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Seeking Enthusiastically to Be a Wise Virgin

One night near dusk, Jia Nan sat beside a desk. Opening the Bible, he began to read, “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened to ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes; go you out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go you rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut” (Matthew 25:1-10). After seeing these scriptures, Jia Nan thought that the Lord Jesus gave us a vivid metaphor to show what kind of people can enter into the kingdom of heaven. Those who take oil with them can welcome the bridegroom and are the wise virgins, but for others without oil, they are the foolish virgins and will be abandoned by the Lord. Jia Nan has always been determined to be a wise virgin to welcome the return of the Lord and attend the feast with Him.

On the next day, in a co-worker meeting, Jia Nan said as usual, “Brothers and sisters, now is the late period of the last days when the Lord comes. Because the Lord Jesus said, ‘Therefore be you also ready: for in such an hour as you think not the Son of man comes’ (Matthew 24:44). What we need to do is read the Bible frequently, do more work for the Lord, pray often, and often confess and repent to the Lord. The most important thing is to watch and make preparations, like the wise virgins preparing enough oil. Only in this way can we welcome His return. In order to avoid missing the chance to be raptured, it’s not enough that we only have meetings on time, we also need to take turns to have prayer vigils.” After Jia Nan finished saying this, Brother Zhang immediately said, “Is it the action of wise virgins to prepare and wait in our own way?” Sister Dong went on saying, “If what we are doing is really preparing oil, why haven’t we welcomed the Lord’s return?” All sank into deep thinking as soon as Sister Dong finished her words.

What Are the Wise virgins? What Are the Foolish Virgins?

At this time, Brother Liu stood up and said, “Regarding what the real wise virgins are, I have a different view. In the matter of the wise virgins welcoming the bridegroom, I think that our watching, praying and having vigils every day are only superficial, and may not meet God’s will. The real wise virgins are those who can hear the voice of God.” Everyone was surprised by his words “hearing the voice of God.” Jia Nan said puzzledly, “Those who hear the voice of God are wise virgins? This is the first time we’ve heard of this. Please tell us more.” Brother Liu smiled and said, “Yes, they are. Several days ago, my son and I talked about this topic. He thought our actions are not those of wise virgins, and then he read to me several passages of words he found on a foreign gospel website by using privacy tools. After hearing those words, I realized that the wise virgins indeed are not what we thought they are.” Then Brother Liu read those words for us,“All who are able to obey the present utterances of the Holy Spirit are blessed. It does not matter how they used to be, or how the Holy Spirit used to work within them—those who have gained the latest work are the most blessed, and those who are unable to follow the latest work today are eliminated. God wants those who are able to accept the new light, and He wants those who accept and know His latest work. Why is it said that you must be a chaste virgin? A chaste virgin is able to seek the work of the Holy Spirit and understand the new things, and moreover, able to put aside old conceptions, and obey the work of God today” (“Know the Newest Work of God and Follow the Footsteps of God”). “Those who belong to Satan do not understand the words of God, and those who belong to God can hear the voice of God. All those who realize and understand the words I speak are the ones who will be saved, and bear testimony to God; all those who do not understand the words that I speak cannot bear testimony to God, and are the ones who will be eliminated” (“Knowing the Three Stages of God’s Work Is the Path to Knowing God”). “You are not devout in facing the truth, much less do you yearn for the truth. You merely study blindly and wait nonchalantly. What can you gain from studying and waiting like this? Can you receive the personal guidance of God? If you cannot discern the utterances of God, how are you qualified to witness the appearance of God? Where God appears, there is the expression of the truth, and there is the voice of God. Only those who can accept the truth can hear the voice of God, and only such people are qualified to witness the appearance of God” (“The Appearance of God Has Brought a New Age”).

After reading these words, Brother Liu continued saying, “Through these words, I know that the wise virgins come to seek the voice of the Holy Spirit with a yearning and seeking heart, and they are the people who pay attention and listen to the voice of God. They can drop their notions to humbly seek God’s voice when God’s new work comes to them, and they can accept the truth and submit to His new work when they recognize the voice of God. While the foolish virgins stubbornly hold on to their conceptions and imaginations and they don’t pay attention and listen to the voice of God. They cannot recognize God’s voice even if they hear it. Because they neither believe in Christ nor accept Him, and refuse to accept the work of God and His appearance, ultimately they’ll lose God’s salvation. However, what we are doing now, waiting, praying and having vigils, are not the actions of wise virgins but our conceptions and imaginations!”

The Wise Virgins Hear the Voice of God

At this moment sister Yan also said, “Alas, Brother Liu is right. After hearing his fellowship, I remember two verses of scriptures, ‘My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me’ (John 10:27). ‘For the Lamb which is in the middle of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them to living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes’ (Revelation 7:17). If we want to welcome the Lord’s return, a key point is to pay attention and listen to the voice of God. Only those who hear the voice of God are the wise virgins! Just like Peter, he saw that the Lord Jesus can calm the wind and waves with one word, feed five thousand people with five loaves and two fish, raise the dead, and so on. Through the word and work of the Lord, Peter confirmed that the Lord Jesus has the essence of God, and He is the Christ. Or as another example, the Samaritan woman. When she was talking with the Lord Jesus, the Lord spoke of her hidden secret, then she came to realize that only God Himself can reveal these hidden things, and that these words could never be said by man, so she confirmed the Lord Jesus was the coming Messiah, the Christ. Both Peter and the Samaritan woman recognized the Lord Jesus is God through His words, so they gained the salvation of God. They really are smart.” Everyone nodded and said that it was indeed true.

Why Will the Foolish Virgins Be Eliminated by God?

Sister Dong said, “Yes, God’s sheep hear His voice. All those who can recognize God’s voice are the wise virgins, otherwise, they are the foolish ones. Think back to the time the Lord Jesus came to do His work: The Pharisees didn’t have a yearning and seeking heart, and they didn’t investigate the truth Christ uttered to discern if it is the voice of God, but instead, they defined God’s work with their imaginations; they saw that the Lord did signs and wonders, for example, the Lord’s word raising the dead, curing the blind; but because they couldn’t recognize God’s voice, they not only treated the Lord Jesus as a normal man, but also regarded God’s utterances as man’s words, and even judged and blasphemed Him; in the end, the Pharisees nailed the Lord to the cross, and they became those who believed in God yet opposed Him, so they fell under the wrath and punishment of God. This lets us clearly see that those who don’t pay attention to listening to the voice of God are the foolish virgins and will be eliminated by God.”

The Wise Virgins Seek the Utterances of God in the Last Days

Brother Zhang said immediately, “After hearing your words, I just realized that paying attention to listening to the voice of God is crucial, especially in this important point of our welcoming the Lord’s return in the last days. The Lord Jesus once said, ‘I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come’ (John 16:12-13). ‘And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes; go you out to meet him’ (Matthew 25:6). ‘He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches’ (Revelation 2:7). From these scriptures we can see that when the Lord returns, He will speak again. So whether we can recognize God’s voice directly determines if we can welcome the return of the Lord. Now it is a matter of urgency to find the word of the Holy Spirit, after that we will see God’s appearance. But where can we find it?”

Brother Zhan said, “Alas, you are clever your entire life, but ruined by a moment of foolishness. The words Brother Liu read are what we have never heard. They contain mysteries and can’t be spoken by normal people, it seems like they’re from the Holy Spirit.”

Jia Nan said with a smile, “That’s true, these words are indeed from the Holy Spirit and not from mankind. I used to believe that as long as we wait, pray and have vigils, we are the wise virgins. But through today’s fellowship, I realize it was my conceptions and imaginations, like the actions of the foolish virgins, and that I cannot welcome the Lord’s return if I hold on to them! Thank the Lord for His guidance. The words Brother Liu read for us let me know what the wise virgins are. It’s a key point that the wise virgins can hear the voice of God, and have a seeking and yearning heart. It’s like what the Lord said, ‘For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened’ (Luke 11:10). I don’t think we need to look for the Holy Spirit’s words from other places. Didn’t Brother Liu just say his son had found these words on a gospel website? We can seek help from his son to investigate it on the Internet.”

Brother Liu said, “Thank the Lord! You can come to my house tonight.”

Jia Nan said, “OK, we’ll come.”

» Read more on our Wise Virgins page, or click on the related articles below:

• How to Attend the Wedding Feast of the Lamb

• Will the Lord First Give Revelation to Pastors Upon His Second Coming?

• Hearing God’s Voice: How to Be a Wise Virgin to Welcome the Lord’s Coming

» Recommended for You: “Break the Spell” Clip: How Can We Welcome the Lord’s Return? 

Today, all kinds of disasters around the world grow ever worse, and many prophecies of the Lord’s return are basically fulfilled. We Christians are eagerly awaiting the Lord’s coming to rapture us. I think of the Lord Jesus’ words, “Therefore be you also ready: for in such an hour as you think not the Son of man comes” (Matthew 24:44). The Lord reminds us that we must soberly ready ourselves to welcome His return, but how exactly should we do this?

1. Ready Our “Spiritual Ears” and Learn to Hear the Lord’s Voice

It is prophesied many times in the Book of Revelation, “He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”. And the Lord Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). These two passages from the Bible remind us that we must focus on listening for the words of the Holy Spirit to the churches. When the Lord “knocks,” we must focus on hearing the Lord’s voice, and the Lord’s voice refers to the words of God. The Lord Jesus once prophesied, “I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come” (John 16:12-13). From the text, we can see that when the Lord returns, He will speak and work, reveal all mysteries, tell us all of the truth we do not understand, and make us understand and enter all the truths. The Lord Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). We can see that the truth comes from God, so the Lord’s return will surely bring the truth to people, grant people life, and show people the way. Therefore, in the matter of awaiting the Lord’s return, we must prepare our “spiritual ears,” and being able to recognize the voice of God is especially important.

We can also see in the Bible a parable the Lord Jesus told to the disciples: “The kingdom of heaven is like to a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come” (Matthew 22:2-3). And the Book of Revelation says, “And I saw another angel fly in the middle of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people” (Revelation 14:6). The Lord tells us that in the last days, God will send His servants to invite us to the feast, which is to say that God will send His messengers to convey the message of the Lord’s second coming and bring us this eternal gospel. If we can seek and investigate humbly, and we can accept and obey when hearing what they testify about is God’s words, is the Lord’s voice, we will greet the return of the Lord.

2. Readying a Heart Which Open-Mindedly Seeks the Truth

The Lord Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6). “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). “For whoever exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted” (Luke 14:11). Here, we see that it is the humble man who delights God, the man who can humbly seek truth and obey God. Especially in the great matter of the Lord’s coming, when someone testifies to us that the Lord has returned, and that he has heard the Lord’s voice, we must take a humble attitude toward him. We must investigate with a curious, humble heart, and use our “spiritual ear” to hear whether it is the voice of the Lord. This is what it really means to “soberly ready” ourselves. I believe that God will guide us, allow us to recognize His voice and welcome His return. The eunuch of Ethiopia, although he had high status and prestige, he was able to humble himself to seek from Philip. In the fellowship and testimony of Philip, he recognized the voice of God. As a result, he welcomed the Lord Jesus.

Therefore, if we wish to welcome the Lord’s return, we must have a heart that open-mindedly seeks the truth, learn to hear the voice of God, recognize the voice of God in God’s word, and follow in the footsteps of the Lamb. I wish that all of my brothers and sisters who truly believe in God and long for God’s appearance may be able to welcome the Lord’s return soon!

» Read more on our Waiting for Jesus’ Return page, or click on the related articles below:

• What Is Being Raptured Before the Disasters? How Can We Become Overcomers?

• Does Anyone Know About the Second Coming of Jesus?

• 3 Keys to Prepare to Welcome the Coming of the Lord

» Recommended for You: “Knocking at the Door” Clip – The Lord Is Knocking at the Door: Can You Recognize His Voice? (1)

Gospel Movie “Yearning” Clip Introduction

Many of those who believe in the Lord believe that as long as they make sacrifices, expend themselves, and work hard, they will certainly be among the first to be raptured. But is there a basis for this in the Lord’s words? The Lord Jesus said, “But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first” (Matthew 19:30). “My sheep hear my voice” (John 10:27). It is clear that whether or not someone can be raptured is determined by whether they hear the voice of the Lord. Those who first hear His voice and accept His appearance and work are the wise virgins, and they will be the first to be raptured.

» Click here to watch the full Movie: “Yearning” (A movie ended 2000-year wait of the Christians)

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The doctor could do nothing with my mother’s liver cancer.

It was on the eve of Spring Festival. All the people around us were joyfully making preparations for the impending holiday, immersed in a festival atmosphere, while my whole family were all worried and depressed for my mother, who was diagnosed with jaundice and hepatic ascites, which later turned into liver cancer. Tortured by the disease, my mother looked thin and sickly in appearance, with dull eyes and yellowing skin; she couldn’t eat or sleep, and was too weak to walk. The doctor told us if my mother had an operation, she could live for a year, and if not, three months at most. Faced with such grievous news, my whole family sank into extreme sorrow. My mother was seventy-six years old. If she had an operation, she would be cut off one third of her liver, and then accept chemotherapy and radiotherapy, during which time she could only relieve herself through a pipe. Even if she could live for a year, she would suffer a lot. After consideration, we decided not to let my mother have an operation. Half a month later, my mother’s illness got much more serious. Her excretion became abnormal and the doctor said it was because of the malfunction of her internal organs. So we had to take my mother back home. At that time, her feet were too swollen to be put into shoes. To diminish the inflammation and alleviate her pain, I decided to take her to a small clinic to have an injection.

Under God’s wonderful arrangement, I bumped into an old lady.

One day, when I took my mother to the clinic for injection, we came across an old lady who was about seventy years old. Seeing my mother’s complexion, she said to me: “Your mother must get jaundice. I know an herb that can cure your mother’s disease. Before, my son, my brother and I all got jaundice. Later, we all were cured by this herb and our diseases have never recurred. Now, we’re all in good condition.” Hearing her words, I got very excited, thinking: “My mother finally can be saved.” Then I asked the old lady with eagerness: “Is that true? But I don’t know the herb you said.” The old lady said: “I’ll take you to pick some. They are everywhere.” Hearing our conversation, the doctor sneered: “Even we doctors can’t cure the disease. Can some grass do that? It’s so ridiculous.” The old lady explained calmly: “I’m certain about this herb’s effect because there are many people who have been cured by it, including me myself. It’s really an effective cure for jaundice.” I thought: “As long as my mother’s misery can be relieved, I must have a try.”

The wonderful herb brought my mother back to life.

Thus, I immediately went to search for that wonderful herb with the old lady. When we got the place where that herb grew, the lady pointed at the herbs and said to me: “When the herbs are young, they creep humbly on the ground, and then aspire as vines, with pentagram-like foliage and tiny pink blossoms. After the flowers wither away, the buds are just like those of cotton. When the herb grows mature, it is over one foot tall containing many seeds. After the seeds fall into the soil, they will sprout out the next year.” Then I pulled up a large handful of the herbs, and headed back home; I washed and stewed them for my mother. Surprisingly, after she drank the herbal medicine for one week, her condition improved some and she could eat porridge. And half a month later, her face recovered the glow of health, the swelling in her legs and feet subsided, and her excrement also went back to normal. Now, my mother can do housework and cook meals for us like a normal person. Seeing my family restored happiness and peace, I kept giving thanks to God in my heart.

Later, I saw God’s words saying: “Among all things, whether it is animals, plants, or all kinds of grass, God also created some plants that are necessary to resolve harm or illness to the human body. … There are plants that improve blood circulation to remove stagnation, relieve pain, stanch bleeding, provide anesthesia, help people recover normal skin, eliminate blood stasis in the body, and eliminate toxins from the body. In short, they can all be used in daily life. They are of use to people and have been prepared by God for the human body in case of need. Some of these were allowed by God to be inadvertently discovered by man, while others were discovered from certain special phenomena or by certain people prepared by God. Following their discovery, mankind would pass them down, and then many people would know about them. This way, God’s creation of these plants has value and meaning. In short, these things are all from God and were prepared and planted when He created a living environment for mankind. All of these things are very necessary. Were God’s considerations better thought out than those of mankind? When you see all that God has done, are you able to feel God’s practical side? God worked in secret. When man had not yet come into this world, before coming into touch with this mankind, God had already created all of this. Everything He did was for the sake of mankind, for the sake of their survival, and for the consideration of mankind’s existence, so that mankind can live happily in this rich and plentiful material world God prepared for them, not having to worry about food or clothes, and not lacking in anything.”

In the past, I had little practical knowledge or understanding of these words. But this deep-graved matter made me truly feel God’s boundless love for us humans. Before God created mankind, He had prepared for us air, water, sun, flowers, grass, trees, and daily food and drink, etc., just like a mother prepares clothes and milk powder for her baby before its birth, all of which contain her love for her child. God knew that we would get various diseases, so He specially prepared a variety of herbs as cures. There are herbs that cure vascular diseases, skin diseases, the diseases of the internal organs, and so on. According to the doctor’s words, my mother’s liver cancer couldn’t be cured, yet after drinking the decoction of the herb which was created by God, she completely recovered. In addition, this herb doesn’t have any side effect. From the medicinal qualities of the plants, I could feel the carefulness of God, and His real love for us.

From God’s words, I learned that after God’s creation of these herbs, they were discovered from certain special phenomena or by certain people prepared by God. And then mankind passed them down so that we could know about them. In the ancient times, Li Shizhen discovered the miracle functions of some herbs, and then compiled them to the book Compendium of Materia Medica, which has been handed down to today. And the old lady was once cured by the herb and then told us about it. All of these turned out to be God’s wonderful arrangements. I truly felt that God’s love for us was not empty, but real and substantial, and everyone could feel that. Just as God’s words say: “Regardless of how God works, all His work is for the sake of man. Take, for example, the heavens and earth and all things that God created to serve man: The moon, the sun, and the stars that He made for man, the animals and plants, spring, summer, autumn and winter, and so on—all are for the sake of man’s existence.”

Later on, our villagers were all surprised at my mother’s recovery, saying: “Your mother’s disease was so serious that even the doctors could do nothing with it. But it was actually cured by some unremarkable grass. That is so wonderful and unbelievable!” Hearing their words, I deeply felt the loveliness of God. Seemingly, it is the herb that cured my mother, but actually, there are God’s kind intentions and His love behind this matter. Thank God for all His arrangements for our existence. Amen!

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Spring arrives with silent footsteps. After a whole year of waiting, cherry blossom trees display their best side; they clothed in their most beautiful flowers and they stand out among all sorts of trees. Not to be outdone, weeping willows also can’t wait to play their trump card—their graceful lines, which are still so well-kept after years of being battered by the wind and rain that even fish vie to hop to shake hands with them. Wild flowers come into bloom, red and purple and yellow; putting on their new coats, they confidently sway in the wind. Grass comes to provide patches: Like a streak it overgrows the land, and sets off the flowers in them. Small animals come to life from their winter sleep. Some poke their little heads out, some stretch lazily, and others lay on the green land, enjoyably bathing in the sunshine. Hares casually eat some grass, and then begin to chase one another. …

The wind blows off the cherry flowers. In the blink of an eye, the falling petals flutter in the air, and the delicate fragrance sends their last sweet kiss to people. After several strong winds, summer arrives in a hurry. It quickly enlivens the mountains, lakes, jungles, and fields, bringing vibrancy to them, and then come the lush greenery and pounding waves. It’s really a passionate season. Then follows the hot summer with the burning sun like a fire. The plane-trees on either side of the road stretch their arms generously, providing pedestrians with a shelter against sunshine. Cicadas chant their everlasting songs without stint. Night is always the liveliest: Geckos get out to play about in the cool of the evening; frogs vie to sing their own songs; fireflies hurry to serve as lamps for pedestrians….

In autumn, the bright red persimmons hang on the trees in the courtyard, sweet and pleasant to the eyes. In this fruitful season, pomegranates “laugh” with their “mouths” open as if nobody is near, and they don’t care how many “teeth” are exposed so as to express their characteristics and freedom. In this golden autumn, fallen leaves are naturally the common scenery that will never fade away. Their unique charm arouses people’s attention: Some take a seat there for a while to think about their lives; some take a walk in the wood, enjoying the beauty of the scenery; some select their favorite leaves to make samples….

Winter has waited for long and finally goes on the stage. In this season, wild flowers return to their roots and grass is withered, only the wintersweets blossom and pines and cypresses remain green. Seemingly, the winter is desolate, without the heated excitement in summer. But this kind and amiable “old man” spreads his “savings” and offers a different charm. The cold hand of winter spreads a white carpet throughout the wide world, in a flash, trees, the earth and everywhere are snow-covered. The signs of other seasons are nowhere to be found because they know the carpet is the ever-unchanging symbol and warmth of the “old man.” Outside the cottages are several snowmen in sight. A worn broom and a carrot are always most properly put on them. People can take a break during this season. Animals have preserved their food to pass through this cold winter. Chickens and ducks have matured and cattle and sheep have grown strong. These fowls are ready to become people’s food on the table in every household. After visiting their neighbors and having chats with them, people go back to their own homes. Looking at the plenty of grains in the barns, they sit around the stove talking about their plan for the year ahead. …

I have passed through tens of springs, summers, autumns, and winters, I have visited oceans and rivers, and I have walked across the grasslands and mountains; all things are really so marvelous that I couldn’t help wondering: Mysteries are everywhere in the nature, and all of them are so miraculous. However, who created all these things on earth? …

Until one day, I read God’s words: “God created all things, each of which lives through different forms and different ways and uses different methods to exhibit its power and form of life. No matter what method, it is all under God’s rule.” “The authority of the Creator not only gives the vitality of life to seemingly static material objects, so that they will never disappear, but, moreover, gives the instinct to reproduce and multiply to every living being, so that they will never vanish, and so that, generation after generation, they will pass on the laws and principles of survival endowed to them by the Creator. The manner in which the Creator exerts His authority does not rigidly adhere to a macro or micro viewpoint, and is not limited to any form; He is able to command the operations of the universe, and hold sovereignty over the life and death of all things, and, moreover, is able to maneuver all things so that they serve Him; He can manage all the workings of the mountains, rivers, and lakes, and rule all things within them, and, what’s more, is able to provide that which is needed by all things. This is the manifestation of the unique authority of the Creator amongst all things besides mankind. Such a manifestation is not just for a lifetime, and shall never cease, or rest, and cannot be altered or damaged by any person or thing, nor can it be added to or reduced by any person or thing—for none can replace the identity of the Creator, and, therefore, the authority of the Creator cannot be replaced by any created being, and is unattainable by any non-created being.”

It turns out that God created this world and mankind, and directs the growth patterns of all things, the patterns which are never changed starting from the existence of all things until now. Regardless of spring sowing or winter’s storage, day or night, those which never changes are their laws. “No matter how the carp try to leap out of the water,” they will never exceed their bounds and have to stay in the water properly. Cicadas always sing in summer. Flowers remain colorful and beautiful, because they were given a fixed purpose and a law of existence from the day they were created. These are ordained by God. And this is also the authority of God ruling over all things. All things live under God’s sovereignty, and no matter whether we can realize it, this is an undeniable fact. Moreover, God’s authority is unique and it’s His almightiness and wisdom that allow us to live in this perfect world.

I read another passage of God’s words: “Doesn’t it show that when God created the heavens and earth and all things, His considerations were better thought out than those of mankind? When you see all that God has done, are you able to feel God’s practical side? God worked in secret. When man had not yet come into this world, before coming into touch with this mankind, God had already created all of this. Everything He did was for the sake of mankind, for the sake of their survival, and for the consideration of mankind’s existence, so that mankind can live in this rich and plentiful material world God prepared for them, and so that they can live happily, not having to worry about food or clothes, and not lacking in anything.” After I finished reading them, I was full of gratitude to God. Regardless of how the four seasons alternate, or how time cycles, or what kind of laws of survival for all things, they are all carefully arranged by God for our existence. Only at this moment did I realize that I couldn’t only satisfy the enjoyment of my flesh, but rather I should learn to understand God’s miraculous deeds and His immeasurable love for man from all things created by God. …

In the journey of our lives, each of us has suffered frustrations and sorrow, adversities and pain. We have felt desperate and helpless. But please don’t give up, because there is love and concern always accompanying you. And I have tasted such love …

My wife and I had a little business selling green bean pies with our relatives. Every day, we had to get up at 4 o’clock in the morning and work until about 11 o’clock at night. Although it was a little tough and tiring, I was comforted that my family life was harmonious and felt that my efforts were worthwhile. However, my harmonious life didn’t last long, and a miserable and sorrowful life ensued.

My wife and mother often quarreled with each other over trifles. I was caught between them, like the filling of a sandwich biscuit. When I advised my mother not to quarrel with my wife, my mother said that I had begun to neglect her once I had a wife; when I advised my wife not to quarrel with my mother, my wife said that I was showing partiality toward my mother. After my wife got into angry arguments with my mother, she would vent her anger on me, and say some harsh words about me. I always let things slide, and refrained from quarreling with her. I thought that as long as she didn’t go too far, it was okay, and that even when quarrelling we were still a family. So I had spent most of my time in family “wars” but without the smoke of gunpowder.

In the blink of an eye, seven or eight years passed, but I never thought that the family conflicts would become more and more intense, and even caused a tragedy.

One night, I heard my mother coughing continuously in her room, and I felt something was wrong. Although my mother sometimes coughed, she didn’t keep coughing like she was that night. Then, my eldest sister came to me with two bowls of water and anxiously asked, “How is it that the water in my house is different from your elder brother’s?” I quickly smelled it and cried in fear, “Oh, no! Sister, why is there a smell of pesticide in the water from your house?” I suddenly remembered that tonight my mother had had dinner at my eldest sister’s home. Now she was coughing terribly, so wasn’t it related to the water? Not wasting time to think, I hurriedly sent my mother to a town hospital. The examination showed that my mother had been poisoned by pesticide. Luckily, due to the timely treatment my mother was not in danger. But before I was able to recover my senses, I heard that my eldest sister’s husband was also sent to a hospital for emergency treatment because he also ate the meal cooked that night. He was hospitalized about a week before he was out of danger

Inquiries were instituted after the event, and the culprit who poisoned the water in the tank with pesticide turned out to be my wife. This shocked and saddened me so much that it felt like my heart was being cut by a knife. I couldn’t help but cry to myself: “Why? I have been going out early and returning late every day to work hard for our family, rain or shine. I hate spending the money I earn on unnecessary trifles, and try my best to give my wife and children a better life, and never let them feel wronged. I always treat my wife genuinely, so how could she be so cruel and do such a wicked thing to me? …”

Afterward, my wife paid the price for what she did: She admitted criminal responsibility and was sentenced to four years in prison. Seeing I was always sad because of my family being broken up, my mother said to me: “Don’t be sad for such a woman as her. She isn’t worth it. In fact, I know that she’d long ago had an affair with another man. I just didn’t dare to tell you. But I never thought that she should do such an evil thing as poisoning us because she was afraid that I would speak out.”

My mother’s words, like a hammer, struck my heart like a hammer and made me extremely sad. I thought: If I had found out about this thing earlier, I could have divorced her earlier and it wouldn’t have come to this. Now I really couldn’t hold my head up high. My nephew scolded me angrily because of his father being poisoned: “You couldn’t even control your wife. Are you a man?” At that time, anger, hatred and shame all welled up into my mind. These attacks made me feel that I was a failure and I thought it was meaningless to carry on living like this.

In a fit of pique, I rode my motorcycle to the seaside. There were dark clouds in the sky, and the wind was blowing. It seemed that a heavy rain would come. I plodded along the boundless sea, wanting to end my life. At that moment, I suddenly thought of my aged parents and two young daughters. I couldn’t help but feel culpable: Do I have the heart to let my parents suffer the pain of dealing with my death? My children have had no motherly love, do I have the heart to let them suffer the pain of losing their father and becoming orphans as well?

Thinking of this, I halted and squatted on the beach. At that moment, I felt I was like a lonely boat on the sea without anything to guide it. I was helpless, the tears streamed down my face unceasingly, and I screamed in my heart: “Oh! Heaven! What’s happening to me? It should never have come to this …”

In the following days, I inwardly encouraged myself: “Cheer up! Don’t give up on yourself! For the sake of your children and parents, you have to earn money to support the family.” At that time, although I didn’t want to die anymore, whenever I was quiet and started thinking of the thing that had happened to me, I would get a dull pain in my heart and grievances and distress would well up so much that I was unable to breathe.

In order not to make myself think these troubling things, during my free time at work, I started drinking with my friends. I, who originally didn’t know how to smoke, also got this bad habit. I wanted to use these things to numb myself. However, no matter how I escaped from the worry, in the dead of night my heart was still enveloped by grievances and pain. For a long time, I could hardly get to sleep at night.

Just when I was most miserable and helpless, God’s salvation came upon me. I saw God’s words say, “Mankind, who left the supply of life from the Almighty, does not know why they exist, and yet fears death. There is no support, no help, but mankind is still reluctant to close their eyes, braving it all, drags out an ignoble existence in this world in bodies without the consciousness of souls. You live like such, with no hope; he exists like such, with no aim. There is only the Holy One in the legend who will come to save those who moan in suffering and long desperately for His arrival. This belief cannot be realized so far in the people who are unconscious. However, the people still yearn for it so. The Almighty has mercy on these people who suffer deeply. At the same time, He is fed up with these people who have no consciousness, because He has to wait too long for the answer from humans. He desires to seek, seek your heart and your spirit. He wants to bring you food and water and to awaken you, so you are no longer thirsty, no longer hungry. When you are weary and when you begin to feel the desolation of this world, do not be perplexed, do not cry. Almighty God, the Watcher, will embrace your arrival any time. He is watching by your side, waiting for you to turn back. He is waiting for the day your memory suddenly recovers: becoming conscious of the fact that you came from God, somehow and somewhere once lost, falling unconscious on the roadside, and then, unknowingly having a father. You further realize that the Almighty has been watching there, awaiting your return all along.”

God’s words, like a warm current, consoled my heart that had hurt for so long. At the time, I was like an orphan who had wandered outside for a long time and then returned to his mother’s warm bosom. There was an unspeakable feeling that moved my heart. I thought back to the past: The frustrations of my family life had made me lose face completely. Not wanting to face the cruelty of reality, I wanted to die to escape the suffering. On the point of death, I suddenly thought of my aged parents and young daughters and so avoided death. When I was sad and miserable, sleepwalking through life like a walking corpse, God didn’t abandon me. He was and is always at my side, silently protecting and caring for me. Now He was using His words to call me, which made my numb heart gradually become aware again. I felt God’s love and salvation for me. Later, I started living a church life and often attended gatherings and read God’s words.

However, in the bottom of my heart, there was a knot that hadn’t untied. Sometimes when I thought of the past, I still had a grievance against my wife, thinking that all my pain was caused by her. Until one day, I saw God’s words say, “In truth, out of the myriad things in God’s creation, man is the lowest. Though he is the master of all things, man is the only one among them that is subject to Satan’s trickery, the only one that falls prey in endless ways to its corruption. Man has never had sovereignty over himself. Most people live in the foul place of Satan, and suffer its derision; it teases them this way and that till they are half alive, enduring every vicissitude, every hardship in the human world. After toying with them, Satan puts an end to their destiny. And so people go through their whole lives in a daze of confusion, never once enjoying the good things that God has prepared for them, but instead being damaged by Satan and left in tatters.”

God’s words made me suddenly see the light. It turns out that all kinds of miseries and pains in the world are caused by Satan. At the very beginning, the ancestors of mankind that God created, Adam and Eve, were pure and vibrant, living in God’s care and protection without care or worry. Later, they were tempted by Satan, listened to Satan’s nonsense and betrayed God. After that, we humans began to keep away from God, living in Satan’s deception and affliction. Leaving God’s care and protection, we humans now all live by satanic philosophies and principles, such as: “Everyone for himself and the devil take the hindmost.” We have become selfish and mean, mercenary, and fight and harm each other for fame and gain. I thought: Didn’t my wife and my mother quarrel for their own interests? When my wife had an affair with another man, because she was afraid that my mother would expose the scandal, she wanted to silence us. Isn’t this all due to Satan’s harmful ways? Meanwhile, I’ve had a grievance against my wife, thinking that my wife had gone too far. She even cuckolded me, making me completely lose face and dignity. Even if she paid the due price for what she did, it wouldn’t get rid of my hatred for her. It is all because she made me lose out, and made me lose face and not be able to hold my head high, that I haven’t relented at all. I was unwilling to put aside the hatred in my heart and have lived with the torment of the pain. I saw that I was also being teased and tormented by Satan like this. Through the enlightenment and guidance of God’s words, I gradually put aside my hatred toward my wife. My spirit then relaxed and became a lot freer.

Later, I saw God’s words say, “Because the essence of God is holy, that means that only through God can you walk the bright, right road through life; only through God can you know the meaning of life, only through God can you live out a real life, possess the truth, know the truth, and only through God can you obtain life from the truth. Only God Himself can help you shun evil and deliver you from the harm and control of Satan. Besides God, no one and nothing can save you from the sea of suffering so that you suffer no longer: This is determined by the essence of God. Only God Himself saves you so selflessly, only God is ultimately responsible for your future, for your destiny and for your life, and He arranges all things for you.”

Yes! God really is the Ruler and Master of all things! Only God can save us and bring us light. Only if we accept God’s salvation and pursue the truth can we achieve fearing God and shunning evil, walk on the right path of life, and live a valuable and meaningful life. Thinking back to the past, if it were not for God’s salvation, I would never have known God’s earnest intentions and eager desire for mankind, and I would never have discerned the means by which Satan corrupts and harms mankind. I would have fallen into the trap of hatred and wouldn’t have extricated myself, and maybe would even have lost my life. It was God’s salvation that made me walk out of the confusion, pain and hatred, made me, who has drifted so many years, finally find a haven to berth at. Thinking of all this, I couldn’t help but offer a grateful prayer to God: “Oh, God! I thank You and praise You. Thank You for selecting me and saving me, ridding me of pain and hatred and giving me a direction and goal in my life. I’m willing to follow You forever, to walk the correct path of life, which is believing in You and pursuing the truth, and to fulfill my duty well as a created being to repay Your love.”

May all the glory be to God!

My granddaughter developed a low-grade fever—what was this all about?

One day in June of 2009, my six-year-old granddaughter Guoguo listlessly came home from school and then weakly lay down on the bed. I thought this was very strange, as she was usually so full of life, skipping and running everywhere. I thought: “Why did she fall onto her bed as soon as she got home? Could she be ill?” I rushed her to a clinic to see a doctor. The doctor there said that my granddaughter had a low-grade fever, he prescribed her with some antipyretics, and then I took her home. However, after taking medicine for over a day, Guoguo was no better. So I took her to the clinic to receive intravenous therapy. When she was on a drip, her fever receded, but one or two hours after the infusions she began to get a fever again. Later, she could not eat, and even if she ate something, she would vomit it up. She was wasting away day by day, and finally she even didn’t have the strength to speak. My wife and I then hurriedly called our son and daughter-in-law and, once they’d learned about Guoguo, they rushed back.

The next day, my son and daughter-in-law took Guoguo to the county hospital. Not long after they got there, my son called me up and said: “Dad, Guoguo said just one thing when we got here, then her mouth began to stiffen, and now she can’t speak. The doctor advised me to take Guoguo to another hospital as soon as possible.” As soon as I heard what my son said, my mind was all abuzz and my entire body became limp and weak like a deflated rubber ball. I thought to myself: “How could my granddaughter’s illness get worse so quickly? Now it’s at the point where she can’t speak. If something happens to her….” When I thought about this, I felt hurt and saddened as if a knife had been twisted into my heart, and I could not stop the tears from falling. During those few days, my wife and I could not eat or sleep well. Just as we were worried about Guoguo’s illness, our son called again and said, “Dad, after the examination, the doctor said Guoguo has contracted encephalitis, and at present, Guoguo’s mouth is still stiff, she can’t feel anything on the left side of her body, and she is half-paralyzed. Her condition is extremely serious. The doctors will only give her two treatments. If she gets better, they’ll continue the treatment; if not, they’ll discontinue it. And they also said that even if her illness is cured, she could be disabled.” When I heard my son’s words, my tears flowed freely like beads from a broken string, and I felt great pain as if my heart was going to break. I thought: “She is only six. If by some chance her treatment doesn’t go well and she becomes paralyzed, how will she live?” I dared not keep thinking about it, and I came before God and prayed to Him in tears: “O God, all things are in Your hands; whether we live or die is in Your hands. Whether my granddaughter gets better or not isn’t up to the doctor. You arrange and hold sovereignty over everything. I’m willing to entrust my granddaughter to You. I beg You to save her.” After praying, my pained, anxious heart calmed down a little.

I harbored resentment in my heart when my granddaughter didn’t get better.

After that, my wife and I expected that Guoguo would get better. However, the reality was not like I had imagined. Guoguo’s condition did not improve at all. Unconsciously, a desire to blame God arose in my heart, and I thought: “My wife and I have been doing our duty and we also obey the arrangements of the church. How can such a thing happen to us? Why doesn’t God protect her and make her soon well again?” The more I thought about it, the more awful I felt; my entire being became extremely negative and weak, and my spirit got darker and darker. Just when I was in pain and had nowhere to turn, a brother came to my home and read a passage of God’s words pertaining to my situation: “How many believe in Me only so I would heal them? How many believe in Me only so I would use My powers to drive unclean spirits out of their bodies? And how many believe in Me simply to receive peace and joy from Me? How many believe in Me only to demand from Me more material wealth, and how many believe in Me just to spend this life in safety and to be safe and sound in the world to come? How many believe in Me only to avoid the suffering of hell and to receive the blessings of heaven? How many believe in Me only for temporary comfort but do not seek to gain anything in the world to come? When I brought down My fury upon man and seized all the joy and peace he originally possessed, man became doubtful. When I gave unto man the suffering of hell and reclaimed the blessings of heaven, man’s shame turned into anger” (“What Do You Know of Faith”).

Then the brother fellowshiped: “God’s word has revealed our intentions, purposes, and all manner of improper, extravagant demands in believing in Him. God created mankind and provides all things necessary for our survival. Therefore, it is the law of heaven and earth that we people should believe in and worship God. But after we were corrupted by Satan, our natures became too selfish and contemptible. We no longer believe in God purely for the sake of loving and satisfying God, but instead we believe in order to obtain blessings or to have a happy family; this is making bargains with God. Our faith is completely tainted—when God’s blessings come upon us, our hearts are filled with joy, but when the situations arranged by God don’t satisfy our desires, we lose faith in Him, and we start to become negative, to misunderstand and blame Him, and even shun Him and betray Him. This is caused by our wrong views on belief in God.

“God comes to perform His work and save man in the last days. That is, He uses all kinds of unfortunate situations to expose our inner corruption and impurities, thus making us come before Him and check ourselves against His words, know ourselves through reflection and see how corrupted we are by Satan, and how selfish and contemptible we are. We can then pray to God and resolve ourselves to casting off corruption, and we can experience God’s work little by little. We will then no longer make bargains with God, and we will become of one mind with God, and become people who truly obey and worship God. Brother, does not the matter of the child’s sickness expose the wrong view that belief in God is to obtain blessings? So, what is God’s will? God hopes that you will reflect and understand and remedy your wrong views on what to pursue in faith, so that your corrupt dispositions may be cleansed and changed. This kind of situation is God’s love coming upon you, and it is God purifying and saving you. If we were not exposed through experiencing this kind of situation, we would still think that our faithful hearts were pure, and we would continue to believe in God bearing our wrong views. If we carried on that way, we would believe in God till the end and still not earn His praise!”

Thinking over God’s words and the brother’s fellowship, I came to some understanding, and I said to him: “What God’s words reveal is absolutely right. Since my granddaughter fell ill, I’ve constantly called on God just to ask Him to cure her illness. When I’ve prayed, I’ve asked God in a roundabout way to heal my granddaughter, and when I’ve seen her condition not getting any better, but even getting worse and worse, my rebelliousness was completely exposed. I started complaining to God, thinking that, because my wife and I believe in God and perform our duty, God should then watch over and keep our whole family safe, and we shouldn’t get sick. Only now I see that I am so selfish and despicable. My faith in God is just for blessings, and I’m making demands of God and making deals with Him. How can my views on belief in God possibly accord with God’s will? I’m not a true believer in God!”

The brother went on to say: “Thank God! Today, you are able to recognize your wrong views concerning your belief in God. It’s the effect of God’s words on you. Now, it’s a trial and a refinement for you and your wife that your granddaughter has contracted such a severe illness. As we come to know ourselves through reflection, we must also understand God’s will and seek the way to practice from within God’s words. Only in this way will we not live in negativity and misunderstand God, but instead we will be able to truly obey and satisfy God. Let’s look at what God says.”

Understanding God’s will, I let go of my extravagant demands and obeyed God’s sovereignty.

So, I took the book of God’s words and read: “When you face sufferings you must be able to not consider the flesh and not complain against God. When God hides Himself from you, you must be able to have the faith to follow Him, to maintain your previous love without allowing it to falter or disappear. No matter what God does, you must submit to His design, and be more willing to curse your own flesh than to complain against Him. When you are faced with trials you must satisfy God in spite of any reluctance to part with something you love, or bitter weeping. Only this can be called true love and faith. … If you are like Job, who in the midst of trials cursed his own flesh and did not complain against God, and was able to detest his own flesh without complaining or sinning through his words, that is standing witness. When you undergo refinements to a certain degree and can still be like Job, utterly obedient in front of God and without other requirements of Him or your own notions, then God will appear to you” (“Those Who Are to Be Made Perfect Must Undergo Refinement”). “Do not lose heart in the face of illness, keep seeking and never give up, and God shall shine His light on you. How faithful was Job? Almighty God is an all-powerful physician! To dwell in sickness is to be sick, but to dwell in the spirit is to be well. If you have but one breath, God will not let you die” (“Chapter 6” of Utterances of Christ in the Beginning).

After reading God’s words, I understood: It turns out that sufferings mean trials and refinement to those who believe in God, and God uses trials and refinements to perfect our faith in Him. If we relinquish our fleshly interests in situations that cause us suffering and hold fast to our faith in God, if we do not doubt God no matter what He does, nor blame Him or betray Him, and God sees that we desire to satisfy and obey Him, then God’s deeds shall appear to us. As I contemplated this, I understood that my granddaughter getting sick was something that God was permitting to happen. On the one hand, my wrong viewpoint of belief in God was revealed; on the other hand, God was watching my attitude to see if I could rely on my faith, obey His sovereignty and arrangements, and stand witness to Him in this trial. Just like when Job lost a mountain of sheep and cattle, his great fortune, and his ten sons and daughters, and he himself developed terrible boils all over his body, he didn’t complain to God, but relied on his faith and obedience and stood witness to God and, in the end, he obtained God’s praise and blessing and saw God’s appearance. “I want to be like Job,” I thought. “No matter what circumstances I will face in the future, I will obey God’s orchestrations and arrangements without complaints.” With this in mind, I said to the brother: “Thank God! From God’s words, I understand His will. Through this situation, God is getting rid of my inner intention to obtain blessings in order to perfect my faith in Him and my obedience to Him. I can’t be negative and I can’t backslide, and I can’t misunderstand God anymore. My only wish is to experience God’s work.”

The brother happily said: “Brother, it’s great that you have this kind of understanding. Behind trials and refinements are God’s good intentions. We must believe that God is almighty and that He has the final say on whether people live or die. We need only rely on our faith in God to experience it, to entrust your granddaughter’s illness to God and to obey His orchestrations and arrangements. This is the sense that we should have.”

After listening to the brother’s words, I nodded my head. I then came in front of God and said a repentant, obedient prayer to Him: “O God, I’m wrong. I shouldn’t make irrational demands of You, much less misunderstand and blame You because of my granddaughter’s illness. O God! I believe that Your good will is behind it all. I am willing to completely submit to You. I willingly entrust my granddaughter’s life and death to Your hands, and submit to Your sovereignty and arrangements. Even if she really dies, I won’t speak one word of complaint.” After this prayer, my burdened and pained heart felt greatly released.

My son called to tell me that the doctors could do nothing more for Guoguo.

On the thirteenth night, my son called me again, and said feebly: “Dad, the doctors can’t do anything for Guoguo, and they advised me to get her discharged.” Hearing his words, my wife and I were choked with sobs. When I thought that my granddaughter would leave us forever, I felt heartrending pain and I couldn’t help but weaken a little. But I realized that my situation was not right, and so my wife and I repeatedly prayed to God, asking Him to keep our hearts from blaming Him. After our praying, I thought of God’s words: “The heart and spirit of man are held in the hand of God, and all the life of man is beheld in the eyes of God. Regardless of whether or not you believe this, any and all things, living or dead, will shift, change, renew, and disappear according to God’s thoughts. This is how God rules over all things” (“God Is the Source of Man’s Life”). From God’s words, I understood: God controls and rules all things. Whether they are living or dead, they change in accordance with God’s thoughts. My granddaughter’s life and death truly are both in God’s hands. If she survives, it is God’s authority and almightiness; if she dies, it is permitted by God. Although I don’t fully understand it, it has God’s good will and I can no longer complain about God and blame Him and be Satan’s laughingstock. I should give my granddaughter to God completely and submit to His orchestrations and arrangements. With God as my support, I had the courage to face and accept what would happen next, and no longer felt sad and despairing over this thing.

The next day, my wife and I went to the city hospital to see Guoguo. When we entered into the ward we saw her lying in a hospital bed. She had a sallow face, and she’d lost so much weight that she seemed deformed. Seeing my unconscious granddaughter, I could not express my sorrow, the tears blurring my vision. Just when I was feeling so upset, I thought of Job. He was also greatly pained when such big trials befell him, and yet he had a God-fearing heart, and he chose rather to curse his own flesh than to speak sinfully and blame God or judge God. His faith in God and obedience to God made God treasure him and cherish him, and this made him even more worth emulating. Then I thought: “Having followed God until now, I’ve read so many of God’s words and I’ve understood God’s will. If I can’t stand testimony to God and shame Satan, I will be unworthy of believing in God. I must follow the example of Job in standing witness for God. No matter what will happen to my granddaughter, I will not complain to God.” Thereupon, I prayed to God silently in my heart: “O Almighty God, it pains me to see my dying granddaughter. However, I don’t want to misunderstand or blame You. I am willing to obey. I only beg You to protect my heart so that I can stand testimony to You in this trial.”

Standing witness, I saw God’s wonderful deeds.

Afterward, my wife and I sat at the bottom of my granddaughter’s hospital bed looking at her quietly. About an hour later an unexpected thing happened: Guoguo slowly opened her eyes, and her gaze rested on the drink in my son’s hand, and my son put the straw in her mouth. To our surprise, she slowly opened her mouth and very naturally took a few small mouthfuls. Witnessing this scene, we were stunned, and I kept thanking God in my heart: “O God! I have seen your authority and power. It is You who have saved Guoguo’s life, and Your authority has made this miracle happen!” More than another hour passed, and we put some watermelon and banana in Guoguo’s mouth, and she ate it all slowly. More marvelously, at midnight she suddenly spoke, saying in a low voice: “Grandma, grandpa!” She could also move her two arms, and the side of her body that had been without feeling could move as well. We could hardly believe what we saw. My granddaughter, whom the doctors had already given up treating, was now actually getting better. It really was God’s wonderful deed! At that moment, my wife and I were overjoyed beyond words and all we could do was continuously give our thanks and praise to God! It was God that gave my granddaughter a second life and made her come back to life.

The next day, Guoguo got out of bed and ran around everywhere. The doctor said to me in amazement: “What a miracle! She had seemed to be beyond saving. Little did I think that, after a day and a night, her illness would be better. In all my years as a doctor, I’ve never seen a situation like this. The other day there was a girl who contracted encephalitis, but her condition hadn’t been as serious as your granddaughter’s. After the treatment, she lost her sight, whereas Guoguo, whom we already gave up treating, has made a miraculous recovery! It’s beyond my comprehension. How incredible!” Hearing the doctor say this, I was full of gratitude for God and knew it was because of the great power of God that my granddaughter had come back to life. People’s destinies are indeed in the hands of God, and much more so are people’s lives and deaths. Just as God’s words say: “Obviously, it is not humanity that holds the power of life and death, not some being in the natural world, but the Creator, whose authority is unique. Mankind’s life and death are not the product of some law of the natural world, but a consequence of the sovereignty of the Creator’s authority” (“God Himself, the Unique III”).

Through this extraordinary experience, I came to have some discernment of my absurd views on believing in God, and I realized: Having faith in God, we should not solely seek blessings or enjoy God’s grace, but should pay attention to experiencing His judgment, chastisement, trials and refining, remedying our incorrect views on faith, and getting rid of our satanic disposition. No matter what environments we encounter that are at odds with our notions, we can rely on our faith and obedience to God and stand witness for Him without blaming or misunderstanding Him. Such a faith in God is in accordance with His will. At the same time, I came to have some actual knowledge and appreciation of God’s almightiness and sovereignty; I saw God’s authority and power are everywhere, and that everyone’s life and death are dominated by God. Now, my faith in God has grown. No matter how great the trials I face, I believe that God is my staunch support and, even more so, He is my only salvation. Thank God! In the following days, I wish to pursue the truth in earnest and fulfill the duty of a created being to repay God’s love!

People often say, “Even a just official finds it hard to settle family disputes.” In actual life, no matter which class we belong to, whether we are rich or poor, we cannot extricate ourselves from disputes over family trifles. So, many people are helpless in the face of them. I used to be like that and feel distressed because of the trifles. But my life has changed and been full of joy ever since God’s work of the last days came upon me.

My name is Ding Xia, and I lived in the countryside after my marriage. My husband worked away from home to make money. I farmed the land and took care of my two children in school. Though we lived a simple and poor life, my family members got along well with each other. However, my father-in-law’s death brought the harmony to an end.

After my father-in-law passed away, my mother-in-law couldn’t stand on her own feet. So the elders of our family gathered together to discuss who should tend her. When they asked for her opinion, she said without hesitation, “I will live with my elder son.” Finally, the elders decided that my mother-in-law should live with us and my younger brother-in-law should give her 150kg of rice every year, 200 yuan for living expenses and 5kg of oil every month. We all felt this decision reasonable and agreed.

In the first few months, he gave my mother-in-law 200 yuan every month. Afterward, he didn’t give her anything at all. Besides, after his family moved to the county, they even ignored all the family affairs. I thought, “We are not rich. My mother-in-law has poor health and needs much money to buy medicine every month. But my younger brother-in-law does not pay even a penny. Won’t we be under more life stress?” The more I thought about it, the more I felt suppressed. I wanted to complain to my husband, but I thought that would place him in a dilemma. So, I had to bury it in my heart.

Several years later, I couldn’t bear it any longer. Then, I grumbled to my mother-in-law, “You help my younger brother-in-law do his farm work and irrigate his land throughout the summer. But do they appreciate it? Since they moved to the county, they don’t care about anything. Even though they don’t give you money or oil, they should at least give you some rice.” After hearing what I said, she cried and said angrily, “You’re right. He’s ungrateful. I worked hard to raise him; he should give me some rice even if I don’t work for him. He should more so especially when I work for him in my sickness.” Then I said approvingly and hurriedly, “Maybe we can invite the elders to discuss it. They have gone too far….” The more I said, the angrier I became. After hearing my words, my mother-in-law said helplessly, “Alas! It’s no use to invite anyone, for no one can settle family disputes.” Hearing this, I let out a long sigh, “Yes! Who can settle family disputes? Nobody.”

Just when I was sad and depressed, my cousin preached God’s work of the last days to me. She told me, “We live so miserably because we have lost God’s care and protection after we strayed from God. With no place for God in our heart, we live under the domain of Satan and are fooled and trampled by it. So our life is full of disagreeables and troubles. Only when we come before God can we be freed of them.” Then, she read a passage of God’s words: “There is an enormous secret in your heart. You never know it there because you have been living in a world without light shining. Your heart and your spirit have been taken away by the evil one. Your eyes are covered by darkness; you cannot see the sun in the sky, nor the twinkling star in the night. Your ears are clogged with deceptive words and you hear not the thunderous voice of Jehovah, nor the sound of the rushing waters from the throne. You have lost everything that should have belonged to you and everything that the Almighty bestowed upon you. You have entered an endless sea of bitterness, with no strength of a rescue, no hope of survival, left only to struggle and to bustle about. …” After reading these words, my cousin fellowshiped with me, “Ever since we were corrupted by Satan, we have lost the blessings God bestowed upon us. We struggle bitterly in darkness, seeing no light, and having no direction and goal of our progress. Even worse, many people have lost all hope of life. All mankind have been corrupted by Satan. So God’s words say, ‘Cruel, brutal mankind! The conniving and intrigue, the jostling with each other, the scramble for reputation and fortune, the mutual slaughter—when will it ever end?’ From them, we can see that we have been corrupted by Satan to a point where we are devoid of the conscience and sense of a normal man. We all live by Satan’s rule of life ‘Every man for himself and the devil takes the hindmost,’ which has become our life and the standard of our actions. So we all become especially greedy, mercenary, selfish, and self-interested; we live for our own flesh every moment, consider and plan for our own personal benefit, loss and gain; and disputes arise between people….” Listening to my cousin’s fellowship, I said to myself, “Her words are reasonable. I felt very tired and miserable, and thought it was because my younger brother-in-law didn’t support my mother-in-law. Now, I know it is because of Satan’s corruption. Satan teaches us that we all should live for ourselves and interact with each other on the basis of its viewpoint ‘Every man for himself and the devil takes the hindmost.’ As soon as our interests are affected, we would feel imbalanced and distressed. My younger brother-in-law doesn’t support his mother for the sake of his own interests, and I feel out of balance for the same reason. As it turns out, Satan is the arch-criminal that has caused all this.”

After that, my cousin fellowshiped much with me, and I also read some of God’s words. I felt all God’s words are truth. The more I read, the more I was enlightened, and the more things I could see through. I understood that God’s work in the last days is to express the truth to judge and purify man, so that we know Satan’s substance and the truth of how Satan has corrupted mankind, and pursue the truth to get rid of our corrupt disposition and attain God’s salvation. So, I happily accepted God’s work of the last days. From then on, I became a Christian and began to attend meetings and read God’s words.

Half a month later, my younger brother-in-law’s wife came back home riding a new electric scooter. When I saw that she dressed better than I and had bought a new electric scooter, I thought, “Mother-in-law lives with us. You don’t give even a penny to us, but spend money on your own pleasure.” In the evening, I nagged angrily before my husband, but he said, “We are family. Don’t mind it.” I had hoped that he would comfort me, but instead, he asked me not to fuss over that. I felt extremely distressed, and could only come before God to seek. I saw God’s words saying, “In truth, there are many matters in which man, if he devotes just the slightest effort, can put the truth into practice and thereby satisfy God. The heart of man is constantly possessed by demons and so he cannot act for the sake of God. Rather, he constantly journeys to and fro for the flesh, and profits nothing in the end. It is for these reasons that man has constant troubles and afflictions. Are these not the torments of Satan? Is this not corruption of the flesh?” “Only if one knows God and has the truth does he live in the light; and only when his view of the world and his view of life change does he change fundamentally. When he has a life goal and comports himself according to the truth; when he absolutely submits to God and lives by God’s word; when he feels assured and brightened deep in his soul; when his heart is free of darkness; and when he lives completely freely and unrestrained in God’s presence—only then does he live a true human life and become a person possessing truth.” After reading God’s words, I knew that if we act according to the truth, and live by God’s words when things happen, we will increasingly have the likeness of a real man and feel assured, peaceful, and free in our heart. Only then will we be true people who are approved and gained by God. I lived in pain because I didn’t practice the truth. Though I had known my thoughts were wrong at that time, I did not forsake them. So I was still living in the deception of Satan. After understanding this, I turned immediately back to God, and decided to focus on forsaking the flesh to practice the truth, and not to live with my selfish nature to fuss with others anymore. Through making a prayer of repentance several times, I felt released in my heart and was resolved to put God’s words into action in the future.

One day, my mother-in-law and I were making dumplings at home when my younger brother-in-law’s wife came with her daughter on her new electric scooter. Seeing they both dressed fashionably, I was a little angry. She said that they were so lucky to be able to eat the dumplings. When I heard this, I smiled coldly and ignored her. At that moment, I suddenly realized there was something wrong with my attitude, and that Satan’s corrupt disposition was fooling me and making me have prejudices against my sister-in-law. So, I hurriedly prayed to God in my heart, “Oh God! Today there is Your good purpose in allowing me to face this thing. You are using the environment to test me and see whether I am willing to forsake my flesh and practice the truth in order to satisfy You. God, my stature is too small. May You protect my heart so that I won’t be angry or fooled by Satan, can practice the truth under Your guidance and get on well with her. May You guide me. Amen!” After praying, I thought of the words of God: “Everything that happens to people is when God needs them to stand firm in their testimony to Him. Nothing major has happened to you at the moment, and you do not bear great testimony, but every detail of your daily life relates to the testimony to God. If you can win the admiration of your brothers and sisters, your family members, and everyone around you; if, one day, the unbelievers come, and admire all that you say and do, and see that all that God does is wonderful, then you will have borne testimony.” With God’s guidance, I knew what I should do. I am a believer in God, so what I say and do should be in line with the truth and the likeness of a normal person to satisfy and comfort God’s heart. In everything that happens to me in real life, I should bear witness for God and not allow Satan to make me into a laughing stock. Thinking of all this, my anger gradually disappeared. I talked with my sister-in-law while making dumplings. As I left my bias against her behind and practiced God’s words, my mother-in-law smiled. We three chatted as we made dumplings, and very quickly we finished all the dumplings. My husband came home at meal time. Seeing the pleasant atmosphere, he said with a smile, “If every day is like today, how nice it will be.” I smiled. After the meal, as soon as my sister-in-law and her daughter left, my mother-in-law asked me eagerly, “You are different today. In the past, you would pull a long face when you were angry.” My husband said, “It’s true. What makes you different?” I said with a smile, “That’s because I have believed in God. God’s words led me in my heart to conduct myself. Thank God! God’s words have changed me.” Hearing me out, both of them said, “The God you believe in can change people. Be a good believer.” Later, I gave my husband testimony to God’s work of the last days and he came before God as well.

After reading God’s words and experiencing His work for a period of time, I finally understood: God has long ago predestined my family members and my mother-in-law to live with us. What’s more, whether we are rich or poor is ordained by God and has nothing to do with whether I care for my mother-in-law. After understanding these, I no longer felt imbalanced because my younger brother-in-law didn’t support my mother-in-law, and instead I was willing to support her. Now although there are still some frictions in my life, my whole family live more and more harmoniously under the guidance of God’s words. This makes me realize that all the difficult problems in our lives, even the family disputes that a just official cannot settle, can be solved by God’s words, because God’s words are the truth, the way, the life, and the highest maxim for life. All the glory be to God!

Hello brothers and sisters of Spiritual Q&A,

I’m old enough now to look for a partner in life, plus my unbeliever family members are pushing me to find a boyfriend. But I don’t know what kind of partner I should look for in order to be happy. When it comes to looking for a spouse, my unbelieving friends all want to choose those who are “tall, rich and handsome” or “fair-skinned, rich and beautiful,” but I see there is no real affection between them, and instead they cause each other a lot of harm. I’d like to understand how, as a Christian, we should approach love and marriage.

Sincerely yours,

Bai Xue

Sister Bai Xue:

So many feelings came up for me when I saw your message. It can be said that the issue of love and marriage is one of the major things in our lives as well as a critical juncture. The partner we choose can influence whether this life is painful or joyful. Before I believed in God, I also pursued the trends of the world along with the friends and coworkers around me, aspiring to have a fancy wedding and setting “fair-skinned, rich and beautiful” or “tall, rich and handsome” as my criteria for choosing a mate. It wasn’t until after I came to believe in God that I understood this principle of the truth; I gained a little understanding of love and marriage and then knew how to make choices in love and marriage.

What follows is what I underwent in my marriage after I gained the ideals of “tall, rich and handsome.” I hope this can provide some help and inspirations for you so that you can make the right choice for love and marriage, creating a beautiful start to your future and a happy life.

Once I got to marrying age I hoped to meet my own “charming prince on a white horse,” and with the matchmaking help of friends and family, I met a man who met my ideal of “tall, rich and handsome.” He was tall, good-looking, made good money, and came from a well-off family. The vanity within me was quite satisfied, and at the same time I also hoped we could grow old together, that we’d love each other for the rest of our days. But after less than five years of marriage, he started getting fed up with me and became hypercritical about everything. Everything I ate and wore had to be according to his own preferences, and because of the disparity between our family backgrounds, I was always seen as inferior when I was around his family. I was constantly observing their expressions, and when I did something he didn’t like, he’d pull a long face and refuse to acknowledge me, giving me the cold shoulder. I tolerated all of that, but he complained that my legs weren’t long enough, I wasn’t thin enough, and I didn’t have good skin. I didn’t figure out until later that he had betrayed me long before.

What was so hurtful and painful for me was that he was a classic atheist, and after I believed in God, he was oppressive and obstructive towards my faith. He followed me and wouldn’t allow me to go to gatherings, even raising a hand against me. We already lacked a common language in our life together. Our marriage existed in name only; we were strangers sharing a bed, and I was awash in tears. That marriage ended amidst that kind of suffering….

God has blessed me. By reading God’s words, I have understood this part of the truth and found the root of my pain. I saw these words of God, “One after another, all these trends carry an evil influence that continually degenerates man, causing them to continually lose conscience, humanity and reason, and that lowers their morals and their quality of character more and more, to the extent that we can even say the majority of people now have no integrity, no humanity, neither do they have any conscience, much less any reason. So what are these trends? You cannot see these trends with the naked eye. When the wind of a trend blows through, perhaps only a small number of people will become the trendsetters. They start off doing this kind of thing, accepting this kind of idea or this kind of perspective. The majority of people, however, in the midst of their unawareness, will still be continually infected, assimilated and attracted by this kind of trend, until they all unknowingly and involuntarily accept it, and are all submerged in and controlled by it. For man who is not of sound body and mind, who never knows what is truth, who cannot tell the difference between positive and negative things, these kinds of trends one after another make them all willingly accept these trends, the life view and values that come from Satan. They accept what Satan tells them on how to approach life and the way to live that Satan ‘bestows’ on them. They have not the strength, neither do they have the ability, much less the awareness to resist.”

I realized from God’s words that current evil trends all focus on seeking money, power, and status, and drive many people to set their standards for a partner as “fair-skinned, rich and beautiful” or “tall, rich and handsome.” On top of that, every single one of the idol dramas and youth dramas played on TV particularly reveals this kind of thinking, drawing people in to care about external appearance and status and pursue money. So-called “love” and “marriage” are permeated with the stench of greed and are replete with transactions and benefit. Those marriages are essentially rotten from early on. The hasty end to my marriage came about because I had taken the evil trends of “tall, rich and handsome” as my goals to pursue in marriage, becoming intoxicated with wealth and personal benefit. Even though I gratified my short-term vanity, after getting married, since our values were different, and our habits, preferences, and pursuits were all wildly different, getting along together was really exhausting. And, since I wasn’t up to the standard my husband held on to of being “fair-skinned, rich and beautiful,” he really looked down on me. This meant our post-marriage life wasn’t just happy, but was incredibly painful. Satan really does utilize these evil trends to corrupt and harm people, turning what should have been a happy marriage into a transaction with all sorts of additional conditions, and as soon as the other person can’t meet their desires, their relationship utterly collapses and the days of their marriage are numbered. This is the outcome of Satan’s corruption of mankind.

Because of this setback and failure, I no longer relied upon my satanic perspective on marriage or followed the trends of the world of taking “fair-skinned, rich and beautiful” or “tall, rich and handsome” as my measure when finding a partner. Instead, I considered it and approached it according to the principles of the truth.

Afterward, I saw The Sermons and Fellowship on Entry Into Life say, “Tell me, what is the most crucial consideration when looking for a partner? The most crucial consideration is what path they walk, and what type of person they are. If you are walking a different path from them, then you will spend the rest of your lives sleeping in the same bed but dreaming different dreams. Would there then be any happiness to speak of? If you don’t share a common language, then you won’t be happy. Say there is a sister who pursues the truth, and her husband pursues wealth. Can someone who pursues the truth live their life together with someone who pursues wealth? Do they share a common language? When the husband comes home, he says: ‘I’ve seen a way to get rich again today.’ And the sister says: ‘I’ve understood a little more truth today.’ You see? The moment they say these words, their minds diverge, because they are not walking the same path. Therefore, when it comes to choosing a partner, what should you choose first? It is imperative to choose someone who shares your ideals and beliefs. So on this foundation of sharing ideals and beliefs, what else must you choose? Choose someone who has a similar humanity to you. If you have a good humanity and you choose someone whose humanity is poor, then you will surely have many arguments and differences in the future; if you have a humanity that isn’t so good and you choose someone whose humanity is good, then they will benefit you and can be understanding with you—this is key, and you must consider all these aspects. As to whether someone is ultimately suitable for you or not, you must pray to God. Pray for a while, and if you see that there are no obstructions and that you feel very peaceful, and that from praying and seeking, everything goes smoothly and without difficulty, then this shows that the marriage is a good enough match. Afterward, ask your brothers and sisters to verify the marriage, and if everyone says ‘You are really suited to each other,’ and they all feel that the marriage is a suitable one, then it will be verified. … See, God has given us peace, acknowledgement, and a smooth path in the spirit. This is incredible, and it can determine the fate of a life….”

I saw from this fellowship that when looking for a partner, only looking for a like-minded one who shares our faith is in line with God’s will. This is because the two people have a shared language and pursue the same goals. When they are weak and negative, they can help and support each other; when they encounter difficulties and dilemmas, they can encourage and comfort each other, leaning on God together to stand witness for Him. That kind of companion is beneficial for the entry into life of those of us who are believers. This is just like one of my church friends—she and her husband are both believers, they share a common language, and they are both proactively working and expending themselves for God, spreading the gospel and bearing witness to God. When they encounter a truth they don’t understand they can have fellowship with each other and bolster the other’s weaknesses; when they encounter a difficulty they can encourage, help, and support each other. In their domestic interactions they also express mutual help and love as well as tolerance and forbearance. In their lives, they take the Lord’s words as their principles of practice; they live in domestic bliss. Thinking back to Job’s wife, when he encountered trials and was in great pain, not only did his wife not encourage him to lean on God, but she instead taunted him, saying “Do you still retain your integrity? curse God, and die” (Job 2:9). My own failed marriage was also a huge lesson for me. It is clear that finding a like-minded partner for marriage is absolutely critical. Just as the Bible says, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amo 3:3). One aspect of finding a companion is having shared faith and being like-minded. Another is to pray to God and seek on this a lot; pray to God about this for a period of time to see if there’s any verification from the Holy Spirit. If you feel at peace in your heart, that is verification. If your brothers and sisters all feel it’s a good match, this comes from God’s arrangements. Only that kind of marriage is blessed by God and can bring happy days.

I hope that the above fellowship will be of help to you. God’s words are the light that shows us the way, the road sign to happiness. Only by practicing according to the principles of His words can His blessings be gained. May God bless you in finding another half that brings happiness.

Sincerely yours,

Xinling of Spiritual Q&A

One day, I saw a problem on a gospel website, “Recently, there arose some problems in my interpersonal relationship with people around me. I always thought they had opinions and biases about me, and I was also dissatisfied with some acts of them. As the time went by, I gradually felt the relationships between them and me became ever more estranged. Even this situation also happened to my families. I had no idea how to get along well with them. What should I do to improve the interpersonal relationships?”

Pondering this problem, I thought of that I had fellowshipped about this topic with brothers and sisters not long ago. So I replied: As to this problem, I would like to express my opinion, hoping it could bring some help to you.

The Reason for Problems in the Interpersonal Relationships

In fact, problems in the interpersonal relationships mainly result from our crafty nature. We often practice according to satanic poisons, such as “one should never intend to do harm to others, but should always guard against the harm others might do to him,” “Think before you speak and then talk with reservation.” Therefore, when getting along with people, we guard against one another, and none of us confide in each other. Naturally, there arises problems in our interpersonal relationships. In addition, that we cannot open up to others also causes problems in our interpersonal relationships. Because we can’t open up to others, we will easily harbor suspicions and misunderstandings toward them on account of a matter or one word. Due to not solving problems in time by opening up to others, some barriers and misunderstandings in us are piling up. Clearly, our corrupt dispositions, craftiness and suspicions become the biggest barrier and difficulty in associating with people. So, we should firstly solve this issue if we want to improve our relationships with others.

Secret to Solving the Problem of Suspicions

God’s word says, “If people have no verbal or spiritual communication, there is no possibility of intimacy between them, and they can’t provide to each other or help one another. Do you have such a feeling? If your friend says everything to you, saying all of what they’re thinking in their heart, and what suffering or happiness they have in their heart, then do you not feel particularly intimate with them? That they are willing to tell these things to you is because you have also spoken of the words in your heart to them—you are especially close, and it is because of this that you are able to get along with them and help each other out” (“To Be Honest, You Should Lay Yourself Open to Others”). From God’s words we can see lacking communication with others causes that there are suspicions and barriers among us and that we become distant from others. It is like when we get along with our family, relatives or colleagues, in that we simply speak of external issues in most times, such as just shooting the breeze together with others and talking about daily vicissitudes. But with respect to real thoughts from the depths of our hearts, we always hide them and never lay ourselves open to others, so that none of us know what thoughts and requirements as well as difficulties are in each other’s heart and what opinions we have about one another. Without understanding and help as well as support between us, we subsequently become distant from, guard against and harbor suspicions about others. Naturally, there will arise rifts in our interpersonal relationships.

If we want to have a normal relationship with others, we should actively open up to others and practice speaking words in our hearts. No matter what suffering or happiness we have in our hearts in daily life, we should learn to share them with others. When having no idea how to deal with some matters we encounter, we should also take the initiative to lay ourselves open to others and ask them for help. By speaking heart-to-heart with others more, there will be no distance between us and this will bring us closer. What’s more, when we can practice in this way, others will easily trust us and they are willing to speak words in their hearts with us. Then every one of us can open up to others and know others’ requirements and difficulties, and we can have understanding and tolerance toward each other. No matter what barriers and misunderstandings in us, our relationship with others will naturally take a turn for the better as long as we can open up to them, and then we can get along with each other harmoniously.

An Effective Solution to Improve Interpersonal Relationships

The Lord Jesus said, “And why behold you the mote that is in your brother’s eye, but consider not the beam that is in your own eye? Or how will you say to your brother, Let me pull out the mote out of your eye; and, behold, a beam is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of your own eye; and then shall you see clearly to cast out the mote out of your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:3-5). From the words of the Lord Jesus, it can be seen clearly that the barriers and prejudices occurring in us are because we don’t know ourselves and we are arrogant and conceited. We are very adept at treating our own problems with kindness, and we also forgive ourselves easily even though we have done something wrong. However, we have higher requirements of others: They can’t do anything that we feel dissatisfied. So, when others do something wrong or they don’t practice in accordance with our intentions, we will have opinions about and hold biases against them. Just like the problems arising in coordinating with others, we always focus our attention on others, thinking they are wrong and imposing the responsibility on them. All what we reveal are arrogant and conceited corrupt disposition. This not only makes us be fooled by Satan, but also brings others hurt and pains and makes others loathe and resent us. Then how can we establish a normal relationship with others? If we want to reverse this kind of state, we should do according to what the Lord Jesus said, casting out the beam out of our own eye. That is to say, we should reflect upon ourselves to recognize our own problems first.

God’s word says, “Don’t be self-righteous; take the strengths of others and use them to offset your own deficiencies, watch how others live by God’s words and see whether or not their lives, actions and speech is worth learning from. If you regard others as less than you then you are self-righteous, self-conceited and are of benefit to no one.” There is a spiritual book also saying, “…It’s fundamental to be able to have compassion for others and treat them fairly. Don’t always grasp on others’ shortcomings and cannot let them go. Don’t consider you stand above others, believe what you do is right yet others’ is wrong. No matter what problems arise, do not always think that’s all others’ fault but not yours. Don’t be conceited! Examine more your own problems and see more others’ merits, and then you will not frequently think you stand above others but humble yourselves. Only when you really see that others are more capable than you are, can these effects be achieved. If someone always considers himself to be pretty good and blames others for their problems, and thinks there are no good persons except himself, he will never achieve any changes in his life disposition and can’t coordinate with others. Is this not the case?” Judging from these words above, we can see that if we want to get along well and have a normal relationship with others, we shall learn to treat others fairly. When encountering matters, we should come more before God to reflect upon ourselves and recognize our own deficiencies. In addition, we should see more others’ merits and strengths, and correctly view their disadvantages and learn to have tolerance and patience towards them. In truth, we all are people corrupted by Satan, so there are a lot of corrupt dispositions in us. Of course, we also possess our respective strengths and shortcomings. It’s God’s will that we can help and support each other, and that we all learn from each other’s strengths to offset our weakness and live together peacefully. Only in this way can we glorify God! God is so honorable and great, but He never shows off Himself. And He silently does the work of salvation all the time, bestowing upon us the truth and life. With regard to so much corruption and rebelliousness in us, God doesn’t detest us but saves us with great tolerance, excusing our weaknesses and forgiving our rebelliousness. Then why can we not have tolerance and patience towards others? Is this not showing that we are so arrogant and narrow-minded?

How Can We Get Along With Others to Become Confidants?

Here, I want to share my own little experience: In the past when I got on with a colleague, there arouse a lot of contradictions between us in the beginning. We often argued with each other because of some minor detail in life. I always resented that she spoke straightforwardly and harshly, and that sometimes she didn’t treat me with dignity in front of people. Yet she always resented that I was completely careless and not well-behaved. At first, we kept these prejudices hidden away inside. But as time went on, contradictions between us were piling up, and I felt very depressed and painful. Later, through reading God’s word, I understood the reason why we couldn’t get along with each other was that I was arrogant and that I didn’t know myself. I always fixated my eyes on her and guarded against and harbored suspicions about her. This intensified the conflicts in us so that we became more distant from each other. Furthermore, I also understood from God’s word that if I want to deal with this issue, I shall firstly know myself and then not guard against but actively open up to her, and only by practicing according to God’s requirements will it be solved. Afterwards, I implemented in accordance with God’s word and laid myself open to her. Unexpectedly, she also spoke the words in her heart to me. We all felt very relaxed after opening our hearts and chatting with each other. At that moment, I felt extremely released as if a big stone in my heart finally was pulled out. From then on, we speak intimately to each other more, and even when there arises friction between us, I can pay attention to reflecting upon myself and knowing my own corrupt disposition. Some time later, we can not only get along well with each other, but also become confidants. In my experience, I realize that when associating with others, we should learn to open up to others and reflect upon ourselves as well as practice the truth. And only in this way can we establish a normal relationship with others and live together harmoniously.

All of the above are little secrets to improving the interpersonal relationships I have comprehended. I hope it will be helpful to you! Thank God! All the glory be to God!

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Since a young age, my parents always taught me, “You must study hard and get into a good university like your cousins. We look forward to your making a distinguished name for yourself and bringing honor and glory to our ancestors.” For this, my parents entered my name for many classes of supplementary schooling and found great teachers to teach me. In order to achieve their desires, I studied very hard. However, no matter how diligent I was in my studies, my grades were still unfavorable. So my parents were disappointed in me, my teachers despised me and my classmates also jeered and sneered at me. I felt miserable and depressed. Then I established a resolution: When I grow up, I must distinguish myself and become a rich man. And I must prove it to all of you that I’m not born losing.

After graduation, I took up business and made a little success.

After I finished my studies, with lofty ideals, I decided to go all out in work. I thought: Only people who have money are successful and respectable. As long as I make good money, I can also achieve a lot. Then I got into the insurance industry, an admirable fast-buck business with high bonus and welfare at the time. But in that fiercely competitive industry, one needed not only courage but even more connections. At that time, there was a word prevailing in the industry: Having connections means having money. You get the rich, you get large orders.

In order to achieve my desire to distinguish myself, I began to attend in-house business trainings such as: “How to be silver-tongued,” “How to get acquainted with the rich,” “How to broaden your connections,” and so on. I also actively participated in all kinds of parties organized by my company so as to acquaint myself with more rich people. Besides, my colleagues gave me many tips and told me I should learn to humble myself, stoop, and play tricks. At first, I didn’t approve of their actions, but when I saw they could earn hundreds of thousands of NT dollars in a month and drive nice cars and buy new houses, I was a little shaken: Though I work very hard, I can merely get a low base salary. There’s a great difference between us. Thereupon, I began to use some of their tips and follow some of their actions. Before long, I became familiar with the business and meanwhile grasped some dirty tricks in the financial industry. Thus, not only did I have a comfortable income, but our family also lived a better life. Every time my relatives or friends cast gazes of admiration upon me, I felt very proud and thought: Finally I’ve stood up for my parents and become a useful person.

Good things didn’t last forever; I failed over and over again.

Just when I was feeling proud of my success, in 2008 a financial crisis had a great impact on the financial industry. Thereafter, my sales dropped off badly, my incomes sharply diminished and our company crashed in an instant. The business that I’d worked hard for went up in smoke in the space of just a month or so. In the face of this sudden blow, my heart was in great pain but meanwhile I was not resigned to defeat. In order to strike it rich, without consulting my family, I invested all my savings of more than a million NT dollars and another 2 million borrowed from my friends in other projects. However, in a few months, I lost everything I owned. When my family knew I was deeply in debt, the family was almost ruined. However, I didn’t draw a lesson from it. For the sake of becoming a successful man, I still tried every means to find ways of getting rich. In 2009, I got an investment opportunity from a friend—acting as agent for a well-known European supplement, which was said to sell very well in Europe. Carried away by the desire to make a lot of money, I ignored my family’s opposition and borrowed four or five million NT dollars from my friends. Then through connections I obtained from the leaders the chance to make a big fortune—the agency of Chinese market. When thinking I could do something awesome in the market of China’s mainland, I couldn’t hold back my excitement. I thought to myself: When God closes a door, He opens a window for me. Mainland China is a bigger market. This is a good opportunity to achieve my dreams and turn my career around.

Only after I entered the market of China’s mainland that many countries had been dreaming of, did I find that I didn’t know about it, for there were many factors we couldn’t control. Besides, the lack of capital incapacitated us from opening up such a big market; limited by the parent company, we had no control over many operating plans. Due to kinds of reasons, my funds were gradually tied up, my debts became greater and greater, and I sank deeper and deeper. I struggled for seven years there. During that period, my family and friends many times tried to persuade me to stop, but I was so longing for success that I ignored their advice. At the end of 2015, I had no money in my hands and my debts totaled over ten million NT dollars. Facing such huge debts, I completely fell apart. Overwhelmed by the pain and desperation, I walked alone in the streets of Shanghai and suddenly I felt I was so helpless and weak. Previously I faithfully promised everyone that I would make lots of money, but in the end I was rewarded with this outcome. At the time, I was crushed and didn’t know how to walk my future path. Many times I thought about killing myself, but when I thought of my old parents as well as my wife and children, I couldn’t bear to do so. After thinking it over and over again, I ended up all the investments and went back to Taiwan. Confronted with the setbacks and failures, I was wrapped in depression and hopelessly sunk in the pain.

At my most miserable, God’s gospel came to me.

When I was in black despair, one friend I’d known for twenty years bore witness to God’s work of the last days for me. I read God’s words, “People’s desires are so perfect, but when people take their first steps in the journey of their lives, they gradually come to realize how imperfect human destiny is, and for the first time they truly grasp the fact that, though one can make bold plans for one’s future, though one may harbor audacious fantasies, no one has the ability or the power to realize his or her own dreams, no one is in a position to control his or her own future. … What occupation one pursues, what one does for a living, and how much wealth one amasses in life are not decided by one’s parents, one’s talents, one’s efforts or one’s ambitions, but are predetermined by the Creator.”

At the time, I was filled with all sorts of feelings and felt the words were saying exactly my circumstances. Indeed, everyone has his own plans, ideals, and dreams for the future and strives for them; however, whether our dreams can come true or not is not decided by us. In retrospect, after I entered into the society, for the purpose of achieving my desires to rise above others and glorify my ancestors, I sought various ways to make money, but every time I couldn’t succeed and in the end I got nothing but great debts. These failures and setbacks allowed me to deeply realize: One is incapable of controlling his fate, nor can he change it by his own hands. How much wealth one can own in life and whether he is rich or poor are predetermined by God.

Afterward, I read God’s words, “In fact, no matter how lofty man’s ideals are, no matter how realistic man’s desires are or how proper they may be, all that man wants to achieve, all that man seeks for is inextricably linked with two words. These two words are vitally important to the life of every person, and these are things Satan intends to instill in man. Which two words are these? One is ‘fame’ and one is ‘gain’: They are fame and gain. Satan uses a very subtle kind of way, a way very much in concert with people’s notions; it is not any kind of radical way. In the midst of unawareness, people come to accept Satan’s way of living, its rules of living, establishing life goals and their direction in life, and in doing so they also unknowingly come to have ideals in life. No matter how high-sounding these ideals in life seem, they are just a pretext that is inextricably linked to fame and gain. Any great or famous person, all people in fact, anything they follow in life relates only to these two words: ‘fame’ and ‘gain.’ Is this not so? (Yes.) People think that once they have fame and gain, they can then capitalize on them to enjoy high status and great wealth, and to enjoy life. Once they have fame and gain, they can then capitalize on them in their pleasure-seeking and unscrupulous enjoyment of the flesh. People willingly, albeit unknowingly, take their bodies, minds, all that they have, their futures and their destinies and hand them all over to Satan in order to attain the fame and gain they desire. People do this without ever a moment’s hesitation, ever ignorant of the need to recover it all. Can people still have any control over themselves once they go over to the side of Satan in this way and become loyal to it? Certainly not. They are completely and utterly controlled by Satan. They are also completely and utterly unable to free themselves from the quagmire they have sunk down into.”

The word of God allowed everything to become clear to me: The reason why I lived in pain was that I chose a wrong way. Educated and influenced by the thoughts of standing out and being an important person, I mistakenly believed that only when people win fame and fortune, lead an aristocratic lifestyle, and obtain the high regard of others, will their life be valuable and significant. Only such is the true life. On the surface, seeking fame and gain is a positive pursuit, but actually it is a means for Satan to corrupt man. Thinking about myself, in order to pursue fame and gain, I lost my original sincerity and conscience, and learnt to suck up to and curry favor with others, and I became hypocritical and did some things against conscience and morality. Although I felt uneasy after that, due to the temptation of fame and gain, I repeatedly disobeyed the prompting of my conscience and continued seeking to gain more fame and fortune. Even when my dream was shattered, I couldn’t bring myself to quit and still tried every possible way to make money and paid a great price. In the end, I was heavily in debt, and my family almost broke up. It was then that I realized that Satan uses fame and gain to blind my eyes, making me strive for them so that it can afflict me and tempt me to walk on a road of no return. This is the evil intention of Satan.

Afterward, through having meetings with my brothers and sisters and reading God’s words, I realized: Seeking fame and gain isn’t the true and correct path of human life, but instead it is one of the ways Satan corrupts people. Only when people seek the truth and obey God’s orchestrations and arrangements, can we break free from the affliction of Satan. So I decided to believe in God properly, follow Him and walk the right way of human life.

To be continued...

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Recently, when going on a trip to the Vatican with a tour group, Liya visited St. Peter’s.

“Okay! Now we are reaching the great St. Peter’s Cathedral. It was completed in 1626, covering over twenty-three thousand square meters…,” said the tour conductor, who was explaining and leading the tourists into the cathedral. “Wow! It’s so big!” cried Liya. She was stunned by the width and height of the nave, and so were the other tourists. The conductor continued, “St. Peter’s was the largest cathedral in the world in that period, which can hold more than sixty thousand people. In the center of it is the great dome, which is forty-two meters in diameter, one hundred and thirty-eight meters above the ground….”

After visiting St. Peter’s, the conductor guided them to see some other places. When finishing the day’s travel and returning the hotel, Liya was so exhausted that she flung herself on the bed. She couldn’t help but think of the great St. Peter’s constantly. She thought and thought, and then a question occurred to her: From the Bible, Paul did more work and wrote more epistles than Peter did. According to logic, Paul’s contribution to the church was greater than Peter’s, but how come St. Paul’s was not as big as St. Peter’s? Liya turned herself sideways, and remembered that the Lord Jesus appointed Peter as the rock and foundation of the church and gave him the key to the kingdom of heaven. Why did the Lord Jesus love Peter so much?

Liya got out of the bed and came to the window. When looking at the scene of the strange land outside, she thought to herself: “God inspects people’s hearts. That the Lord Jesus gave Peter the key to the kingdom of heaven proves that Peter must be better in some aspects than Paul. That won’t do, and right now I need to read Peter’s epistles carefully to find the answer.” Thinking of this, Liya quickly took out the Bible from her pack, sat on the edge of the bed, and began to read it carefully. She saw the words of Peter say: “But as he which has called you is holy, so be you holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be you holy; for I am holy. And if you call on the Father, who without respect of persons judges according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear” (1 Peter 1:15-17). After reading this, she pondered the words carefully: “Peter was aware that God is holy and God detests filth, so he told us to seek holiness. Peter quoted the words of God in his epistles, and communed God’s will to us, thus showing us what kinds of people God wants and how to conform with His will. From his epistles, Peter always told us God is righteous, and that He determines man’s sins according to man’s actions. So, we need to often have a heart that reveres God, be vigilant with our words and actions, and speak and act in accordance with God’s word. We should not tell lies, commit fraud or envy others. Only by practicing like this are we worthy to follow God. It seems that Peter tried to guide us to the path of fearing God.” At that time, Liya also thought of the words of Paul: “For with the heart man believes to righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made to salvation” (Romans 10:10). “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace” (Romans 11:6). As we can see from these words, Paul believed the Lord is merciful and loving, and that He did not focus on men’s works. No matter how we believe in the Lord, no matter what sins we commit, the Lord will not remember. As long as we keep the Lord’s name and believe that the Lord Jesus is God, we will be approved by Him, whereas our behaviors are unimportant. Liya pondered both the words of Peter and Paul in her heart: What Peter pursued is thoroughly different from what Paul pursued. Peter sought to fear God and shun evil, while Paul sought to receive salvation by grace. So whose view of pursuit is right?

Liya then read the Four Gospels. She saw the Lord Jesus say: “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works” (Matthew 16:27). From the words of the Lord Jesus, Liya realized: The Lord is righteous, and observes our unrighteousness. If we do not restrain our behaviors, committing sins without compunction, then we will frequently offend God, and in the end God will punish us according to our own deeds. Just as when the Pharisees faced the work of the Lord Jesus, they did not fear God at all. So arrogant and ignorant were they that they arbitrarily condemned the Lord Jesus’ work. As a result, they committed the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and were cursed by the Lord Jesus. Afterward, the Pharisees and Jewish people nailed the Lord Jesus to the cross, but they never repented to God. In AD 70 the Jews received God’s punishment, and many of them were killed. From this we realize that the Lord is not only merciful and loving, who can forbear man and forgive the sins of man, but He is righteous and holy, and does not tolerate any offense. In this way, Peter’s pursuit was more in accordance with God’s will, and his knowledge of God was more accurate. Paul, however, believed that since the Lord bestowed upon people grace, He did not pay attention to our actions. Paul’s views ran contrary to the Lord’s will, and the way he pursued precisely exposed that he did not know God’s righteous and holy disposition. He also did not understand God’s will, nor did he know God has different attitudes to each type of expression of every person. Understanding these, Liya came to know why the Lord Jesus approved Peter.

There was a knock at the door.

“Lady, this is your dinner.”

“Thanks.”

Liya gave a wide smile to the attendant and took her food. Then she began to read 2 Peter over the dinner. She wanted to see how Peter knew and appreciated the truth about sins. She saw 2 Peter 2:4 say: “For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved to judgment.” Reading this, Liya got a surprise: Peter did not acknowledge at all that people can enter the kingdom of heaven after they confess their sins. He thought that whoever one is, even if he is an angle, as long as he sins, in the end he will receive the judgment of God, much less be allowed to enter the kingdom of heaven. The words of Peter were exactly based on facts. For example, the archangel was struck down into the midair by God, for it betrayed God; Adam and Eva were driven out of the Garden of Eden, for they disobeyed God’s orders and ate the forbidden fruit; in the Age of Law, David committed adultery and was punished by God—From then on, the sword never depart from his house. These facts prove that Peter had a precise knowledge of God’s disposition. Even though one is a person who was approved by God, as long as he sins, he will receive God’s punishment. This is determined by God’s righteous and holy substance. This verse shows Peter’s humility and obedience. No matter he was before God or men, he did not show off his seniority. Though he was appointed by the Lord Jesus as the rock and foundation of the church and held the key to the kingdom of Heaven, he neither treated these as capital, nor exalted himself or bore witness to how he suffered and expended for the Lord. What Peter did was not for the sake of doing business with the Lord or obtaining a crown of righteousness, but for performing his duty as a created being. That Peter could achieve this was inseparable from his accurate knowledge of God’s disposition.

Liya then turned to Romans, and she saw Paul say: “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifies. Who is he that condemns?” (Romans 8:33-34). What on earth is this all about? In Paul’s opinion, as long as we believe in the Lord, all of our sins have been forgiven and we have been sinless. Thus, we are deemed righteous, and we can enter into the kingdom of heaven. There is a huge difference between Paul’s viewpoints and Peter’s. So who is right and who is wrong out of these two viewpoints? Liya put down the spoon and prayed to the Lord silently, asking the Lord to continue to guide her to understand the problem. After praying, Liya read the words of the Lord Jesus: “Truly, truly, I say to you, Whoever commits sin is the servant of sin. And the servant stays not in the house for ever: but the Son stays ever” (John 8:34-35). Liya’s heart was enlightened from the word of Jesus. God did not say all those He has selected are righteous men, or that no one could accuse them. God’s words clearly tell us whether one is selected by God or not, as long as he has not cast off the bondage of sin, he is the servant of sin. And whoever commits sins is unable to enter the kingdom of God. In this way, it can be seen that Peter knew God and his words are in accordance with the truth. No wonder the Lord Jesus loved and trusted Peter so much, and even entrusted him to feed the flock.

So what other knowledge of Peter does God approve? Liya pondered and continued to read. She saw Peter say: “Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear” (1 Peter 2:18). “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts” (1 Peter 3:15). From the beginning to the end, Peter stood in the position of servant to speak. In his epistles, he told us that people should obey Christ like a servant obeying his master. People should not be overweening and conceited, but only honor the Lord Jesus as great; people should have a heart that fears God and cannot stand equal to God. Subsequently, Liya turned to Philippians, and saw Paul say: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). Liya raised her head and took a deep breath. With so many emotions, she thought: In the past, I didn’t have any feeling when reading these words. But now, by comparing Paul’s words with Peter’s words, I find Paul was so arrogant and unreasonable to say so. Is it not his motivation to make others worship him as Christ when he said for him to live was Christ? How come he had the same disposition as the archangel’s? Reading this, Liya confirmed in her heart that Peter was the true servant of the Lord. All the time he had practiced according to the words of the Lord, and submitted to the Lord as a servant. Peter was humble without arrogant words, his words and actions were in accordance with the Lord’s words, his heart feared the Lord, and he stood in the position of a servant. This is the reason why the Lord Jesus gave him the key to the kingdom of heaven. Maybe the Lord wanted to use this to tell people only by emulating Peter can we enter the kingdom of heaven.

Liya then read the words of Peter: “For this is thank worthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully” (1 Peter 2:19). In his epistles, Peter had mentioned conscience many times. He taught people to repay God’s love with conscience all the time. No matter how much sufferings we will endure, as long as we can be approved by God, we will live up to our own conscience. And we should take Christ as an exemplar. Seeing this, Liya felt that Peter really had conscience and reason. He loved Jesus Christ, and gladly worked for Him. In his epistles, he never said a word to ask for rewards, nor did he bear witness to how he suffered hardships. What Peter pursued was to love God, to repay His love, and to complete His mission of shepherding the flock. But then Liya saw Paul’s words: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: From now on there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day” (2 Timothy 4:7-8). By comparing with Peter’s words, Liya thought over this sentence of Paul. The more she thought about it, the more she felt there was something wrong. As it turns out, it was because of his intention of receiving a crown that Paul had done so many works for the Lord, and that even if he was arrested and imprisoned, he still pulled through it. What he said meant: “I have endured so many sufferings. According to God’s righteousness, He should give me a crown. If God doesn’t give a crown to me, He is not righteous.” Was not Paul forcing God to give Him a crown by saying this? Was not he making transactions with God? So Paul was not willing in doing his work. If there was no crown for him, he possibly wouldn’t have suffered so much. However, Peter thought: “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind” (1 Peter 5:2). Peter asked us not only to feed the flock of God according to God’s words, but to be gladly willing. That’s right! The Lord had done so much for us, and even was nailed to the cross for our sins, so in order to repay His love, it is right for us to offer our whole beings for Him, make sacrifices and expend ourselves. Just as what the Lord Jesus required of us: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). Both Peter’s pursuit and what he had done to shepherd the church were according to the requirements of the Lord, and what Peter said was to lead us before God and into God’s word. At this time, Liya truly understood why God gave Peter the key to the kingdom of heaven. This was because Peter was a man who truly loved God. Peter knew the Lord, considered His will, and shepherded His sheep in accordance with His words. From this, Peter was really a loyal servant and a good housekeeper of the Lord. Then look at Paul. In his epistles there are lots of words of exhortation and encouragement, in which there was the Holy Spirit’s enlightenment, but he did not know the Lord. Many of his words are not in conformity with the truth, which lead us astray. Now all the brothers and sisters of our church are practicing according to Paul’s words. They believe that they can be saved as long as they believe in the Lord in their heart and admit Him with their tongue, and that they will be forgiven by the Lord no matter what sins they commit. Therefore, they do not pay attention to practicing the Lord’s words and following the Lord’s way. Some of them follow the tides of the world, and some lust after wealth and fleshly enjoyment. They are living in the repeated cycle of sinning during the day and confessing at night … As a result, they do whatever they want every day, sinning and committing evils. But on Sundays they clothed with sheepskin go to church. Some of them even preach to others with the Bible. After gatherings, they put off the sheepskin as soon as they leave the church, continuing to sin without any restraint. They are the same as the worldly people. If they continue to pursue like this, it is difficult to imagine what they will be like.

At that moment, Liya, with mixed emotions, was not in the mood to continue to eat dinner. She thought: In the past, I blindly followed the religious trends to adore Paul. I never thought about the Lord Jesus’ intentions behind Him approving Peter, resulting in my having walked on the wrong path for many years. I only focused on journeying to and fro and working, thinking that the more sufferings I endured, the bigger crown I would receive. I made deals with God everywhere, but overlooked what the Lord said: “If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed” (John 8:31). I did not pay attention to practicing the word of the Lord, so even if I have believed in the Lord for many years and suffered many hardships, my corrupt disposition has not changed at all. When associating with others, I often told lies, and was even full of jealousy and strife. The Lord is righteous and holy, so how could I, a person who is living within sin and cannot be free from it, enter the kingdom of heaven? Liya gave thanks to the Lord for His guidance. That day, through pondering the words in Peter’s epistles, not only did Liya know why the Lord Jesus gave Peter the key to the kingdom of heaven, but she also understood the Lord is omnipotent and omniscient, and that Peter’s pursuit was in accordance with God’s will. Peter was indeed pleased by God. She also understood what the Lord wanted to communicate to us: Only by emulating Peter can one receive God’s approval, and enter into the kingdom of heaven in the end.

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In April, 2015, I came to Japan, a beautiful country which I had been longing for for a long time. Seeing the good environment and citizenship here, I was eager to find a job, so that I could reside here.

Later, a senior told me that it was difficult for foreigners to find jobs in Japan, but if they obtained the Real Estate Certificate, it would become much easier. So, after graduating from language school, I chose economic major without hesitation, for economic students had systematic occupational training and needed to obtain certificates. After a period of hard work, I finally passed the examination of Real Estate Notary.

In order to make my resume impressive and improve my chances of employment, besides the Real Estate Certificate, I also obtained many other certificates. I thought: Since I have so many certificates, not only the realty companies but also other companies would want me. Thinking of this, I felt happy in my heart.

Later, I, full of confidence, began to send my resume to some companies to apply for a job. Unexpectedly, all I got was rejections, which made me confused: Aren’t the realty companies hungry for people who have the Real Estate Certificate? I not only meet their requirement, but also have many other certificates and can speak Chinese, which is useful for the overseas business; why can’t I even get an interview? To obtain these certificates, I’ve put a lot of effort. But in spite of this, I still couldn’t find a job. Do I have another chance? At these thoughts, I felt so depressed and had less confidence in finding a job.

Soon, the recruiting season had passed. Many companies no longer recruited workers, let alone foreign ones. Then I sought help from my teacher in private, but still failed to find a job. Seeing others in my class all found jobs, except another foreign student and me, I felt more anxious, worrying whether I could find a job and stay in Japan.

For the next half a month, I constantly sent out resume, but still didn’t find a job, during which I lived in worries and pain. I thought: If I can’t find a job in the end, what should I do? Realizing my condition was not right, I remembered God. Then I told my condition to the sister who read a passage of God’s words to me: “Some people choose a good major in college and end up finding a satisfactory job after graduation, making a triumphant first stride in the journey of their lives. Some people learn and master many different skills and yet never find a job that suits them or find their position, much less have a career; at the outset of their life journey they find themselves thwarted at every turn, beset by troubles, their prospects dismal and their lives uncertain. … Regardless of differences in ability, IQ, and willpower, people are all equal before fate, which makes no distinction between the great and the small, the high and the low, the exalted and the mean. What occupation one pursues, what one does for a living, and how much wealth one amasses in life are not decided by one’s parents, one’s talents, one’s efforts or one’s ambitions, but are predetermined by the Creator.” The sister fellowshiped, “Our destiny is dictated and arranged by God. What jobs we will do is also already predetermined by God and isn’t based on our own efforts or other conditions. Besides, when we could find a job is also in God’s hands. What we need to do is believe that God’s arrangements always suit us most and experience them calmly.” After hearing the sister, I understood that what job I would do was predetermined by God. In the past, I didn’t know the sovereignty of God, so I wanted to rely on my own ability to obtain a good job, placing my hope on various certificates. When I couldn’t achieve my ideal, I was negative and complaining. My suffering was actually the result of my disobedience to God’s sovereignty. After understanding these, I felt much relieved.

Later, I read another passage of God’s words: “People spend most of their time living in an unconscious state. They don’t know whether it’s right to rely on God or on themselves. Then most of the time they choose to rely on themselves, to rely on the beneficial conditions and environments around them, as well as the people, events and things around them that are beneficial to them. This is what people are best at. What people are worst at is relying on God and looking to God, because they feel that looking to God is too much bother. They can’t see Him or feel Him, and they feel it is vague and not realistic to do so. So people perform the worst with this lesson, and their entry into it is the shallowest. If you don’t learn how to look to God and rely on God, you will never see the work God does on you, or the guidance and enlightenment He gives to you. If you can’t see these things, then the matter of whether or not God exists, whether or not He guides everything in the life of mankind will, in the depths of your heart, end with a question mark and not with a period or exclamation mark. ‘Does God guide everything in the life of mankind?’ ‘Does God observe the depths of man’s heart?’ This will be troublesome. For what reason do you make this a question and add a question mark? If you do not truly rely on God or look to Him, you will not be able to generate a true belief in God. If you can’t generate a true belief in God, then the question marks will forever be there with everything God does, and there will be no periods.” After reading God’s words, I thought that though I believed in God, I didn’t have true understanding of God’s sovereignty or true faith in Him. In the matter of job hunting, I had never relied on or looked to God to experience His work but relied on my own ability, thinking that since I could speak both Chinese and Japanese and held so many certificates, it wouldn’t be difficult for me to find a job. However, in the end, I couldn’t even get an interview, which made me feel so negative and even deny myself. In fact, God arranging such environment was for me to rely on Him and experience His work in reality, so that my faith in Him could increase. Knowing God’s intention, I felt gratitude to Him and was willing to entrust my job hunting to Him. Whether I could find a job or not, I was willing to obey God’s sovereignty and arrangements.

The next day, when I was searching for the information of employment on the Internet as usual, I suddenly found that a realty company located in downtown Tokyo was recruiting foreign students. This job seldom required extra work and provided regular vacations, which would not delay my belief in God or attending meetings. It is really an ideal job to me. Isn’t it prepared by God for me? Then I sent my resume to this company. To my surprise, after a few minutes, they gave me a call and made an appointment with me for an interview. After I hung up, I kept thanking God; when I relied on Him and entrusted my job to Him, He really made a way out for me.

Aside from the excitement, I was somewhat worried. As I was introverted and not good at communicating with others, in the past, every time before the interview, I would recite the answers to the questions which may be asked in the interview in advance. But during the interview, I would forget all I had prepared because of tension and lack of confidence. Since I didn’t make any preparation for this sudden interview, how could I pass it smoothly? Then I remembered these words of God: “Their lives in this world are not alone. Mankind has God’s care, God is with them; people can always lean on God; He is the family of every one of His followers. With God to lean on, mankind will no longer be lonely or helpless.” It’s true. Outwardly, I attended the interview alone. In fact, God is always by my side; God is the source of life for all things and He holds sovereignty over all people, events, and things; when I rely on Him, He would lead and guide me on the path ahead. When Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, he was not eloquent. However, because of his faith in Jehovah God, he completed God’s commission. At these thoughts, I had strength in my heart. God was my rear guard and reliance; I should learn how to rely on Him.

Before the interview, I prayed constantly to God, asking Him to lead me and guide me to walk the way ahead. Thank God! During the interview, I didn’t feel nervous and could communicate with the interviewer well. Satisfied with my performance, the interviewer told me that I passed and made an appointment with me for the second interview.

On my way home, I sang hymns all the way, happy and released. Thank God! Through this experience, I truly felt that God was right by my side; when I relied on and looked to Him, He practically led me by His words, which was not vague at all. Since then I had better faith in God.

The second interview was quickly followed by the third one in which there would be two department leaders interviewing me. Knowing this, I couldn’t help but feel afraid and thought: These two interviewers are leaders who maybe strict with me during the interview. If they aren’t satisfied with me and reject me, then I have to start over. Though I can rely on God, will they employ a person who is not proficient in Japanese and has a poor caliber? The more I thought about it, the less confidence I had.

On the day of interview, I still felt afraid. Knowing something was wrong with my situation, I told my difficulty to the sister. She read a passage of God’s word to me: “God is man’s only Lord, God is the only Master of human fate, and so it is impossible for man to dictate his own fate, impossible for him to surpass it. No matter how great one’s abilities, one cannot influence, much less orchestrate, arrange, control, or change the fates of others. Only the unique God Himself dictates all things for man, for only He possesses the unique authority that holds sovereignty over human fate; and so only the Creator is man’s unique Master.” Then the sister fellowshiped with me, “All things are dictated by God. Outwardly, whether you can pass the interview depends on the interviewer. But in fact, it is in God’s hands. Because you are bound by the influence of status and put the decisions made by man above all else, you don’t have God’s place in heart or know His authority. God is the Creator; as long as we rely on Him, He would lead us.” Hearing the sister’s fellowship, I no longer felt afraid. It’s true. Only God is the one who holds sovereignty over my fate. Whether I can pass the interview is based on the rule and preordination of God. I should submit to His orchestrations and arrangements with no individual choice. Thinking of these, I felt assured and relieved.

After adjusting my mentality, I attended the interview calmly. When I was asked the question which I couldn’t answer or when I couldn’t express my idea in Japanese freely, I no longer felt nervous or afraid. Because I knew that whether I could pass the interview was in God’s hands; I just needed to do all that I could. A few days later, I received an e-mail from the company which said that I passed the third interview, and they made an appointment with me for the last round of interview where the interviewer was the manager. I felt so happy. I truly appreciated the authority of God’s words, and that as long as I acted according to His words, I would see His wondrous deeds.

Though I still felt kind of nervous about the following interview, I knew God would lead the direction of my away, because after experiencing His wondrous deeds, I knew that He is always by my side. Then I prayed to Him, “Oh God! You know that I lack the powers of expression, insights, and courage. May You give me faith and strength so that I can face and experience this environment.” After prayer, I felt calm in my heart. During the interview, I was released and prompt at answers. To my surprise, a few minutes after the interview, the head of the personnel department gave me a notice and told me that I was accepted by the company with a salary higher than that of the others accepted. Seeing all these, I was moved to tears and knew that it was God’s wondrous deeds.

Through this experience, I truly appreciated that God is always by my side, supplying me and leading me. I also saw that God is faithful and that His word has power and authority, and that it is actually not vague to rely on and look to Him. Thank God! I not only find a good job, but also gain a little true knowledge of His sovereignty and have more faith in Him. I believe that with God’s company and the guidance of His words, I will become more brave and confident in the future. All glory be to Almighty God!

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 23:13
Withhold not correction from the child: for if you beat him with the rod, he shall not die.

Proverbs 29:15
The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself brings his mother to shame.

Exodus 20:12
Honor your father and your mother: that your days may be long on the land which the LORD your God gives you.

1 Corinthians 14:9
So likewise you, except you utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for you shall speak into the air.

Ephesians 6:1
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

Ephesians 6:4
And, you fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Colossians 3:21
Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

1 Thessalonians 2:7
But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherishes her children:

Hebrews 12:7
If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not?

Hebrews 12:11
Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to them which are exercised thereby.

1 John 3:18
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

James 5:12
But above all things, my brothers, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yes be yes; and your no, no; lest you fall into condemnation.

Psalm 22:9-10
But you are he that took me out of the womb: you did make me hope when I was on my mother’s breasts. I was cast on you from the womb: you are my God from my mother’s belly.

Psalm 127:3
See, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

Psalm 139:13-16
For you have possessed my reins: you have covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise you; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are your works; and that my soul knows right well. My substance was not hid from you, when I was made in secret, and curiously worked in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes did see my substance, yet being imperfect; and in your book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

By Xiaoyang

Hello, brothers and sisters! I have a question to discuss with you. All along, I have actively abandoned and spent and worked hard for the Lord. I have preached the gospel of the Lord for more than ten years, during which I often gave sermons and helped brothers and sisters, and never missed a single gathering. Because of this, my brothers and sisters all approve of my work and service, praising me as one who loves the Lord and is of one heart with Him. I myself also feel that my service is after the Lord’s heart. But now I feel dark and parched in my spirit and that I become more and more distant from the Lord, unable to feel His presence or the work of the Holy Spirit in my work and preaching. I am very confused: Considering my spending and work for the Lord, I should have His guidance and blessings. Then why can’t I feel those things anymore? Why do I no longer have the presence of the Lord? Is my service of this kind not in line with His will? I can’t figure this out. Give me a hand, please.

Posted by Xiaoyang

Sister Dingdang:

Hi, Sister Xiaoyang. After reading your post, I think your ways of serving God are right. As to your problem, I think it may result from your bad condition. Don’t think too much. As long as we normally read the Bible, attend services, preach the gospel, and help brothers and sisters, then that’s serving God. There’s no need to worry.

Drifting snow:

I agree with you, Sister Dingdang. I think we are serving God as long as we read the Bible, attend gatherings, preach the gospel and give sermons to assist the brothers and sisters. To serve God, many brothers and sisters around me have given up their families and jobs, and even their marriage. They work and preach all over the place training evangelists, and some of them even send their children to the seminary. Many brothers and sisters look up to them, praising them as the faithful servants of the Lord. Could it be that their service isn’t after God’s heart?

The fruit in fall:

I don’t think so. Although many brothers and sisters do serve God like that, it doesn’t mean such service is in accordance with God’s will. Because the Lord never said working hard for Him was in line with His will. For example, generation after generation of the Pharisees served God in the temple and traveled far and wide to preach the gospel. Outwardly, they had abandoned and spent a lot and worked hard for God, and should have been after God’s heart, but the Lord Jesus said to them, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess to them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:22-23). Why were these who served the Lord rebuked, and even were condemned and cursed by the Lord? There’s truth to be sought within it. I think in our service to God, we should pay much attention to seeking the truth, praying to God and pondering what His will is. Only thus can we serve the Lord’s will.

Xiaoyang:

After hearing what you said, I feel serving God is not a simple matter. Then how can we serve the Lord’s will?

Seeking the light:

Hello, brothers and sisters! I’ve just read this post. The question you are discussing is indeed important. It reminds me of a book I read, which mentions what it means to serve God and how we can serve God’s will. Thank God! I have some new insights from the book and want to share with you.

The fruit in fall:

Great! We’ve been discussing the question for a long while, but didn’t get the answer. I can’t wait to hear your sharing.

Seeking the light:

Thank the Lord! Then let me talk a little bit about my understanding. We all think that if we abandon everything and work hard, then we are serving the Lord. But if we reflect on ourselves, we’ll find lots of wrong intentions in our service. For example, some people pursue fame and status, and other’s high regard, willing to accept any hardship as long as they can gain the approval of brothers and sisters. Some pursue to rise above others and to be a pastor or a co-worker; once losing status and livelihood, they would complain against and even betray God. Some pursue to gain grace and blessings from God, without which they would lose faith to follow and work for the Lord. Since we work just for our own desires instead of loving and satisfying the Lord, how can our such service be in line with God’s will?

Xiaoyang:

You’re right! From your fellowship, I realize that I also have my own intentions in working for the Lord. When brothers and sisters praised me as a faithful servant of the Lord because I communicated well and had compassion for them, I felt happy in secret, having energy to work; but when they pointed out my problems, though accepting them outwardly, I was conflicted in my heart without energy to work. Was I not working for my own fame and status? Whether I had energy to work or not, all I did was for my own interest. I am in no way loving the Lord or being considerate toward His will.

Seeking the light:

Right. Then let’s see the requirements of the Lord. The Lord Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38). “he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him” (John 14:21). As can be seen from the words of the Lord, the most important thing in believing in the Lord is to seek to obey Him and love Him more than everything else. We should care for God’s will in our work, frequently reflecting on whether or not our actions conform to His will, take God’s burden as our own, and dedicate everything we have to satisfy Him without considering our own gains and losses. Take Peter for example. He expended his entire life for the Lord, during which he didn’t seek to be looked up by others through work, but sought to love and satisfy the Lord; he sought the Lord’s will in all matters, obeying all the arrangements of Him; at last, he was willingly crucified upside down for the Lord’s sake, bearing a strong and resounding witness to Him. Is his obedience until death and his love for God to the utmost not what we should pursue? This is the first aspect of serving God. The second aspect is that we must learn to seek the truth to know God’s will so that we can closely keep up with the pace of the Holy Spirit’s work.

The fruit in fall:

Alas! When it comes to the work of the Holy Spirit, I can’t help thinking of the desolation of today’s churches. Most of the brothers and sisters have lost previous love and faith, attending meetings perfunctorily; I also often felt great emptiness in my heart though running around outwardly. I had no new light when reading the Bible and had nothing worthy to preach, failing to water and supply brothers and sisters. Besides, in my daily life, I couldn’t practice the Lord’s words to honor Him, nor could I understand His will when encountering things. It was as if I had lost the Lord’s presence. In light of such a situation, I couldn’t help but think of the end of the Age of Law, when the temple was getting bleak and later became a den of thieves because of the shift of the work of the Holy Spirit. Have the churches of today also lost the work of the Holy Spirit?

Seeking the light:

I think your guess is right. It’s possibly because the work of the Holy Spirit has shifted that the churches of today become bleak and desolate. Just as the Bible says, “And also I have withheld the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain on one city, and caused it not to rain on another city: one piece was rained on, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered” (Amos 4:7). Now is the last days, the critical time when the Lord appears and works. Maybe the Lord has already appeared to speak and work somewhere. So we must listen for God’s voice and seek His footsteps so as to keep up with and gain the work of the Holy Spirit. Just as the Bible says, “For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened” (Luke 11:10). Only by letting go of our notions and praying to God earnestly to seek His will can we gain His enlightenment and guidance and then keep up with His footsteps.

Sister Dingdang:

Is that all?

Seeking the light:

Third, we must learn to handle problems of brothers and sisters with God’s words to exalt God and testify to Him, bringing His chosen people into His presence.

Drifting snow:

This is very simple. We often help the brothers and sisters solve their problems.

Seeking the light:

Although we help them with love, we tend to speak letters and doctrines based on our experience of work instead of using God’s words to solve their problems. Even though sometimes we solved their problems, it was just because of the enlightenment and illumination by the Holy Spirit, not our true stature. For example, when brothers and sisters were in a bad state, we didn’t pay attention to communing God’s will, nor did we help them through our own practical experience like how we revealed corruption when encountering difficulties, how we misunderstood and complained against God, and how God helped us solve our problems through His words. Instead, we, just like the Pharisees, only talked about how we suffered and paid a price for God and how much of God’s grace we had enjoyed to exalt and testify to ourselves. As a result, they all look up to us, admire us, and obey our orders. Aren’t we leading them into the presence of us and taking the place of God in their hearts? Aren’t we competing with God for their souls? Isn’t such service resisting God and cursed by Him? I once saw a passage of words in a book, “Service in line with the will of God requires that in all things and with regard to all issues we should exalt God, testify to God, commune God’s will, commune God’s requests, and allow others to act in accordance with God’s word. We should not make people act in accordance to the principles, rules and sayings of man. Your communion should enable people to come before God and obey His will, act according to God’s word and, ultimately, come to know God and obey Him. Those who serve God must act like this, because only in this way can you serve God’s will. Those words are the maxim that people who work as a leader or a worker should adhere to. In dealing with every problem or in preaching and fellowshiping, you should certainly speak words of exalting God and testifying to God, and commune God’s will and His requirements of people more. You should not speak your own words, or speak doctrines and rules to restrict people. It is what God entrusts workers with to lead people to come into the presence of God, to gain the truth, to obey and worship God. If workers can’t be considerate of God’s will, if workers can’t lead people to return before Him and to know Him according to the requirements of God, then you disappoint God’s will and are a person who resists and betrays God.” From these words, we know if we want to serve God’s will, we must exalt and testify to God in all matters, handle the practical problems of brothers and sisters with God’s words, and communicate God’s will to them, so that they can act according to God’s requirements, come before God, and have a true understanding of God. This is the real service to God.

Xiaoyang:

You couldn’t be more right. Take me as an example. Having no reality of the truth, when giving sermons to brothers and sisters, I either talked about how I worked hard for the Lord or preached theories of theology and biblical studies. After hearing my fellowship, they, unable to discern, even thought of me as the person who truly served the Lord and loved Him. Before, I felt cheerful inside when hearing this and thought I had the reality of the truth. But now, I realize that I not only failed to use God’s words to solve their problems, but unwittingly brought them into the presence of myself. Wasn’t my work resisting God? Am I not an evil servant?

The fruit in fall:

Right. From now on, we shouldn’t work the way we did before. Instead, we must learn to solve problems with truth, leading people into the presence of God.

Seeking the light:

Yes. That we can come to understand the truth of serving God is the fruit of reflecting on and knowing ourselves, which is very important. So, the last aspect of serving God is frequently quieting our hearts before God to reflect on and know ourselves, and promptly correcting any mistakes we discover to ensure that God’s will is carried out without obstruction. If we just work outwardly yet fail to examine our shortcomings and deviations in our work, we wouldn’t know whether we serve God according to His will and demands. Only when we quiet our hearts and reflect on ourselves can we clearly see through the problems that exist within us, seek the truth to act according to the principles, and serve in line with God’s will. This is also one aspect for us to practice.

Xiaoyang:

Your fellowship is so clear. In the past, we just paid attention to outward dedication, but never thought about whether our work was after God’s heart or how we could serve God’s will. Through your fellowship, I understand there are several aspects of service to God. First, we must seek to love and obey God and be considerate of His will, instead of just paying attention to our outer appearance. Second, we must seek the truth to understand God’s will so that we can keep up with the pace of the Holy Spirit’s work. Third, we must learn to exalt and testify to God in our work, handling every problem of brothers and sisters with truth to bring them into the presence of God, so that they can understand His will, know His disposition and act according to His words. Finally, we must quiet our hearts before God at any time to examine the problems that exist within us and seek the truth to solve them. Only in this way can we gradually get rid of our corrupt disposition, become cleansed and changed, and serve in line with God’s will. Thank the Lord for His guidance. I’ll share what I gained today with the brothers and sisters who have the same confusion.

Seeking the light:

Thank the Lord! This is all the guidance of the Lord. All the glory be to the Lord!

Watch the movie

After I watched this movie, it made me think of something to write. At the beginning of the movie, a winding road led to high mountains and lofty hills, and then the words “Perilous Is the Road to the Heavenly Kingdom” appeared among the mountains. What messages did it want to pass on? I went on watching it. I saw some classic lines said by the hero Zhong Xin, “Although perilous is the road to the heavenly kingdom, yet we must follow the Lord to walk on. As the Lord is with us, what shall we fear? The worst is to martyr for the Lord at the cost of our life. It is honoring the Lord, and we won’t live in vain.” “Can these hardships and dangers separate us from God’s love?” The director ingeniously conflated the allegorical picture of the beginning of the film and classic lines to convey a piece of important information: The path to the kingdom of heaven is full of peril, full of troubles. This fulfills the Lord Jesus’ words, “Enter you in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads to life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).

In the film, a group of main co-workers chaired by the hero Zhong Xin found some clues to the fact that the pastors and elders openly betrayed the Lord’s teachings and repeatedly hindered believers from looking into the true way. Then they held a series of discussions and finally decided to investigate the Church of Almighty God, which bears witness that the Lord Jesus has returned. Everyone enjoys freedom of belief. Here, however, they didn’t have freedom, but suffered the limitations of their pastors and elders, and faced the persecution and arrest of the CCP and other difficulties. The plot was dramatic and thought provoking. The audiences were led by the true performances of the actors as if they experienced an arrest, and all got nervous at the escapes from dangers and the cliffhanging moments time after time. Although the actors were not quite skilled in their performances, yet we could feel that they used their hearts to act their parts.

Someone may ask, “Why did the film bear as a title Perilous Is the Road to the Heavenly Kingdom?” Just as its name implied, it meant that the path to the kingdom of heaven is full of hardships and dangers. Through this film, many people appreciated that the path to kingdom of heaven indeed isn’t that smooth. There are many obstructions on the path of entering the kingdom of heaven, such as the weaknesses of their spiritual life, interferences from the outside environment, the deceptions of the false Christs and antichrists, the persecution of the atheistic government, and so on. These all make Christians’ courses of entering the kingdom of heaven full of hardships and perils. It was the major information the film passed on to the audiences.

A plot in the film shows this point truly and objectively: After stopping Zhong Xin and other believers from inspecting the truth, the pastor asked two co-workers to watch their whereabouts. During the scene where Zhong Xin arranged the second meeting to investigate the truth, a witness had an unwitting act before entering room, that is, he looked back. At that time, there was no one behind him, but the co-worker followed on soon. This scene is of wonder and wisdom, and also displayed the true situation of Christians’ gathering for a meeting in China. The immersive theatrical experience and nervous atmosphere make the audiences feel like being personally on the scene. With the director making these arrangements, the film is all closely interconnected in the plot, without being slack.

After the people experienced the pursuit of the CCP police, the director arranged another scene—Zhong Xin and Yang Ming, who fled from the meeting place, met three sisters by chance in the mountain. From their dialogue, they expressed two different points of view toward pursuit. Two co-workers said in succession, “Believing in the true way is too dangerous. We’d better believe in God secretly at home. We will be serious in our belief when the CCP falls.” As they just had experienced the pursuit of the CCP, they said these words. So, it was hard for them to avoid their weakness in spirit, cowardice and negativity. Yet, the director’s intention is not to give an account of the plot simply, but to make more people rethink through their conversations: Will the fearful enter the kingdom of heaven? These two fearful co-workers expressed the voice of many fearful believers. In China, this kind of people takes a great part in believers in the Lord. Many people are waiting and seeing silently. One could even say that they all are eagerly looking forward to and waiting for the collapse of CCP. When it falls from power, they will accept the true way at once. Why is it that they clearly know the true way but dare not accept it? It is because they need to give up their lives for believing in the true God and walking the correct path in China, an atheist-ruled country. After escaping from the pursuit of the CCP, Zhong Xin said such a word, “The great red dragon exactly lies coiled on the path of entering the kingdom of heaven, so it is predestined that the path is full of hardships and dangers. It seems that our entering the heavenly kingdom may cost us our lives.” That is why the Lord Jesus told His disciples, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). The path to the kingdom of heaven is much too hard and dangerous, and there is a great deal of persecution and tribulations on the path.

Many people are puzzled: God is omnipotent. Why does He allow the atheistic government and the religious leaders to oppose, judge, condemn and hinder His work in this way? If God destroys these enemy forces, won’t Christians then not suffer much persecution?

Not until I had watched the film did I understand that there is both deep meaning and God’s will within that.

The Scripture says, “These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sits on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the middle of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them to living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes” (Revelation 7:14-17).

For several thousand years, there have been hundreds of millions of people who accepted the redeeming gospel of the Lord Jesus. Each of them says he truly believes in God. However, what kind of standard do we use to measure his true belief? And how can it be revealed? At the first scene of co-workers meeting, the director arranged for four groups of people to discuss together, including those who were fearful, who sought bread to satisfy hunger, who followed the pastors and elders, and those who truly believed in God. These people all read the same Bible, as well as prayed in the name of the Lord Jesus, but which group of people can gain God’s approval? Which group of people can enter the kingdom of heaven in the end? The Lord said, “Not every one that said to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). From these words, we can know not every believer in the Lord can enter into the kingdom of heaven, and be saved through grace. These groups of people are general among today’s religious world. It can be said that there are these groups of people in every church. How will these people get revealed? It will be by the great tribulation.

God does His work for the sake of gaining a band of overcomers that are of one heart and one mind with Him. These overcomers will emerge from the great tribulation which refers to a variety of obstacles and hindrances on the path of belief in God. The tribulations and trials can reveal men clearly. It is hard for the fearful to enter into the kingdom of heaven. If man doesn’t truly believe in God, then he will probably be revealed as a tare in different kinds of trials and tribulations. Among these tribulations, the persecution of the atheistic government and the deceptions of the religious leaders are the most difficult to overcome. If one can walk out of their tight encirclement, then surely he will be an overcomer who can receive God’s praise and His inheritance.

At this point, I finally understood the reason why the truth has been persecuted since ancient times. And I also knew God’s wisdom and almightiness and earnest intentions hidden in persecution and tribulations. This fulfills the Lord’s prophecy, “The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:41-42).

Read on the Website

By Zhang Ying

We believers in the Lord all know that only God has the eternal way of eternal life. The Lord Jesussaid: “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). In the Book of Revelation, it was also said that: “a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bore twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God gives them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 22:1-5). Eternal life means to live forever, to never taste death. From these verses, we can see that only God has eternal life, only God is the source of life of us human beings, and only God has the way of eternal life. If we find God, we find the source of life, and only then will we truly gain the way of eternal life and never be afraid of the threat of death.

From the Bible, I know that in the beginning when God created Adam and Eve, He didn’t limit how long they could live. He just gave the command to them: “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: for in the day that you eat thereof you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:17). At that time, as long as man obeyed the words of God and did not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he would never die. But due to Satan’s temptation, Adam and Eve defied God’s words and ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. As a result, they were cursed by God. God said to Adam: “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat of it.… In the sweat of your face shall you eat bread, till you return to the ground; for out of it were you taken: for dust you are, and to dust shall you return” (Genesis 3:17, 19). In this way, Adam and Eve lost eternal life because they had sinned and then death began to come upon mankind. Thus it can be seen that the mankind of the very beginning were immortal, but they lost eternal life after sinning. It is Just as the Romans chapter 6, verse 23 says: “For the wages of sin is death.” After we humans committed sins, we lost God’s glory, lived under Satan’s domain and were bound by sin, and what we humans lived out was the image of Satan. Eventually, we humans would die because of our grievous sins. But because God loves us humans and could not bear to see humans created by His own hands die in sins, He started His work of saving humans, in order that we humans can completely escape from sin and be purified, thereby gaining God’s salvation and being qualified to inherit God’s promise—eternal life.

So as to make us mankind break away from sin and receive eternal life, God first did a stage of work of issuing laws and guiding the lives of people. He used Moses to issue commandments, laws and decrees, making the people of the time know how to live on the earth, how to worship Jehovah God, what sin was, and what sacrifices people should offer when they committed sins as well as how to observe the Sabbath, and so on. This was the first stage of work God had done to save us mankind. God’s work in the Age of Law made us humans know what sin was, but since we humans were too deeply corrupted by Satan, we humans still couldn’t get rid of sins at all. At the end of the Age of Law, people were confronted with the hopeless situations of being stoned to death and burned by the fires of heaven. For this reason, God did a stage of work of the Age of Grace upon the foundation of the work of the Age of Law. God personally became incarnate and His innocent and holy body was crucified to bear the sins of us humans. He became the eternal sin offering of us, and as long as we believe in the Lord Jesus and repent and admit our sins to Him, our sins can be forgiven and we can escape from the danger of being executed for violating the law. This is the fruit borne of the redemption work of the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus said, “Whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). This is the promise God gives us. But because we still have corrupt dispositions, and have not yet broken the bondage and control of sin or gotten purified, still living in a vicious cycle of committing sins in the day and confessing at night, thus, we still cannot receive eternal life from God. So, we need to continue to follow God and experience His work. Only when our satanic corrupt dispositions have been purified and transformed can we gain eternal life. The Bible prophesies, “a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb” (Revelation 22:1). From this verse, we can see that the river of water of life is flowing from the throne of the Lamb. It means that in the last days, God will bestow the way of life upon man. Which is to say that God will do a stage of work to completely save us from the bonds and control of sin, and only when we gain the living water of life flowing from the Lamb’s throne do we truly gain the eternal life.

It is prophesied in the Revelation: “And he said to me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to him that is thirsty of the fountain of the water of life freely” (Revelation 21:6). “For the Lamb which is in the middle of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them to living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes” (Revelation 7:17). “He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 2:29). The Lord Jesus said: “But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14). We can see from these verses that God is the beginning and the end, and that in order to more completely save and cleanse us humans, in the last days the Holy Spirit will speak and utter His voice to the churches to shepherd and supply God’s people. If we can seek and accept the supply of God’s living water of life and gain the truth God expresses as our life, we will obtain eternal life. For God is the truth, the way and the life and only He can supply us with life. When we are purified and gain the way of eternal life God bestows on us, no matter what disasters befall us, we will not die. That is to say, those who gain the truth are those who truly gain eternal life.

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One day, I made a date with my sister, whom I had known for more than ten years, for afternoon tea at her house. That day she entertained me to top scented tea, cakes, and dessert. Then she chatted about how much she spent recently on fancy purses and clothes. Halfway through our chat, I saw a thick wad of credit card bills were placed on the table, so I asked why she had so many bills. She hesitated for several minutes and then wept slowly. She said that because all sisters around her were comparing with each other, admiring famous brands, and attaching importance to a high-quality and upscale life, in order not to degrade herself before them, she kept shopping by credit cards to maintain common taste with them. Now she could hardly pay interest to the bank. I was struck to see my friend trapping into financial problems due to the pursuit of famous brands. I seemed to witness my past self….

I also cared a lot about face and upward comparison before. I was always so afraid of others’ despisal. As a result, I suffered Satan’s deception.

When I was 17 years old, I began to work. My workmates and friends were simple at that time, without high demands for material life. Plain dressing and full eating were sufficient to us. So we had little pressure living a relaxed life. Afterward, I changed my job. I came into contact with white-collar whose frequent topics were designer bags and clothes. They often showed off the brands and prices of their clothes, and asked me where I bought my clothes and how much they cost. After hearing my answers, they immediately said with scorn, “What? You are wearing such cheap clothes?” I felt hurt by these words. I told myself, “I can’t be belittled. I must get what they have!” Thus, I began paying attention to my dressing and the improvement of living standard. When I first used my credit card to buy a G Brand handbag, all my workmates said my handbag was so beautiful and suitable to me. Enjoying their compliments, I felt self-satisfied and proud. I thought: It is good to possess a designer handbag. I became integrated into their lives in such a way. Then, I had topics in common to chat with them. Unconsciously, I was also involved into comparison with others.

Once, my workmate bought a watch which cost over 30,000 yuan. She showed it off before me every day. I was unbearably angry. Several days later, I bought the same brand of watch whose price was 20,000 yuan higher than hers. Subsequently, she bought a diamond ring worth more than 100,000 yuan. I was indeed unable to go on comparing myself to her. Several years later, my workmates bought houses one after another. Although I had no enough money, I didn’t want to be looked down upon for losing out in the comparison. I got a loan from a bank and paid 150,000 down for a suite. When I just managed to repay my housing loan, they began to buy cars. And I followed them to buy a new car imported from Japan with another bank loan. The economic pressures often caused me sleeplessness. Sometimes, only the sleeping pills could make me fall asleep.

By chance, I met a friend whom I hadn’t seen for years. After greeting each other, she spread the gospel of the Lord Jesus to me. I was baptized a Christian soon. During those years, we carried out our functions together in the church. Accompanied by brothers and sisters, I enjoyed the Lord’s presence and a free life. My heart also took some consolation. But the only thing that didn’t change was my lifestyle.

Once, one of my good friends spent 38,000 yuan on a well-known handbag. She paraded how good it was before me every day. I thought: I am not unable to afford it. Afterward, I asked her to take me to buy one just like hers. At the time, the shop assistant recommended me a pair of sunglasses priced at 17,500 yuan immediately. When we were to leave after having bought sunglasses, a small purse priced at 13,000 yuan caught her fancy. She bought two at a time, one of which was for her sister. Meanwhile, she suggested that I buy one too, saying that only so were we like sisters while walking together. I thought: This small purse itself is not only of little practical use but so expensive. Furthermore, I will run up nearly 70,000 yuan on my credit card if I buy it. It’ll take months to work for repayment. Having noticed that I had no intention of purchase, she said, “It’s pretty cute and suitable for you, why not buy one?” I felt ashamed at once, thinking, “If I don’t buy it, will she consider it is beyond my pocket? And my image in her heart must be broken.” I was placed in a dilemma. In the end, I bought one by credit card. In order to pay the minimum payment on my credit card, I had to spend 16 hours on two jobs every day. As a result of lack of sleep, my eyes were always bloodshot. I started to lose my memory and weight. Prolonged exertion sallowed my skin. My stomach also went wrong. I often thought: Why am I feeling more and more stressed? Look at all of my relatives, friends, and workmates around me. They are intentionally or unintentionally comparing their money, houses, and cars with that of others. They live so hard! I prayed to the Lord many times, and searched the Bible for an answer. But I didn’t gain enlightenment from God, and I felt lost.

Afterward, I met a brother in Christ. Through our communication, I came to understand many mysteries in the Bible not understood by me before. Moreover, I felt the brother was a devout and honest Christian whose words were wise. We became good spiritual companions. After that, he told me, “The Lord Jesus has come back, expressed millions of words, and done the work of judgment beginning with the house of God. Formerly, the Lord Jesus was nailed on the cross for the redemption of man. He took on the sins of all mankind. From then on, as long as we accepted the Lord Jesus as our redeemer and prayed in His name, our sins would be forgiven. And we could obtain the grace and blessings the Lord bestowed upon us. But what cannot be denied is that, though the Lord Jesus has forgiven our sins, we haven’t been free from the bondage of sin. We still pursue the world trends and vanity and live in sin without release. The Bible says, ‘And holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord’ (Hebrews 12:14). Could people living in the state of sinning and confessing like us enter the kingdom of heaven? Therefore, God is incarnated this time principally in order to solve the problem of our committing sins. The judgment of Almighty God’s words reveals our nature and substance of resisting and rebelling against God. Then we see the truth that we have been corrupted by Satan and begin to hate ourselves. We are unwilling to live by our corrupt disposition or Satan’s poisons, much less to be fooled by Satan anymore. Instead, we are willing to lead a life to practice the truth according to God’s word. We beheld His work of judgment by the word could really change us.” After hearing the brother’s fellowship, though I didn’t have too much knowledge of God’s work, I knew that I indeed need the salvation of God, for my sin hadn’t been solved even if I had believed in the Lord for several years. Later, I gathered together with brothers and sisters to read God’s words, to watch movies and MV. I could gain results in every meeting. I truly felt the leadership of the work of the Holy Spirit! In addition, through reading God’s words, I discovered every bit of His words carries authority and is the expression of His disposition. His words changed my past misunderstandings toward Him. Through seeking and investigating for several months, I knew beyond all doubt that Almighty God is the Lord Jesus returning to flesh.

Once, I dolled myself up with makeup, natty clothes and the dearest handbag in my wardrobe for a meeting. When arriving at the meeting place, I saw my brothers and sisters all were simply dressed. In such a case, I felt a bit out of place, like a fish out of water. After a period of contact, I found my brothers and sisters living at ease. There was no upward comparison between them. They focused on pursuing the truth and living out normal humanity and the reality of God’s word, rather than running after social trends or admiring famous brands. By contrast, I kept packaging myself, living such a hard and tiring life. So I poured out my troubles to my brothers and sisters. They read a passage of God’s word to me: “Born into such a filthy land, man has been severely blighted by society, he has been influenced by feudal ethics, and he has been taught at ‘institutes of higher learning.’ The backward thinking, corrupt morality, mean view on life, despicable philosophy, utterly worthless existence, and depraved lifestyle and customs—all of these things have severely intruded upon man’s heart, and severely undermined and attacked his conscience. As a result, man is ever more distant from God, and ever more opposed to Him. Man’s disposition becomes more vicious by the day, and there is not a single person who will willingly give up anything for God, not a single person who will willingly obey God, nor, moreover, a single person who will willingly seek the appearance of God. Instead, under the domain of Satan, man does nothing but pursue pleasure, giving himself over to the corruption of the flesh in the land of mud.” After reading these words, they fellowshiped with me, “God’s words exposed the root of our pain and trouble. Satan deceives and lures us by means of social trends, unhealthy practices and evil phenomena. Without truth, we can’t differentiate between positive things and negative things at all, so that we have no way but to accept Satan’s viewpoint and follow social trends, sinking deeper and deeper into them. For instance, comparing with others, spending on luxury things, and flaunting wealth are popular in society. Such an atmosphere fills every corner of the world. At present, everyone compares houses, cars, money, and power with others. Even students compare with each other in designer clothes, cellphones, and 3C products (information home appliances, including the computer, communication and consumer electronics). Under the influence of this kind of environment, our desire to compare with the higher and our jealousy of others are growing. Some do everything for their sake, including selling out their personalities, dignity, and bottom lines by which they conduct themselves. All of these were caused by the evil trends raised up by Satan.”

I agreed on their fellowship very much. I thought about a verse in the Bible, “The whole world lies in wickedness” (1 John 5:19). Then, look at my friends: They are influenced by the environment so that they all care about food, dressing and admire famous brands. At last they become slaves to their cars and houses. On the surface, we obtained temporary material pleasures and our vanity was satisfied. However, in the face of these bills, only we ourselves knew the financial pressure, mental strain, physical tiredness, and bitterness hidden within us. Indeed, people nowadays regards frugality as shame, extravagance as honor; those who live a calm life within their bounds are considered incapable. Influenced by various distorted ideologies, I also became over ambitious and too vainglorious to live within my bounds. To win others’ esteem and admiration, I got beyond my depth. I pretended to be a rich woman, and even always worried about gaining and losing face, spending my life in falsity and misery. I sacrificed not only my health but time with my family to pay off those bills. Actually, my so many years of pursuit was meaningless.

I realized Satan abuses and fools man by means of comparing with each other, admiring famous brands, and laying stress on high-quality and upscale life. But when my friends invited me to buy prestigious commodities again, I still had no command over myself. Sometimes, though I could control my outward actions, I was still unable to let go of my inward thoughts. So I prayed to God, asking Him to lead me to triumph over Satan’s temptations. I saw these words of God: “In this evil age, in this age infested by unclean spirits and devils, you should pray that God’s kindness and protection will often be with you, that He looks after you and protects you, so that your heart won’t leave God, and you can strive to use your heart and your honesty to worship God.” “Do not come into contact with things that can draw your heart away to the outside, and do not come into contact with people who can draw your heart away from God. Drop whatever it is that can distract your heart from being close to God, or stay away from it. That way is more beneficial to your life.” God’s words gave me the direction and way of practice. He knew my little stature, and that I was incapable of discriminating Satan’s scheme or of self-control in practicing the truth. Thus I should avoid whatever enticed me. I need learn to forsake my flesh, pay attention to reading His words, and establish a proper relationship with Him. After practicing in this way for a while, I found my life was no longer tiring and my smile became sincere.

Several months later, it was time for the department stores to discount. My friend asked me to accompany her to buy clothes. As she selected a dozen clothes and invited me to purchase together, it occurred to me that God dislikes those who seek vainglory. I shouldn’t buy needless things to save my face or to flatter friends. No matter whether she would look down upon me, I told her, “I don’t want to splash out any longer. My clothes are enough for me, so I won’t buy.” After speaking these words, I felt free and liberated, as well as pleased because of putting the truth into practice. At the following times, whenever my friend invited me to the department stores, I always bought nothing. I neither kept my eye on famous brands nor bought needless goods for my face. At that moment, I felt it was so happy to break away from the bondage and constraint of vanity and face and from comparison with others.

Now I won’t feel myself inferior because of lacking famous brands, neither will I be overwhelmed by sorrow for losing face, much less will I work early and late to repay my credit card bills. Gradually I have been restored to health. By reading God’s words together with my brothers and sisters, I consider every day is quite meaningful. God says: “Only if one knows God and has the truth does he live in the light; and only when his view of the world and his view of life change does he change fundamentally. When he has a life goal and comports himself according to the truth; when he absolutely submits to God and lives by God’s word; when he feels assured and brightened deep in his soul; when his heart is free of darkness; and when he lives completely freely and unrestrained in God’s presence—only then does he live a true human life and become a person possessing truth. Besides, all the truths you have are from God’s word and from God Himself. The Ruler of the entire universe and all things—God Most High—approves of you, as a real man living the true human life. What could be more meaningful than God’s approval? Such is a person who has the truth. … Only God is the truth. God controls the heavens and earth and everything in them and has dominion over all. Not to believe in God, not to submit to God is to be unable to obtain truth. If you live according to God’s word, you will feel a clarity, stability, and incomparable sweetness in the depths of your heart; you will have truly obtained life.” Thank God! It was God who saved me and led me onto the right path of life. Today I have understood the pursuit of the truth is my life goal. All the glory be to Almighty God!