send it. Actually, I do that often. I’ve been spending my days pulling up roots in the garden. Kristian is growing and getting to be a real lion. He’s very alert and astute. Tulla doesn’t say too much yet, but she’s a good little girl.

I hope you are still zealous and progressing in wisdom and knowledge. Many would-be prophets have predicted that before long I will get my horns knocked off, that I will soon wear myself out, that my zeal will wane, etc. What they probably mean is that soon the devil will overcome me, and sleep will set in. This is what those who call themselves Christians have prophesied about me, but praise and glory be to God: my zeal is as great as it has always been—maybe greater; my horns are as sharp as ever, and I have more power than ever. So these prophets have prophesied lies. Dear Aksel, the kingdom of God consists of power. There is tremendous power in God. Gates of bronze are of no avail, and walls of iron are too weak, for nothing that is formed can resist the One who formed it. God is a warrior against His enemies, and the dread of Him causes sinners to grow pale. I hope that you surrender yourself utterly and entirely to God so that you don’t become a religious buffoon, a religious vagabond, for whom gross darkness is reserved forever. Wake up as you ought to! Don’t sleep like those who know nothing of God, even though they claim that they know something. You must never deceive yourself into thinking that you can please both God and man. God resists such humbug. But from the dust He calls us in His Son. It’s no use trying to pull the wool over God’s eyes. A religious mask is an abomination to Him. He hates lukewarmness, because He Himself is burning with zeal. If we have done all that we ought to have done, we are no more than unprofitable servants. A thorough acknowledgment that we fall short in everything will cause us to fall short in nothing. We are vessels of clay, and in those vessels God works both to will and to do. More often than not He works in us to speak in such a way that people believe we are crazy and possessed by the devil. The thing is, when the devil and insanity are so clearly exposed, people believe that the one who exposes them is himself possessed and crazy. But when a person repents and gets “turned around,” then all such things also get “turned around.”

My wish is that you would slave away earnestly and strive earnestly to enter through the narrow gate. Don’t be stupid and pretend to be free before the law has chastened you to Christ. There are enough people like that as it is. A thorough annihilation precedes everything glorious. You must obey God’s Spirit through thick and thin—even if it cuts you to the quick so that you feel like you are going to black out—because this is the way of life. Don’t bother asking religious people for advice, because most of them are more familiar and have more experience in the flesh than in the Spirit. Talk about meat and potatoes, and they will feel at home and can reply; but if you go beyond what is tangible, they merely stare open-mouthed, without the foggiest notion of what you are talking about. Therefore, never ask their advice, but go straight ahead in the Spirit; then it will go well with you. If it doesn’t go well, charge it to my account, because with much difficulty God has brought me to obedience. Because of this, God’s power has come over me so that I’m bursting with power in God and would gladly take on whole regiments of Philistines. Greet all those who feel worthy of a greeting in Christ.

Your brother, resting in the Rock of Offense,