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HARI KEHIDUPAN UNTUK ALAM SEMESTA

2013-01-27T12:35:00.003-08:00

Oleh Guru Suk Sun

[Ingatlah dan kuduskanlah hari Sabat: enam hari lamanya engkau akan bekerja dan melakukan segala pekerjaanmu, tetapi hari ketujuh adalah hari Sabat TUHAN, Allahmu; maka jangan melakukan sesuatu pekerjaan, engkau atau anakmu laki-laki, atau anakmu perempuan, atau hambamu laki-laki, atau hambamu perempuan, atau hewanmu atau orang asing yang di tempat kediamanmu. Sebab enam hari lamanya TUHAN menjadikan langit dan bumi, laut dan segala isinya, dan Ia berhenti pada hari ketujuh; itulah sebabnya TUHAN memberkati hari Sabat dan menguduskannya] (Kel 20:8-11).

Hari Peringatan Penciptaan Alam Semesta

Semua allah dari dunia ini dapat meniru sembilan dari Sepuluh Perintah Allah (Dekalog/Dasatitah). “Jangan menyembah allah lain kecuali Aku.” “Jangan berzina.” “Jangan membunuh.” “Jangan mencuri.” Setiap allah bisa melakukan dan mengatakan semua hal ini. Kong Hu Cu, Sakyamuni (Buddha), Muhamad, bahkan kita bisa melakukan dan mengatakan semua hal ini.

Walaupun demikian, “Akulah Yehovah, Allah yang menciptakan langit, bumi, dan lautan, jadi kamu harus memelihara dan menguduskan hari Sabat,” adalah perintah unik yang hanya Allah yang menciptakan langit dan bumi dapat mempermaklumkan. Setelah Allah menciptakan langit, bumi, dan segala ciptaan, Hari Sabat ini adalah hari ulang tahun penciptaan langit dan bumi, hari peringatan penciptaan alam semesta, yang pada hakikatnya merupakan Hari Penciptaan Alam Semesta.

[Demikianlah diselesaikan langit dan bumi dan segala isinya. Ketika Allah pada hari ketujuh telah menyelesaikan pekerjaan yang dibuat-Nya itu, berhentilah Ia pada hari ketujuh dari segala pekerjaan yang telah dibuat-Nya itu. Lalu Allah memberkati hari ketujuh itu dan menguduskannya, karena pada hari itulah Ia berhenti dari segala pekerjaan penciptaan yang telah dibuat-Nya itu] (Kej 2:1-3).

Semua negara di dunia ini masing-masing memiliki Hari Kemerdekaan Negara mereka. Hari Kemerdekaan Negara ini jatuh pada hari penting yang tidak dapat dihapus, diubah, atau dipindahkan ke hari lain selama negara itu masih berdiri dan tidak hancur atau lenyap. Demikian juga, [hari ketujuh ... hari Sabat] (Kel 20:10) adalah Hari Penciptaan Alam Semesta, jadi selama alam semesta tidak lenyap, hari itu tidak dapat dihapus atau diubah ke hari lain, karena itu adalah Hari Penciptaan Alam Semesta yang ditetapkan oleh Allah Pencipta. [... tetapi hari ketujuh adalah hari Sabat TUHAN, Allahmu. ... Sebab enam hari lamanya TUHAN menjadikan langit dan bumi, laut dan segala isinya, dan Ia berhenti pada hari ketujuh; itulah sebabnya] [Ingatlah dan kuduskanlah hari Sabat] (Kel 20:10-11, 8).

Manusia jatuh dalam dosa di Eden dan meninggalkannya setelah kehilangan semua berkat yang ia miliki. Namun, Bapa surgawi kita memulihkan kembali hari Sabat sehingga anak-anak-Nya yang jatuh setidaknya tidak akan kehilangan itu. Hal ini karena jika mereka kehilangan hari Sabat, umat manusia akan binasa tanpa pernah bisa kembali ke surga. Hanya melalui Sabat inilah umat manusia dapat menerima semua berkat-berkat surgawi dan kembali ke rangkulan Bapa Kandung mereka.

[Apabila engkau tidak menginjak-injak hukum Sabat dan tidak melakukan urusanmu pada hari kudus-Ku; apabila engkau menyebutkan hari Sabat “hari kenikmatan”, dan hari kudus TUHAN “hari yang mulia”; apabila engkau menghormatinya dengan tidak menjalankan segala acaramu dan dengan tidak mengurus urusanmu atau berkata omong kosong, maka engkau akan bersenang-senang karena TUHAN, dan Aku akan membuat engkau melintasi puncak bukit-bukit di bumi (surga) dengan kendaraan kemenangan; Aku akan memberi makan engkau dari milik pusaka Yakub, bapa leluhurmu, sebab mulut Tuhanlah yang mengatakannya] (Yes 58:13, 14).

Tanda Umat Surgawi

Semua negara di dunia ini mendistribusikan kartu identifikasi yang unik untuk warga mereka. Kartu identitas ini adalah satu-satunya tanda (bukti) yang dapat dengan mudah membedakan seorang warga negara di mana pun ia berada, meskipun ia berbaur dengan warga negara lain. Dengan cara yang sama, Allah juga memberikan kartu identifikasi yang unik kepada anak-anak kandung-Nya yang tidak dimiliki orang-orang di dunia ini, dan itu adalah tidak lain dari hari Sabat yang kudus yang merupakan tanda (bukti) antara Allah dan umat-Nya.

[Berfirmanlah TUHAN kepada Musa: “Katakanlah kepada orang Israel, demikian: Akan tetapi hari-hari Sabat-Ku harus kamu pelihara, sebab itulah peringatan antara Aku dan kamu, turun-temurun, sehingga ... menjadi perjanjian kekal. Antara Aku dan orang Israel] (Kel 31:12, 13, 16, 17). Oleh karena itu, [Kuduskanlah hari-hari Sabat-Ku] (Yeh 20:20). [Hari-hari Sabat-Ku] tidak mengacu pada hari Sabat orang Yahudi atau denominasi apa pun, karena itu adalah Sabat Allah. Itulah hari Sabat yang telah Allah kukuhkan dan tetapkan. Juga, [Hari-hari Sabat-Ku] mengacu pada [Sabat yang kudus] yang Allah tetapkan secara kudus. [Kuduskanlah hari-hari Sabat-Ku, sehingga itu menjadi peringatan di antara Aku dan kamu, supaya orang mengetahui bahwa Akulah TUHAN, Allahmu] (Yeh 20:20). [Hari-hari Sabat-Ku juga Kuberikan kepada mereka menjadi peringatan di antara Aku dan mereka, supaya mereka mengetahui bahwa Akulah TUHAN, yang menguduskan mereka] (Yeh 20:12).

Hari Yang Allah, Yesus, dan Para Malaikat Pelihara

★ Allah Memelihara Sabat

Bapa surgawi kita tidak hanya membedakan secara kudus hari ketujuh sebagai Sabat, tetapi Ia sendiri juga menguduskan hari ini, dan akan terus menguduskannya bersama-sama dengan anak-anak kandung-Nya hingga selamanya. [Berhentilah Ia pada hari ketujuh dari segala pekerjaan yang telah dibuat-Nya itu ... pada hari itulah Ia berhenti dari segala pekerjaan penciptaan yang telah dibuat-Nya itu] (Kej 2:2, 3). [... sebab enam hari lamanya TUHAN menjadikan langit dan bumi, dan pada hari yang ketujuh Ia berhenti bekerja untuk beristirahat] (Kel 31:17). Itulah sebabnya Bapa Kandung surgawi kita berkata, [hari-hari Sabat-Ku] (Im 19:30), dan [hari-hari Sabat-Ku] (Kel 31:13) yang Aku pelihara. Dia juga mengatakan, [hari kudus TUHAN] (Yes 58:13), [hari Sabat TUHAN] (Kel 20:10) yang Yehovah tetapkan, yang adalah milik-Nya. Dia menandaskan bahwa hari Sabat kudus ini di luar otoritas manusia, hari suci yang Ia sahkan sendiri.

Bahkan sekarang, Ia beristirahat pada hari ini seperti yang Ia lakukan pada awal (Penciptaan) di surga bersama-sama dengan semua laskar malaikat. Sebab Dia adalah [Alfa dan Omega, Yang Pertama dan Yang Terkemudian, Yang Awal dan Yang Akhir] yang [pada-Nya tidak ada perubahan atau bayangan karena pertukaran] (Why 22:13; Yak 1:17). Juga, anak-anak kandung di bumi ini harus berhenti dari pekerjaan mereka sebagaimana Bapa mereka, [sebab barangsiapa telah masuk ke tempat perhentian-Nya, ia sendiri telah berhenti dari segala pekerjaannya, sama seperti Allah berhenti dari pekerjaan-Nya] (Ibr 4:10). [Karena itu baiklah kita berusaha untuk masuk ke dalam perhentian itu] (Ibr 4:11).

★ Yesus Memelihara Sabat

Anak Allah, Yesus, juga memelihara Sabat ini bahkan sekarang di surga seperti Bapa-Nya. Ia mengatakan, [Sebab inilah kasih kepada Allah, yaitu, bahwa kita menuruti perintah-perintah-Nya. Perintah-perintah-Nya itu tidak berat] (1 Yoh 5:3). Sabat bukanlah sesuatu yang membebankan, melainkan hari bahagia yang memerdekakan kita. Ini adalah hari yang melahirkan kembali dan menguduskan orang berdosa yang tidak kudus, hari yang membuat orang berdosa yang tersekap dalam kegelapan tanpa terang menjadi anak-anak terang. Hari yang memberikan kuasa kepada orang lemah, mencurahkan berkat-berkat kesembuhan dan kesehatan kepada yang sakit, dan lebih dari apa pun, hari Sabat menganugerahkan hidup kekal kepada manusia fana yang bahkan tidak bisa hidup sampai seratus tahun. Sesungguhnya hari Sabat adalah hari yang luar biasa membahagiakan ketika harapan dan sukacita orang terpenuhi, hari berkat surgawi, hari kehidupan untuk alam semesta.

Walaupun demikian, hari Sabat orang Yahudi yang diwariskan oleh nenek moyang mereka, yang diubah dan termodifikasi, adalah hari Sabat yang hanya menindas, menyiksa dan mengikat orang. Sabat dari gereja-gereja yang korup dewasa ini adalah hari keji yang tidak ditemukan di dalam Alkitab. Itulah hari yang membawa penghakiman (hukuman) bagi manusia ketimbang berkat, semata-mata hari yang memenuhi egoisme (kekayaan) mereka. Di antara berkat-berkat hari Sabat, berkat terbesar yang harus paling kita mensyukuri dan memuji adalah bahwa Sabat merupakan hari ketika orang-orang berdosa yang tak tersembuhkan yang lahir dalam dosa sanggup mencegah kuasa kejahatan dan keluar sebagai Allah-Allah yang kudus yang bahkan tidak dapat berdosa dalam pikiran mereka. Justru hari Sabat yang sangat kudus inilah yang memberi kita berkat yang paling menakjubkan. [Setiap orang yang lahir dari Allah, tidak berbuat dosa lagi; sebab benih ilahi (hari Sabat, kehidupan alam semesta) tetap ada di dalam dia dan ia tidak dapat berbuat dosa, karena ia lahir dari Allah] (1 Yoh 3:9).

Namun, banyak gereja dewasa ini sia-sia mengklaim bahwa Yesus datang untuk meniadakan hari Sabat. Yesus yang meramalkan ini akan terjadi sudah membantahnya dengan perkataan, [Janganlah kamu menyangka, bahwa Aku datang untuk meniadakan hukum Taurat (Sepuluh Hukum/Dekalog) atau kitab para nabi. Aku datang bukan untuk meniadakannya, melainkan untuk menggenapinya] (Mat 5:17). Ia berkata, “Jangan salah paham dan berpikir Aku datang untuk meniadakan hukum Taurat, Sepuluh Hukum/Dasatitah. Aku tidak datang untuk meniadakan Sepuluh Perintah Allah atau hari Sabat, tetapi Aku datang untuk memulihkan hari Sabat yang sempurna dan Sepuluh Hukum/Dekalog yang sempurna.” Oleh karena itu, kita tidak boleh memelihara Sabat Yahudi atau Sabat yang tidak murni dari gereja-gereja korup dewasa ini tetapi kita harus menguduskan hari Sabat Bapa Kandung kita sebagaimana yang Yesus lakukan.

Sementara berada di bumi ini, Yesus, [menurut kebiasaan-Nya pada hari Sabat Ia masuk ke rumah ibadat] (Luk 4:16). Dia menyucikan hari itu. [Menurut kebiasaan-Nya], Dia selalu menyucikan hari Sabat menurut kebiasaan-Nya, dan bahkan setelah Dia disalibkan dan wafat di kayu salib, Dia beristirahat di dalam makam-Nya pada hari Sabat. [Dan pagi-pagi benar pada hari pertama minggu itu ... pergilah mereka ke kubur... (di mana) Yesus bangkit ...] (Mrk 16:2, 9). Ini tercadat di dalam Alkitab. Bahkan sampai hari ini, Ia menguduskan hari ini bersama-sama dengan Bapa surgawi kita dan para malaikat. [Yesus Kristus tetap sama, baik kemarin maupun hari ini dan sampai selama-lamanya] (Ibr 13:8). [Karena itu baiklah kita berusaha untuk masuk ke dalam perhentian itu] (Ibr 4:11).

★ Para Murid Memelihara Sabat

Dalam mengamati kehidupan yang setia dari para murid bahkan setelah Yesus wafat, kita dapat dengan jelas mengerti betapa ketat Yesus telah mengajarkan mereka tentang memelihara Sabat. [Hari itu adalah hari persiapan dan Sabat hampir mulai. Dan perempuan-perempuan yang datang bersama-sama dengan Yesus dari Galilea, ikut serta dan mereka melihat kubur itu dan bagaimana mayat-Nya dibaringkan. Dan setelah pulang, mereka menyediakan rempah-rempah dan minyak mur. Dan pada hari Sabat mereka beristirahat menurut hukum Taurat] (Luk 23:54-56).

Jika Yesus telah menghapuskan Sabat dengan kematian-Nya, maka para murid tidak akan menguduskan hari Sabat setelah Yesus wafat. Namun murid-murid Yesus memelihara Sabat bahkan lebih ketat setelah Yesus wafat; dengan demikian, kita tahu bahwa sesungguhnya hari Sabat itu tidak dihapuskan. Yesus wafat pada hari Jumat. Murid-murid Yesus sedang menyiapkan minyak wangi untuk menuangkan pada tubuh-Nya, tetapi matahari sudah mulai terbenam dan itu dekat hari Sabat. Jadi para murid menghentikan pekerjaan mereka menuangkan minyak wangi dan kembali untuk memelihara hari Sabat sesuai dengan hukum. Pada hari masih pagi buta pada hari Minggu, mereka kembali melanjutkan menuangkan minyak wangi atas Yesus, tetapi Dia telah bangkit.

Dengan melihat hal-hal ini, kita dapat mengerti betapa tulus Yesus telah meminta murid-murid-Nya untuk sungguh-sungguh menguduskan hari Sabat ketika Ia masih hidup. [Tetapi pagi-pagi benar pada hari pertama minggu itu mereka pergi ke kubur membawa rempah-rempah yang telah disediakan mereka. Dan setelah masuk mereka tidak menemukan mayat Tuhan Yesus] (Luk 24:1, 3). [Setelah lewat hari Sabat, Maria Magdalena dan Maria ibu Yakobus, serta Salome membeli rempah-rempah untuk pergi ke kubur dan meminyaki Yesus. Dan pagi-pagi benar pada hari pertama minggu itu, setelah matahari terbit, pergilah mereka ke kubur] tetapi Yesus telah bangkit (Mrk 16:1, 2).

Meskipun mereka berada di tengah-tengah kesedihan yang tak dapat dihibur, mereka menguduskan hari Sabat dengan paling cermat seperti Yesus telah mengajarkan kepada mereka sementara Dia masih hidup. Rasul Paulus juga mengatakan, [Jadilah pengikutku, sama seperti aku juga menjadi pengikut Kristus] (1 Kor 11:1). [Menurut kebiasaan-Nya] (Luk 4:16), Yesus menguduskan hari Sabat ketika Ia berada di dunia; demikian pula, ada tertulis di dalam Alkitab bahwa [seperti biasa (Rasul) Paulus (menguduskan) Sabat] juga (Kis 17:2).

★ Murid-Murid di Akhir Zaman Memelihara Sabat

Yesus yang adalah [Tuhan atas hari Sabat] (Mat 12:8), yang menegakkan hari Sabat pada mulanya bersama dengan Bapa surgawi, dengan tegas memerintahkan murid-murid-Nya, yang sesungguhnya adalah kita yang hidup di akhir zaman saat ini, untuk menguduskan hari Sabat hingga akhir dunia. [Berdoalah, supaya waktu kamu melarikan diri itu jangan jatuh pada musim dingin dan jangan pada hari Sabat] (Mat 24:20). [Sebab pada masa itu akan terjadi siksaan yang dahsyat seperti yang belum pernah terjadi sejak awal dunia sampai sekarang dan yang tidak akan terjadi lagi] (Mat 24:21). [Hendaklah engkau setia (kepada Perintah-Perintah) sampai mati, dan Aku akan mengaruniakan kepadamu mahkota kehidupan] (Why 2:10).

Allah memelihara Sabat, Yesus memeliharanya, para rasul memeliharanya, Paulus memeliharanya, dan Yesus memberi perintah khusus kepada murid-murid yang akan naik ke surga yang menghadapi Kesusahan Yakub di akhir zaman, mengatakan, “Daripada menajiskan hari Sabat sambil melarikan diri pada hari Sabat, lebih baik Anda menguduskan hari Sabat dan mati di mana Anda berada” (Merujuk kepada Mat 24:20-21). Perintah yang Yesus berikan ini saat berada di bumi adalah palu godam besar untuk menghancurkan teori palsu yang dikemukakan oleh orang-orang sekarang ini bahwa Yesus datang dan menghapuskan hari Sabat. Pemeliharaan suci terhadap hari Sabat yang tak berubah untuk selamanya adalah perintah utama yang diberikan kepada anak-anak yang dikasihi-Nya sekaligus kepada dunia.

Kembali ke Satu-Satunya Jalan Surgawi

[Beginilah firman TUHAN: Berawas-awaslah demi nyawamu! … kuduskanlah hari Sabat seperti yang telah Kuperintahkan kepada nenek moyangmu] (Yer 17:21-22). Kita adalah anak-anak kandung yang telah menerima permohonan khusus untuk menguduskan hari Sabat seperti yang diperintahkan kepada nenek moyang kita.

Hari Sabat ini adalah perintah yang secara khusus diberikan sebagai syarat untuk diangkat ke surga. Jika kita menguduskan Sabat Allah tanpa mencari kesenangan kita pada hari itu, menahan tangan dan kaki, dan mengendalikan pikiran dan tutur kata, untuk menguduskan hari itu, maka kita akan hidup dengan menerima semua berkat Allah dalam pemeliharaan-Nya selama berada di bumi ini. Dan Dia berjanji bahwa kita akan menikmati karya-Nya untuk selamanya di puncak bukit-bukit surga juga. Dengan demikian, hari Sabat ini adalah perintah khusus yang diberikan sebagai kondisi untuk diangkat ke surga. Betapa berharganya Sabat ini! Hatiku meluap dengan sukacita setiap kali saya memikirkan hari Sabat yang merupakan harta ini. Ini adalah satu-satunya jalan surgawi yang akan memperkenankan kita naik ke surga.

[Beginilah firman TUHAN: Taatilah hukum dan tegakkanlah keadilan, sebab sebentar lagi akan datang keselamatan (kedatangan) yang dari pada-Ku, dan keadilan-Ku akan dinyatakan. Berbahagialah orang yang melakukannya, dan anak manusia yang berpegang kepadanya: yang memelihara hari Sabat dan tidak menajiskannya, dan yang menahan diri dari setiap perbuatan jahat]. [Mereka akan Kubawa ke gunung (surga)-Ku yang kudus dan akan Kuberi kesukaan di rumah doa-Ku] (Yes 56:1, 2, 7).

[Janganlah orang asing yang menggabungkan diri kepada TUHAN berkata: “Sudah tentu TUHAN hendak memisahkan aku dari pada umat-Nya”; dan janganlah orang kebiri berkata: “Sesungguhnya, aku ini pohon yang kering.” Sebab beginilah firman TUHAN: “Kepada orang-orang kebiri yang memelihara hari-hari Sabat-Ku dan yang memilih apa yang Kukehendaki dan yang berpegang kepada perjanjian-Ku, kepada mereka akan Kuberikan dalam rumah (surga)-Ku dan di lingkungan tembok-tembok kediaman (Yerusalem kota emas)-Ku suatu tanda peringatan dan nama--itu lebih baik dari pada anak-anak lelaki dan perempuan--,suatu nama abadi yang tidak akan lenyap akan Kuberikan kepada mereka] (Yes 56:3-5).

Dia mengatakan bahwa jika saja kita menguduskan hari Sabat, maka apakah orang asing atau kasim, siapa pun itu, semua akan dibawa ke surga baru. Namun, tidak soal apakah Anda adalah orang yang dipimpin oleh Musa, atau orang-orang pada zaman Salomo di kota emas, Yerusalem, meskipun Anda adalah anggota gereja pilihan di akhir zaman, orang-orang yang mencemarkan hari Sabat semua akan dibuang dan dibiarkan binasa.

[Sebab sama seperti langit yang baru dan bumi yang baru yang akan Kujadikan itu, tinggal tetap di hadapan-Ku], [Sabat berganti Sabat, maka seluruh umat manusia akan datang untuk sujud menyembah di hadapan-Ku, firman TUHAN] (Yes 66:22-23). Bahkan ketika kita naik ke surga, kita akan langsung pergi kepada Bapa Kandung surgawi kita dan menyembah Dia setiap hari Sabat. Kita tidak boleh berdalih lagi di hadapan fakta-fakta yang tak dapat dibantah ini seperti yang termaktub di dalam Alkitab; saya harap Anda akan menguduskan hari Sabat. [Berbahagialah orang yang melakukannya], yang [... (men)egakkan ... keadilan], [yang memelihara hari Sabat dan tidak menajiskannya] (Yes 56:1-2).

Saudara dan saudariku yang terkasih! Tentunya hari Sabat tidak pernah dihapuskan. Kita harus kembali ke Alkitab dan tidak tertipu oleh teori palsu bahwa Sabat telah dihapuskan. Menurut Alkitab, pernyataan seperti itu sungguh-sungguh melanggar ketaatasasan. [Sebab itu, baiklah kita waspada, supaya jangan ada seorang di antara kamu yang dianggap ketinggalan, sekalipun janji akan masuk ke dalam perhentian-Nya masih berlaku] (Ibr 4:1).

Kita harus berwaspada untuk tidak berakhir seperti Israel yang binasa karena menodai hari Sabat, atau seperti gereja-gereja korup dewasa ini yang telah mengikuti pola ketidaktaatan, untuk akhirnya binasa dari bumi ini. Seyogianya kita harus berhati-hati. Seperti Musa, Kaleb dan Yosua, Yesus, dan rasul-rasul, hendaklah kita naik ke surga dengan memelihara Sabat. [Sebab barangsiapa telah masuk ke tempat perhentian-Nya, ia sendiri telah berhenti dari segala pekerjaannya, sama seperti Allah berhenti dari pekerjaan-Nya. Karena itu baiklah kita berusaha untuk masuk ke dalam perhentian itu, supaya jangan seorangpun jatuh karena mengikuti contoh ketidaktaatan itu juga] (Ibr 4:10, 11). [Pada hari ini, jika kamu mendengar suara-Nya, janganlah keraskan hatimu] (Ibr 4:7).

Hari-hari Sabat yang Dihapus dan Hari Sabat yang Kekal

Jika Anda melihat di dalam Alkitab, ada beberapa ayat yang menyebutkan Yesus telah menghapuskan Sabat melalui salib. Mari kita sekarang meneliti ini dan mengklarifikasi persoalannya.

[Karena itu janganlah kamu biarkan orang menghukum kamu mengenai makanan dan minuman atau mengenai hari raya, bulan baru ataupun hari Sabat] (Kol 2:16). [Hukum Taurat dan kitab para nabi berlaku sampai kepada zaman Yohanes; dan sejak waktu itu Kerajaan Allah diberitakan dan setiap orang menggagahinya berebut memasukinya] (Luk 16:16). [... Ia telah membatalkan hukum Taurat dengan segala perintah dan ketentuannya] (Ef. 2:15). [Sebab Kristus adalah kegenapan hukum Taurat, sehingga kebenaran diperoleh tiap-tiap orang yang percaya] (Rom 10:4). [Memang suatu hukum yang dikeluarkan dahulu dibatalkan, kalau hukum itu tidak mempunyai kekuatan dan karena itu tidak berguna, --sebab hukum Taurat sama sekali tidak membawa kesempurnaan--tetapi sekarang ditimbulkan pengharapan yang lebih baik, yang mendekatkan kita kepada Allah] (Ibr 7:18, 19). [Yang seorang menganggap hari yang satu lebih penting dari pada hari yang lain, tetapi yang lain menganggap semua hari sama saja. Hendaklah setiap orang benar-benar yakin dalam hatinya sendiri] (Rom 14:5). Ada lagi ayat-ayat senada yang tampaknya menyiratkan penghapusan hukum Allah, Dekalog/Dasatitah, dan itu bisa sangat menyesatkan.

Pertama, [Kolose 2:16] pada dasarnya mengatakan, “Jangan berargumentasi dan bersilat lidah tentang hari Sabat. Yang perlu Anda lakukan hanyalah percaya.”

Berikut, [Lukas 16:16] mengatakan, “Hukum Taurat dan kitab para nabi sampai pada zaman Yohanes Pembaptis. Setelah itu, semua yang perlu dilakukan adalah percaya kepada Injil kerajaan Allah. Tidak perlu memelihara hari Sabat dari orang-orang Yahudi itu.”

[Efesus 2:15] mengatakan, “Bukankah dikatakan hari Sabat dihapuskan melalui kematian Yesus, mengapa Anda menyalah tafsir Alkitab seperti itu?” Dalam [Roma 10:4], “Kristus menggenapi hukum Taurat.”

[Ibrani 7:18-19] mengatakan, “Bukankah dikatakan perintah terdahulu dibatalkan karena lemah dan tak berguna? Jadi mari kita ikuti pengharapan yang lebih baik dan hanya percaya pada Yesus. Kemudian kita akan masuk surga.”

[Roma 14:5] mengatakan, “Apakah kita memelihara hari Minggu atau Sabtu, hanya jika kita yakin dalam pikiran sendiri, itu sudah cukup. Jika kita memelihara hari Sabtu sebagai hari Sabat, siapa yang dapat memegang jabatan publik di dunia, dan siapa yang bisa bersekolah? (Di Korea, siswa/siswi pergi ke sekolah pada hari Sabtu juga) Mari kita berpaut pada pandangan moderat.” Seperti itulah argumen yang dapat dikemukakan orang.

Akan tetapi jika ada sesuatu yang harus diutamakan, saya percaya kaum pembaca tahu lebih baik daripada orang lain – seluruh Alkitab adalah kebenaran kekal Allah sehingga tidak ada yang sembarangan dapat menambah atau menguranginya.

[Aku bersaksi kepada setiap orang yang mendengar perkataan-perkataan nubuat dari kitab ini: “Jika seorang menambahkan sesuatu kepada perkataan-perkataan ini, maka Allah akan menambahkan kepadanya malapetaka-malapetaka yang tertulis di dalam kitab ini. Dan jikalau seorang mengurangkan sesuatu dari perkataan-perkataan dari kitab nubuat ini, maka Allah akan mengambil bagiannya dari pohon kehidupan dan dari kota kudus, seperti yang tertulis di dalam kitab ini] (Why 22:18-19).

Hari-Hari Sabat yang Dihapuskan

Di dalam Alkitab, ada sebanyak enam jenis hari Sabat. Di antara hari-hari Sabat ini, lima di antaranya telah [dibatalkan] (Ibr 7:18) oleh Yesus Kristus melalui kematian-Nya di salib, [sebab dengan mati-Nya sebagai manusia Ia telah membatalkan(nya)] (Ef 2:15). Dan hanya salah satu di antaranya masih berlaku, dan Sabat tersebut adalah hari peringatan kekal dari penciptaan alam semesta yang secara pribadi diukir oleh Allah pada dua loh batu. Itulah [Sabat Yehovah], jalan surgawi yang Allah berikan kepada anak-anak kandung-Nya sebagai syarat masuk surga. Berikut ini adalah hari-hari Sabat yang dihapuskan oleh Anak Domba Allah, Yesus, yang menumpahkan darah sebagai korban penebusan:

1. Sabat Paskah (Im 23:5, 7-8) ... tanggal 15 Januari dan 21 Januari menurut kalender Yahudi.

2. Sabat Pentakosta (Im 23:15-16, 21) ... Satu hari sesudah Sabat yang ketujuh (hari ke-50) dari 16 Januari (hari setelah hari Sabat Paskah).

3. Sabat Serunai (Im 23:24-25) ... 1 Juli menurut kalender Yahudi.

4. Sabat Hari Pendamaian (Im 23:27, 32) ... 10 Juli menurut kalender Yahudi.

5. Sabat Pondok Daun (Im 23:34-36) ... 15 Juli dan 22 Juli menurut kalender Yahudi.

Ini adalah hari-hari Sabat yang telah disalahtafsirkan dan memicu begitu banyak pertanyaan, dan ayat, [janganlah kamu biarkan orang menghukum kamu mengenai ... hari raya, bulan baru ataupun hari Sabat] (Kol 2:16) berlaku untuk hari-hari Sabat yang [sampai kepada zaman Yohanes] (Luk 16:16), yang dihapuskan oleh Kristus melalui kematian-Nya dengan sekaligus. Setiap kali tiba hari-hari Sabat ini, umat Allah pada purbakala selalu menyembelih domba, mempersembahkannya kepada Allah, dan beristirahat pada hari itu. Juga, ini adalah hari-hari Sabat temporer (bersifat upacara) yang dicatat oleh seorang manusia (Musa) dengan tangan sendiri yang harus dirayakan setiap tahun oleh manusia korup tanpa kecuali hingga Yesus datang dan wafat di salib.

Sabat yang Kekal

[Sabat Yehovah] yang tertera dalam Sepuluh Hukum/Dekalog bukanlah Sabat temporer, melainkan Sabat yang kekal. Ini adalah hari Sabat yang Allah tegakkan pada mulanya sebelum manusia jatuh dalam dosa, hari Sabat yang Allah sendiri juga kuduskan. Dan sejak semula ketika diberikan kepada manusia, tidak ditulis oleh tangan manusia tetapi [kedua loh hukum Allah ... yang ditulisi oleh jari Allah] (Kel 31:18). [Sabat kudus] ini tidak bersangkut paut dengan darah penebusan Anak Domba, tidak bersangkut paut dengan sebelum dan sesudah berdosa, tidak bersangkut paut dengan sebelum dan sesudah salib Kristus; ini diberikan tidak hanya untuk umat manusia, tetapi untuk semua penduduk dan warga dunia-dunia semesta. Ini adalah [Sabat kudus Allah], hari peringatan penuh sukacita dan kebahagiaan alam semesta yang dikuduskan oleh manusia yang jatuh, bersama dengan Allah, Yesus, semua laskar malaikat, dan semua warga dunia semesta untuk selamanya. Ini adalah [Sabat kudus] yang semua penduduk dunia semesta harus menguduskan dengan bahagia dan gembira. Ini adalah hari Sabat berkat surgawi. Jika Sabat ini dihapuskan, maka umat manusia dan seluruh alam semesta akan jatuh binasa. Hanya dengan menerima berkat Allah yang tak terbatas seluruh alam semesta bisa bertahan hidup. Namun, jika saluran berkat ini terputus, maka tidak hanya bumi, tetapi seluruh alam semesta akan binasa. Saya sungguh-sungguh berharap keluarga umat manusia akan sepenuhnya memahami fakta yang tak dapat dibantah ini, sehingga mereka dapat mengambil bagian dalam kebahagiaan dan kemuliaan abadi surga.

■ Tantangan: Karena perubahan dahsyat setelah air bah Nuh, hari Sabat itu mungkin sudah bercampur aduk, jadi bagaimana mungkin Anda begitu keras kepala dan bersikeras bahwa Sabtu adalah hari Sabat pada mulanya? Kita dapat menguduskan hari apa saja sesuka kita.

● Jawaban: Ketika Allah memberikan Musa loh batu Sepuluh Hukum, apakah itu sebelum atau setelah air bah? Itu setelah air bah. Jika demikian, maka Sepuluh Hukum (termasuk Sabat) yang orang Yahudi warisi dari Musa tidak diragukan lagi hari Sabtu. Hari Sabat itu abadi; Sepuluh Perintah itu kekal. Sepuluh Perintah adalah Hukum universal yang melindungi alam semesta. Andaikata Dekalog/Dasatitah ini dihapuskan seperti segelintir orang mungkin mengklaim, maka alam semesta akan segera menjadi dunia kacau-balau penuh pelanggaran hukum dan benar-benar hancur pada akhirnya. Sama seperti hukum Korea menjaga ketertiban, perdamaian, kebebasan, dan kebahagiaan Korea, Sepuluh Hukum alam semesta adalah Hukum universal yang membawa perdamaian, kebebasan, dan kebahagiaan bagi alam semesta. Oleh karena itu, kecuali bangsa-bangsa semesta jatuh hancur dan lenyap, Hukum Dekalog adalah Hukum yang tak berubah untuk selamanya. [Karena Aku berkata kepadamu: Sesungguhnya selama belum lenyap langit dan bumi ini, satu iota atau satu titikpun tidak akan ditiadakan dari hukum Taurat, sebelum semuanya terjadi] (Mat 5:18).

Tuhan atas hari Sabat

[Karena Anak Manusia adalah Tuhan atas hari Sabat] (Mat 12:8).

Ketika Ia mengatakan, [Anak Manusia adalah Tuhan atas hari Sabat], itu berarti < Anak Manusia adalah pemilik hari Sabat, yang empunya hari Sabat, Dia yang telah menegakkan hari Sabat>. Ada satu makna yang lebih dalam yang termaktub dalam perkataan [Tuhan atas hari Sabat]. Ini menyiratkan . Oleh karena itu, [Aku berkata kepadamu: Sesungguhnya selama belum lenyap langit dan bumi ini, satu iota atau satu titikpun tidak akan ditiadakan dari hukum Taurat (Dasatitah yang adalah entitas-Ku), sebelum semuanya terjadi] (Mat 5:18). [Tetapi jikalau engkau ingin masuk ke dalam hidup, turutilah segala perintah Allah] (Mat 19:17).

Oh! Betapa menakutkan ini! Manusia atau makhluk ciptaan mana bisa berani mencemarkan atau mengubah hari Sabat yang di dalamnya Allah Pencipta langit dan bumi secara pribadi bersemayam? Itulah sebabnya Dia memerintahkan kita untuk benar-benar menguduskan hari Sabat bahkan selama kesusahan dahsyat [seperti yang belum pernah terjadi sejak awal dunia sampai sekarang dan yang tidak akan terjadi lagi] (Mat 24:21), meskipun harus kehilangan nyawa kita untuk menguduskannya. Hanya anak-anak seperti itulah yang akan Allah bangkitkan dan bawa ke surga secara pribadi. Juga, kepada anak-anak yang menguduskan Sabat ini, Ia akan menaruh meterai-Nya pada dahi mereka, mengatakan, “Inilah anak-Ku yang terkasih kepadanyalah Aku berkenan” (Merujuk kepada Yeh 9:4-6; Why 7:2-3). Dengan demikian, hari Sabat adalah ujian iman kita kepada Allah.

Ah! Tetapi bagaimana sehingga begitu banyak dari saudara-saudara kita Kristen menguduskan hari yang sama sekali berbeda, yakni hari Minggu (hari matahari), setelah kehilangan Sabat yang paling berharga ini yang Tuhan kita telah tegakkan, Sabat kudus di mana entitas Tuhan kita bersemayam, Sabat kudus yang akan selamanya kita kuduskan bahkan di langit yang baru dan bumi yang baru (Yes 66:22-23)? Tidak pernah ada waktu ketika Tuhan kita menegakkan hari Minggu ini pada awalnya, Ia sendiri tidak pernah menguduskan hari ini, sekali pun tidak, dan Dia tidak pernah memerintahkan siapa pun untuk menguduskan hari ini. Sebaliknya, hari pertama ini adalah hari saat Tuhan kita bekerja dengan tekun untuk menciptakan langit dan bumi, dan ketika Dia datang ke dunia ini, itu adalah hari pertama setelah hari Sabat ketika Dia tekun bekerja dalam pertukangan.

Hari Minggu ini adalah hari yang Bapa surgawi dan para malaikat tidak mengakui, tetapi bagaimana sehingga orang-orang mulai memelihara hari ini? Lalu kapan hari pertama, hari Minggu ini, menjadi hari Tuhan dan bagaimana hal itu bisa terjadi? Mari kita membaca perkataan nubuat dari Allah, serta keterangan para saksi (para ahli) yang tulus dari segala zaman.

Nubuatan Alkitab

[Dengan demikian kami makin diteguhkan oleh firman yang telah disampaikan oleh para nabi. Alangkah baiknya kalau kamu memperhatikannya sama seperti memperhatikan pelita yang bercahaya di tempat yang gelap...] (2 Pet 1:19). [Janganlah kamu memberi dirimu disesatkan orang dengan cara yang bagaimanapun juga! Sebab sebelum Hari itu haruslah datang dahulu murtad dan haruslah dinyatakan dahulu manusia durhaka, yang harus binasa, yaitu lawan (Allah) yang meninggikan diri di atas segala yang disebut atau yang disembah sebagai Allah. Bahkan ia duduk di Bait Allah dan mau menyatakan diri sebagai Allah] (2 Tes 2:3-4). [Ia akan mengucapkan perkataan yang menentang (Allah) Yang Mahatinggi, dan akan menganiaya orang-orang kudus milik Yang Mahatinggi; ia berusaha untuk mengubah waktu dan hukum (Hukum Dekalog)] (Dan 7:25).

Keterangan Para Saksi yang Tulus

The British Encyclopedia (Artikel tentang hari Minggu)

“Hukum Hari Minggu pertama-tama ditetapkan pada tahun 321 Tarikh Masehi oleh Kaisar Roma Konstantin 1 yang menganut kepercayaan setengah kafir dan setengah Kristen.

“History of the Christian Church” jilid 3, edisi V, hal. 380, catatan 1

“Pada Hari Matahari (hari Minggu) yang patut dimuliakan, biarkanlah para hakim dan orang-orang yang bermukim di kota-kota beristirahat, dan biarkan semua bengkel ditutup.”

Christian at Work

“Maka segelintir orang telah berupaya memulai pemeliharaan hari Minggu berdasarkan perintah para rasul, tetapi kenyataan para rasul sama sekali tidak memberikan perintah pemeliharaan hari Minggu” – Editorial, 19 April 1883. hal. 3.

Neander (sejarawan gereja) mengatakan:

“Pemeliharaan hari Minggu, sama seperti semua perayaan lainnya, senantiasa merupakan ordinasi manusia belaka. Dan inilah di luar maksud para rasul untuk mengukuhkan perintah ilahi dalam hal ini, jauh dari maksud mereka... (History of the Christian Faith and Church, hal. 186).

William Prynn, sejarawan Puritan yang terkenal (1665):

“Sabat hari ketujuh ... disucikan oleh Kristus, para rasul dan kaum Kristen mula-mula, setelah kebangkitan sampai Majelis Laodikia sungguh-sungguh menghapus sebagaimana rupa pemeliharaan hari Sabat.” “Majelis Laodikia, sekitar tahun 360 Tarikh Masehi ... pertama-tama menetapkan pemeliharaan Hari Tuhan (hari Minggu), dan melarang … pemeliharaan hari Sabat Yahudi dengan ancaman laknat” (Lord’s Day – Research Paper on the Sabbath, 34, 44).

R.W. Dale, M.A., (Congregationalist of England) menulis:

“Adalah cukup jelas bahwa walaupun demikian tekun dan khidmatnya kita memelihara hari Minggu, kita sebenarnya tidak memelihara hari Sabat. Hari Sabat dijadikan berdasarkan sebuah perintah khusus dan ilahi. Kita tidak bisa berdalih tentang perintah seperti itu untuk mewajibkan pemeliharaan hari Minggu. Tidak ada satu pun kalimat dalam Perjanjian Baru yang menyiratkan bahwa kita akan mendapat hukuman bila melanggar hari Minggu yang disangka suci” (The Ten Commandments, 127-129).

Dr. E.T. Hiscox, Baptist, Penulis “The Baptist Manual”

“Ada sebuah perintah dari dahulu hingga sekarang untuk menyucikan hari Sabat, tetapi hari Sabat itu bukan hari Minggu. Walaupun demikian, akan dikatakan dengan lagak kemenangan, bahwa Sabat dialihkan dari hari ketujuh ke hari pertama dalam pekan. ... Di manakah bukti-bukti (Alkitab) dari persetujuan tersebut didapatkan? Tidak di dalam Perjanjian Baru – sama sekali tidak. ... Tentunya saya tahu dengan baik bahwa hari Minggu memang mulai ditetapkan sebagai hari keagamaan dalam sejarah kristenitas mula-mula, sebagaimana yang kita pelajari dari bapa leluhur Kristen dan sumber-sumber lainnya. Akan tetapi sangat disayangkan bahwa pemeliharaan hari Minggu (hari Dewa Matahari) muncul oleh pengaruh dan cap kekafiran, dan dikristenkan dengan nama dewa matahari, kemudian diangkat dan disetujui oleh kepausan yang murtad, lalu diturunkan sebagai warisan sakral kepada aliran Protestan” (dari tulisan Dr. E.T. Hiscox pada tanggal 20 Agustus 1893, di Saratoga, NY, teks asli hal. 513-514).

John Frith (1572)

“Kita sebegitu rupa berada dalam takhayul pemeliharaan hari Minggu sama seperti (Orang Yahudi) dalam pemeliharaan hari Sabtu. ... ya, dan kita jauh lebih gila karena orang Yahudi berpatokan pada firman Allah dalam penyucian hari Sabtu, (karena) ... mereka diperintahkan untuk memelihara kekhidmatan hari ketujuh. Dan kita tidak memiliki firman Allah yang mendukung kita, tetapi sebaliknya menentang kita; sebab kita bukan memelihara hari ketujuh, sebagaimana yang dilakukan oleh orang Yahudi, melainkan hari pertama, yang tidak diperintahkan oleh hukum Allah” (Penulis 96, W. Tillen, John Frith, Dr. Barnes).

The Baptist Teacher

“Hukum sudah ada sebelum zaman Musa. Hukum itu sudah ada sejak umat manusia dijadikan … Ada bukti pemeliharaan hari Sabat sejak semula, dan TUHAN dari Sinai memerintahkan supaya hukum yang sudah ada itu ‘diingat’. … Sebagaimana hukum itu sudah ada sejak semula, demikian juga akan tetap ada hingga akhir … Bahkan hukum hari Sabat masih mengikat baik sekarang maupun hingga selama-lamanya. Setiap hari ketujuh harus dikuduskan secara istimewa” (Edisi Juli 1895, hal. 317).

Mgr. Segur (klerus berkedudukan tinggi di Gereja Katolik Roma) mengatakan:

“Adalah gereja Katolik, yang dengan otoritas Yesus Kristus, telah memindahkan hari perhentian ini ke hari Minggu, sebagai peringatan kebangkitan Tuhan kita. Dengan demikian, pemeliharaan hari Minggu oleh kaum Protestan merupakan penghormatan mereka kepada otoritas Gereja Katolik tanpa menghiraukan diri mereka” (Criticism of Today’s Protestant Church, hal. 213).

Kardinal Gibbins (Gereja Katolik Roma) mengatakan:

“Anda boleh membaca Alkitab dari Kejadian sampai Wahyu dan tidak akan menemukan satu baris yang mengesahkan penyucian hari Minggu. Alkitab memerintahkan perayaan keagamaan pada hari Sabtu, hari yang tidak pernah kita sucikan” (Faith of Our Fathers 1917, hal. 89).

Eusebius, seorang uskup terkenal dan pendukung Konstantin, mengatakan:

“Segala sesuatu dan apa saja yang menjadi tugas yang patut dilakukan pada hari Sabat, ini telah dipindahkan ke Hari Tuhan (hari Minggu)” (Volume 1 of Cox’s essay on the Sabbath and notes on the Psalms, hal. 361).

Kardinal Gibbins (Katolik Roma) mengatakan:

“Anda boleh membaca Alkitab dari Kejadian sampai Wahyu dan tidak akan menemukan satu baris yang mengesahkan penyucian hari Minggu. Alkitab memerintahkan perayaan keagamaan pada hari Sabtu (hari Sabat), hari yang tidak pernah kita sucikan.”

The Catholic Record:

“Pemeliharaan hari Minggu sebagai hari Sabat tidak berlandaskan Kitab Suci tetapi menurut tradisi kita; oleh karena itu tidak diragukan lagi pemeliharaan hari Minggu dilembagakan oleh Gereja Katolik.”

Paus Leo Xlll mengatakan:

“Kami (Gereja Katolik) memiliki kedudukan dan prerogatif dari Allah Yang Mahakuasa di bumi.”

Hera Riz dari [Church Dictionary] mengatakan:

“Paus memiliki martabat begitu besar dan mulia sehingga ia bukan manusia biasa, melainkan seolah-olah adalah Allah, dan vikaris Allah.”

Lucius Fenais, “Papa II” Prompta Bibliotheca, Vol. Pg. 25-28, Citedin Notes from the Book of Daniel, pg. 192-193, New Research on the Book of Daniel, pgs. 334-335

“Oleh karena itu, Paus dimahkotai dengan mahkota bertingkat tiga sebagai raja di surga, di bumi dan di bawah bumi.” “Demikian juga ia adalah raja ilahi di atas bumi, satu-satunya kaisar agung dari kaum beriman yang setia kepada Kristus, dan raja di atas segala raja dan di atas sejumlah penguasa.” “Lagi pula superioritas dan kuasa Paus Roma tentunya berlaku tidak hanya pada hal-hal surgawi hingga hal-hal duniawi dan di bawah dunia tetapi bahkan melebihi para malaikat, dan melebihi siapa saja.” “Paus memiliki otoritas dan kuasa yang demikian besar sehingga ia dapat mengubah (mengganti), menjelaskan dan menafsirkan Hukum Allah.”

Saya percaya para pembaca akan secara jelas membuat kesimpulan sendiri setelah membaca kesaksian-kesaksian dari para ahli yang tulus. Sesungguhnya betapa akurat firman di dalam Alkitab yang dinubuatkan oleh Allah telah digenapi berkenaan dengan anak durhaka, yang akan muncul dan mengubah Hukum Allah!

Paus berkata tentang dirinya sendiri, “Paus memiliki martabat begitu besar dan mulia sehingga ia bukan manusia biasa, melainkan seolah-olah adalah Allah, dan vikaris Allah.” Setelah mencampur-adukkan beberapa kata, ia telah duduk di atas takhta Allah. Setelah itu, Paus ini mengangkat dirinya, mengatakan ia adalah “raja di surga, bumi, dan di bawah bumi, satu-satunya raja dari segala raja di surga dan bumi.” Dia juga mengklaim bahwa dirinya adalah “raja ilahi di atas bumi ini, satu-satunya kaisar agung dari orang percaya yang setia kepada Kristus.” Bahkan Yesus yang datang dari surga tidak berkuasa atas kita sebagai seorang kaisar, jadi siapa yang bisa berani memerintah atas kita sebagai kaisar kita? Lagi pula, bagaimana Paus dapat mengampuni dosa kita atau menjadi satu-satunya kaisar agung atas surga dan bumi? Dan ia bahkan dapat mengarahkan jalan di surga (dunia-dunia semesta)? Bukankah anjing-anjing tetangga tertawa? Juga hal yang mencengangkan adalah bahwa ia mengatakan memiliki otoritas untuk mengubah dan mengganti Hukum bangsa-bangsa semesta (Sepuluh Hukum) yang Allah tegakkan, jadi siapa lagi kalau bukan dia yang telah merebut takhta Allah? Itulah sebabnya Allah yang tahu ribuan tahun yang lalu bahwa orang durhaka ini, anak terkutuk ini akan muncul, bernubuat tentang dia sebelumnya, bahwa ketika saatnya tiba, anak durhaka itu akan duduk di Bait Allah dan berkata, “Aku adalah Allah. Sembahlah aku dan akuilah dosa-dosamu kepadaku.” Dia akan muncul untuk melanggar otoritas surgawi Allah.

[Janganlah kamu memberi dirimu disesatkan orang dengan cara yang bagaimanapun juga! Sebab sebelum Hari itu haruslah datang dahulu murtad dan haruslah dinyatakan dahulu manusia durhaka, yang harus binasa, yaitu lawan (Allah) yang meninggikan diri di atas segala yang disebut atau yang disembah sebagai Allah. Bahkan ia duduk di Bait Allah dan mau menyatakan diri sebagai Allah] (2 Tes 2:3-4). Walaupun demikian, [seluruh dunia heran, lalu mengikut ... dan mereka menyembah (dia) ] (Why 13:3-4).

Hari Sabat Kehidupan, Hari Sabat Kematian

< Sepuluh Hukum yang Allah ukir secara pribadi>

1. Jangan ada padamu allah lain di hadapan-Ku.

2. Jangan membuat bagimu patung yang menyerupai apapun yang ada di langit di atas, atau yang ada di bumi di bawah, atau yang ada di dalam air di bawah bumi. Jangan sujud menyembah kepadanya atau beribadah kepadanya, sebab Aku, TUHAN, Allahmu, adalah Allah yang cemburu, yang membalaskan kesalahan bapa kepada anak-anaknya, kepada keturunan yang ketiga dan keempat dari orang-orang yang membenci Aku, tetapi Aku menunjukkan kasih setia kepada beribu-ribu orang, yaitu mereka yang mengasihi Aku dan yang berpegang pada perintah-perintah-Ku.

3. Jangan menyebut nama TUHAN, Allahmu, dengan sembarangan, sebab TUHAN akan memandang bersalah orang yang menyebut nama-Nya dengan sembarangan.

4. Ingatlah dan kuduskanlah hari Sabat: enam hari lamanya engkau akan bekerja dan melakukan segala pekerjaanmu, tetapi hari ketujuh adalah hari Sabat TUHAN, Allahmu; maka jangan melakukan sesuatu pekerjaan, engkau atau anakmu laki-laki, atau anakmu perempuan, atau hambamu laki-laki, atau hambamu perempuan, atau hewanmu atau orang asing yang di tempat kediamanmu. Sebab enam hari lamanya TUHAN menjadikan langit dan bumi, laut dan segala isinya, dan Ia berhenti pada hari ketujuh; itulah sebabnya TUHAN memberkati hari Sabat dan menguduskannya.

5. Hormatilah ayahmu dan ibumu, supaya lanjut umurmu di tanah yang diberikan TUHAN, Allahmu, kepadamu.

6. Jangan membunuh.

7. Jangan berzinah.

8. Jangan mencuri.

9. Jangan mengucapkan saksi dusta tentang sesamamu.

10. Jangan mengingini rumah sesamamu; jangan mengingini isterinya, atau hambanya laki-laki, atau hambanya perempuan, atau lembunya atau keledainya, atau apapun yang dipunyai sesamamu.

1. Allah adalah Tuhan semesta alam, sembahlah dia di atas segala sesuatu.

2. Jangan bersumpah palsu dalam nama kudus Tuhan semesta alam.

3. Kuduskanlah Hari Tuhan.

4. Hormatilah ayahmu dan ibumu.

5. Jangan membunuh.

6. Jangan berzinah.

7. Jangan mencuri.

8. Jangan bersaksi dusta.

9. Jangan mengingini isteri orang lain.

10. Jangan mengingini harta orang lain.

Gereja Katolik Roma mengusir Allah yang bersemayam di dalam hukum kedua, “Jangan bersujud kepada patung berhala.” Sebagai gantinya, mereka mendirikan patung Maria dan mulai menyembahnya. Selanjutnya, mereka menyingkirkan Hukum keempat tentang hari Sabat dan menegakkan hari Minggu sebagai gantinya. Mengapa mereka bersikeras menyingkirkan hukum keempat, hari Sabat? Di dalam hukum keempat ini bersemayam Allah Pencipta yang mengatakan, “Akulah Yehovah yang menciptakan langit dan bumi, laut dan semua makhluk hidup.” Setan tahu bawa jika ia dapat menyingkirkan hukum keempat, seluruh dunia akan menjadi miliknya, itulah sebabnya ia berani menyingkirkan perintah keempat. Betapa berani dan keji tindakan pemberontakan itu! Akan tetapi yang lebih tak terduga adalah bahwa semua anak-anak Allah di seluruh dunia begitu membabi-buta dan sembrono bersepakat mengikuti dan menyembah dia, yaitu musuh yang menentang Allah mereka. Bangsa-bangsa telah mendukung dia dan malahan secara hukum mengesahkan hari Minggu sebagai hari libur. Sesungguhnya betapa menyedihkan dan malangnya hal ini! Tak diragukan lagi adalah musuh yang menentang Allah, tetapi semua anak-anak Allah di seluruh dunia memanggilnya gembala mereka dan terus mengikuti dia ke lembah kematian, untuk lenyap selamanya. Alangkah menakutkan kenyataan ini! Betapa besar penderitaan, ratapan dan kesedihan Bapa surgawi kita, Yesus dan para malaikat melihat hal ini!

Firman Yesus yang adalah Tuhan atas hari Sabat

Yesus bersabda, [Mengapa kamupun melanggar perintah Allah demi adat istiadat nenek moyangmu] (Mat 15:3)? [Mengapa kamu berseru kepada-Ku: Tuhan, Tuhan, padahal kamu tidak melakukan apa yang Aku katakan] (Luk 6:46)? [Percuma mereka beribadah kepada-Ku, sedangkan ajaran yang mereka ajarkan ialah perintah manusia] (Mat 15:9). [Apakah kamu tidak tahu, bahwa apabila kamu menyerahkan dirimu kepada seseorang sebagai hamba untuk mentaatinya, kamu adalah hamba orang itu, yang harus kamu taati, baik dalam dosa (Setan) yang memimpin kamu kepada kematian, maupun dalam ketaatan (Yesus) yang memimpin kamu kepada kebenaran] (Rom 6:16)?

[Janganlah kamu menyangka, bahwa Aku datang untuk meniadakan hukum Taurat atau kitab para nabi. Aku datang bukan untuk meniadakannya, melainkan untuk menggenapinya. Karena Aku berkata kepadamu: Sesungguhnya selama belum lenyap langit dan bumi ini, satu iota atau satu titikpun tidak akan ditiadakan dari hukum Taurat, sebelum semuanya terjadi] (Mat 5:17-18).

[Bukan setiap orang yang berseru kepada-Ku: Tuhan, Tuhan! akan masuk ke dalam Kerajaan Sorga, melainkan dia yang melakukan kehendak Bapa-Ku yang di sorga. Pada hari terakhir banyak orang akan berseru kepada-Ku: Tuhan, Tuhan, bukankah kami bernubuat demi nama-Mu, dan mengusir setan demi nama-Mu, dan mengadakan banyak mujizat demi nama-Mu juga? Pada waktu itulah Aku akan berterus terang kepada mereka dan berkata: Aku tidak pernah mengenal kamu! Enyahlah dari pada-Ku, kamu sekalian pembuat kejahatan] (Mat 7:21-23)!

[Barangsiapa memegang perintah-Ku dan melakukannya, dialah yang mengasihi Aku. Dan barangsiapa mengasihi Aku, ia akan dikasihi oleh Bapa-Ku dan Akupun akan mengasihi dia dan akan menyatakan diri-Ku kepadanya] (Yoh 14:21). [Jikalau kamu mengasihi Aku, kamu akan menuruti segala perintah-Ku] (Yoh 14:15). [Tidak tahukah kamu, bahwa dalam gelanggang pertandingan semua peserta turut berlari, tetapi bahwa hanya satu orang saja yang mendapat hadiah? Karena itu larilah begitu rupa, sehingga kamu memperolehnya (1 Kor 9:24)! [Seorang olahragawan hanya dapat memperoleh mahkota sebagai juara, apabila ia bertanding menurut peraturan-peraturan olahraga] (2 Tim 2:5). [Tetapi jikalau engkau ingin masuk ke dalam hidup, turutilah segala perintah (Sepuluh Perintah) Allah] (Mat 19:17). [Carilah pengajaran (Sepuluh Hukum) dan kesaksian!” Siapa yang tidak berbicara sesuai dengan perkataan itu, maka baginya tidak terbit fajar] (Yes 8:20).

[Sebab barangsiapa menuruti seluruh hukum (Sepuluh Hukum) itu, tetapi mengabaikan satu bagian dari padanya, ia bersalah terhadap seluruhnya. Sebab Ia yang mengatakan: “Jangan berzinah”, Ia mengatakan juga: “Jangan membunuh”. Dia yang mengatakan [jangan membunuh] juga mengatakan [Ingatlah dan kuduskanlah hari Sabat]. Dialah Oknum yang sama yang juga mengatakan, [Jangan ada padamu allah lain di hadapan-Ku]. [Jadi jika kamu tidak berzinah tetapi (melanggar bahkan salah satu dari perintah-perintah lainnya dan) membunuh, maka kamu menjadi pelanggar hukum juga] (2 Yak:10-11; Kel 20:8, 3, 5). [Berkatalah dan berlakulah seperti orang-orang yang akan dihakimi oleh hukum (Sepuluh Hukum) yang memerdekakan orang] (Yak 2:12). [Setiap orang yang berbuat dosa, melanggar juga hukum Allah, sebab dosa ialah pelanggaran hukum Allah] (1 Yoh 3:4).

[Yang penting di sini ialah ketekunan orang-orang kudus, yang menuruti perintah (Sepuluh Hukum) Allah dan iman kepada Yesus] (Why 14:12). [Maka marahlah naga (Setan) itu kepada perempuan itu, lalu pergi memerangi keturunannya yang lain, yang menuruti hukum-hukum (Sepuluh Hukum) Allah dan memiliki kesaksian Yesus] (Why 12:17). [Hendaklah engkau setia sampai mati, dan Aku akan mengaruniakan kepadamu mahkota kehidupan] (Why 2:10). [Karena engkau menuruti firman-Ku, untuk tekun menantikan Aku, maka Akupun akan melindungi engkau dari hari pencobaan yang akan datang atas seluruh dunia untuk mencobai mereka yang diam di bumi] (Why 3:10). [Dan barangsiapa menang dan melakukan pekerjaan-Ku sampai kesudahannya, kepadanya akan Kukaruniakan kuasa atas bangsa-bangsa] (Why 2:26). [Barangsiapa menang, dia akan Kuberi makan dari pohon kehidupan yang ada di Taman Firdaus Allah] (Why 2:7).

[Aku, Yesus, telah mengutus malaikat-Ku untuk memberi kesaksian tentang semuanya ini kepadamu bagi jemaat-jemaat (terakhir di dunia)] (Why 22:16). [Ya, Aku datang segera] (Why 22:20)! [Aku bersaksi kepada setiap orang yang mendengar perkataan-perkataan nubuat dari kitab ini: “Jika seorang menambahkan sesuatu kepada perkataan-perkataan ini, maka Allah akan menambahkan kepadanya malapetaka-malapetaka yang tertulis di dalam kitab ini. Dan jikalau seorang mengurangkan sesuatu dari perkataan-perkataan dari kitab nubuat ini, maka Allah akan mengambil bagiannya dari pohon kehidupan dan dari kota kudus, seperti yang tertulis di dalam kitab ini] (Why 22:18-19).

Kepada Bapa Kandung kita dan Yesus yang menuntun kita di jalan Kebenaran Allah – hari Sabat kudus ini – yang adalah kehidupan alam semesta dan kehidupan kita juga di hari-hari krisis akhir bumi ini, sehingga kita dapat dengan berani naik ke surga, saya haturkan syukur, sembah, dan pujian kekal hingga selama-lamanya. Amin, haleluya!

DOALNARA (MAJELIS UMUM NEGARA BATU DEKALOG)

doalnara.com / semua pertanyaan dalam bahasa Inggris dialamatkan ke: doalnara101@gmail.com; dalam bahasa Indonesia: doalnarask68@gmail.com

ALLAH ADALAH BAPA KANDUNGKU

2013-01-23T13:27:00.001-08:00

Oleh Teacher Suk Sun

[Aku mau menceritakan tentang ketetapan TUHAN; Ia berkata kepada-Ku: “Anak-Ku Engkau! Engkau telah Kuperanakkan pada hari ini”] (Mzm 2:7).

Anak yang Anda lahirkan sendiri adalah anak kandung Anda. Hanya karena Anda mengambil anak orang lain dan membuat dokumen-dokumen untuk menjadikan dia anak Anda tidak berarti bahwa dia adalah anak kandung Anda. Meskipun Anda menyiapkan dokumen yang cukup untuk membuatnya menjadi beberapa buku, anak itu hanya akan menjadi anak Anda berdasarkan dokumen; Anda tidak bisa menggunakan kata “kandung.” Oleh karena itu, ada bapa berdasarkan dokumen dan ada bapa kandung. Seorang anak hanya dapat memanggil seseorang yang secara pribadi melahirkan dia sebagai “bapa kandung”nya. Jadi ketika kita mengatakan bahwa Allah adalah [Bapa (kandung)] kita [sendiri] (Yoh 5:18), kita mengatakan bahwa Allah sungguh-sungguh telah memperanakkan kita melalui tubuh-Nya. Mari kita melihat secara mendetail fakta bahwa Allah telah secara pribadi memperanakkan kita melalui tubuh-Nya.

Silsilah Manusia

Mari kita menelusuri silsilah kita untuk melihat anak-anak siapakah kita ini.

[Ketika Yesus memulai pekerjaan-Nya, Ia berumur kira-kira tiga puluh tahun dan menurut anggapan orang, Ia adalah anak Yusuf, anak Eli, anak Matat, anak Lewi … anak Nuh, anak Lamekh, anak Metusalah, anak Henokh, anak Yared, anak Mahalaleel, anak Kenan, anak Enos, anak Set, anak Adam, anak Allah] (Luk 3:23-38).

Dengan kata lain, “Bapa Yesus adalah Yusuf, yang bapanya adalah Eli, yang bapanya adalah Matat, yang bapanya adalah Lewi … yang bapanya adalah Nuh, yang bapanya adalah Lamekh, yang bapanya adalah Metusalah, yang bapanya adalah Henokh, yang bapanya adalah Yared, yang bapanya adalah Mahalaleel, yang bapanya adalah Kenan, yang bapanya adalah Enos, yang bapanya adalah Set, yang bapanya adalah Adam, yang bapanya adalah Allah.” Dengan demikian, Allah adalah Bapa kandung kita.

Diungkapkan dengan cara lain, “Yesus dilahirkan oleh Yusuf (Maria), yang dilahirkan oleh Eli, yang dilahirkan oleh Matat, yang dilahirkan oleh Lewi … yang dilahirkan oleh Nuh, yang dilahirkan oleh Lamekh, yang dilahirkan oleh Metusalah, yang dilahirkan oleh Henokh, yang dilahirkan oleh Yared, yang dilahirkan oleh Mahalaleel, yang dilahirkan oleh Kenan, yang dilahirkan oleh Enos, yang dilahirkan oleh Set, yang dilahirkan oleh Adam, yang dilahirkan oleh Allah.” Oleh karena itu, Allah, Bapa surgawi kita adalah Bapa kandung kita yang telah melahirkan kita.

Kalau kita menelusuri asal-usul kita, dapat dilihat dengan jelas bahwa Allah adalah Bapa kandung kita yang telah memperanakkan kita. Kalau Allah bukan Bapa kandung kita dan Dia tidak memperanakkan kita, dari manakah kita berasal? Kita telah bertambah banyak karena seseorang jelas telah memperanakkan kita. Oleh Karena itu, Allah surgawi adalah Bapa kandung kita yang secara pribadi telah memperanakkan umat manusia.

Jika demikian halnya, seseorang mungkin balik bertanya, “Di dalam Kejadian pasal 1, ayat 26, Allah bersabda. [Baiklah kita menjadikan manusia menurut gambar dan rupa Kita]. Bagaimana Anda bisa mengatakan bahwa Allah secara pribadi memperanakkan kita?” Akan tetapi, jawaban saya tetap sama – Allah surgawi adalah Bapa kandung kita, yang telah secara pribadi memperanakkan kita melalui tubuh-Nya.

Jikalau kita ini hasil karya tangan yang tidak berharga yang Allah bentuk dari debu tanah pada mulanya, seperti pandangan dunia, mungkinkah ketiga Allah telah bangkit dan pergi demikian jauh mengorbankan hidup Mereka untuk mencari hasil karya tangan yang tidak berharga seperti itu?

Akankah ada seorang raja manusia di dunia ini yang mau meninggalkan takhtanya dan mempertaruhkan hidupnya untuk mencari karya tangan yang dibuatnya dari tanah liat atau dari kayu? Alasan ketiga Allah mengorbankan diri demikian hebat dan mati untuk menyelamatkan kita ialah karena kita adalah anak-anak kandung yang Allah sendiri lahirkan. Oleh karena itu, jika kita tidak mengerti hubungan yang Bapa Kandung kita jalin dengan anak-anak kandung-Nya, mustahil untuk bisa menafsirkan Alkitab secara tepat. Kita menjadi orang-orang yang tidak tahu apa-apa, yang tidak mengetahui silsilah kita sendiri atau nenek moyang kita, dan akhirnya, ditipu untuk percaya kepada teori evolusi yang konyol, dan dengan begitu menjadi monyet-monyet, persis sama seperti mereka yang mengklaim bahwa monyet adalah leluhur kita. Sungguh menyedihkan dan patut disesalkan bahwa anak-anak kandung Allah yang mulia dan kudus, pangeran-pangeran dan putri-putri surgawi dengan menyedihkan mengatakan bahwa mereka adalah keturunan monyet tanpa menyadari betapa memalukan hal itu.

Berbagai Cara Melahirkan Anak

Perkenankan saya untuk membuktikan bahwa Allah tidak menjadikan kita dengan tangan-Nya tetapi Bapa kandung kita yang telah sungguh-sungguh melahirkan kita melalui tubuh-Nya.

Di alam semesta kita ini ada galaksi-galaksi yang jumlahnya tak terhitung. Panjang garis bujur dari sistem galaksi (Bimasakti) yang kita diami ini, kurang lebih 15.000 tahun cahaya (cahaya mengelilingi bumi tujuh setengah kali dalam satu detik) dan panjang garis lintangnya kurang lebih 100.000 tahun cahaya. Jadi kalau manusia mau menjelajahinya, selama ribuan generasi pun tidak akan dapat menempuh jarak itu. Kaum ilmuwan telah menghitung miliaran bintang di dalam galaksi kita dan miliaran galaksi seperti galaksi kita di alam semesta. Bahkan sampai demikian jauh, barulah merupakan perkiraan kasar dari kaum ilmuwan. Mungkin saja ada lebih banyak daripada itu. Alam semesta ini sungguh-sungguh sangat lebar dan luas. Dibandingkan dengan alam semesta itu, bumi ini tidak lebih daripada sebutir pasir, dan yang menggeliat keliling di dalamnya seperti jamur, itulah manusia.

Dibandingkan dengan alam semesta, bumi kecil ini tidak lebih dari sebutir pasir. Akan tetapi, ada begitu banyak spesies binatang berbeda yang hidup di dalamnya. Mari kita sejenak melihat bagaimana mereka melahirkan anak-anak (keturunan) mereka dan membesarkannya.

Binatang-binatang seperti sapi atau rusa melahirkan anak yang persis sama dengan mereka baik bentuk maupun rupanya. Binatang-binatang bersayap seperti burung merpati dan burung pipit, juga melahirkan anak (keturunan) yang persis seperti mereka dalam rupa dan bentuk. Akan tetapi, perlu disadari bahwa masing-masing mereka melahirkan anaknya melalui cara yang berbeda. Binatang berkuku seperti sapi atau rusa melahirkan anaknya dari tubuhnya. Dari kandungan, induk melahirkan anaknya melalui alat reproduksi sang betina lalu memberinya makan cairan berwarna putih dari kantong di perut induknya. Kita menyebut cairan putih ini air susu ibu/induk.

Akan tetapi, binatang bersayap seperti burung merpati, burung pipit atau ayam melahirkan dan membesarkan anaknya melalui cara yang sama sekali berbeda. Seperti Anda ketahui, mereka melahirkan anaknya dari tubuh mereka, tetapi bukan lewat kandungan atau organ reproduksi. Telur-telur bundar menyerupai batu yang tidak punya mata, telinga dan bahkan mulut, dibentuk di dalam indung telur dan dikeluarkan melalui anus. Sang induk lalu mengerami telur-telur itu selama berhari-hari. Akhirnya, setelah genap jumlah hari yang ditetapkan, keluarlah anak-anak dengan rupa dan bentuk yang persis sama dengan induk betina dan jantannya. Begitu menetas, mereka tidak minum susu dari induk mereka. Sebaliknya, mereka langsung makan serangga dan biji-bijian keras seperti yang dimakan induk betina dan jantannya.

Bahkan dalam dunia fauna di bumi yang kecil ini, meskipun mereka hidup bersama di bumi ini, kita bisa melihat perbedaan yang demikian besar, yang tak dapat dimengerti dan tak dapat dibayangkan bagaimana binatang berkaki empat dan binatang bersayap melahirkan dan membesarkan anak mereka. Akan tetapi, hasilnya sama. Pada akhirnya, masing-masingnya memiliki anak-anak elok yang persis serupa dengan mereka dalam segala hal, baik bentuk, sifat maupun ciri-cirinya. Perbedaannya adalah bagaimana mereka melahirkan dan membesarkan anak-anaknya.

Demikian juga, cara manusia, makhluk ciptaan yang memiliki tubuh jasmaniah melahirkan anak sama sekali berbeda dengan cara Bapa surgawi kita, Pencipta yang adalah [Roh] (Yoh 4:24) dan tidak memiliki tubuh jasmaniah, melahirkan anak. Manusia, makhluk ciptaan dengan tubuh jasmaniah, melahirkan anaknya dalam cara yang hampir sama dengan binatang-binatang yang juga memiliki tubuh jasmaniah. Mereka melahirkan anak melalui rahim di dalam tubuh mereka. Akan tetapi, karena Allah, sang Khalik, adalah roh dan tidak memiliki tubuh fisik, Ia melahirkan anak-anak-Nya dengan cara-Nya sendiri yaitu melalui rahim rohaniah sang Pencipta. Sang Pencipta memiliki anak dengan melahirkan mereka melalui rahim-Nya. Ini pertama kali tampaknya sulit dimengerti. Sama seperti burung-burung tidak dapat mengerti bagaimana binatang berkaki empat, seperti sapi atau rusa melahirkan dan membesarkan anak mereka, mungkin sulit bagi manusia – makhluk dengan tubuh fisik – untuk mengerti bagaimana Bapa surgawi kita, Khalik yang adalah [roh], memiliki anak.

Akan tetapi, kalau kita merenungkannya, maka siapa pun dapat dengan mudah memahaminya. Ketika manusia melahirkan anak, bayi dilahirkan setelah sembilan bulan di dalam kandungan ibunya, dan kemudian diberi makan cairan (air susu) dari kantung di dada ibunya, sama seperti binatang-binatang berkaki empat di bumi ini.

Pada mulanya, Bapa surgawi kita melahirkan Adam melalui rahim spiritual sang Pencipta. Kemudian, persis seperti burung-burung tidak menyusui anaknya, tetapi memberinya makan makanan keras, Bapa kita, Allah yang adalah roh dan bisa terbang, juga secara pribadi memberi makan anak-Nya yang baru lahir, Adam, makanan keras dan bukannya air susu ibu. Ia memberinya makan buah dari Pohon Kehidupan dan segala macam buah lain dan sayuran dari tumbuhan berbiji. Meskipun cara burung melahirkan anak sama sekali berbeda dengan cara binatang berkaki empat melahirkan anak, pada akhirnya, masing-masingnya memiliki anak yang persis menyerupai mereka. Demikian juga, meskipun cara manusia yang bertubuh jasmaniah memiliki anak sama sekali berbeda dengan cara Bapa surgawi kita, sang Khalik yang adalah [roh] melahirkan anak, pada akhirnya keduanya memiliki anak yang persis menyerupai mereka. [Berfirmanlah Allah: “Baiklah kita] melahirkan [manusia dalam gambar dan rupa Kita”], melalui rahim sang Pencipta. Setelah itu, Ia berkata, [Anak-Ku engkau! Engkau telah Kuperanakkan pada hari ini] (Kej 1:26; Mzm 2:7).

Burung-burung mengejek binatang-binatang berkaki empat karena mereka tak dapat mengerti cara binatang berkaki empat melahirkan anak dan sebaliknya binatang berkaki empat juga mengolok-olok burung-burung karena mereka juga tidak mengerti cara burung-burung melahirkan anak dengan mengeluarkan telur menyerupai batu tanpa mata, hidung, atau mulut. Demikian juga, manusia hanya berpikir mengenai dirinya dengan tubuh jasmaniah dan menolak untuk mengakui atau bahkan tidak mau mencoba mengerti bagaimana Bapa surgawi, sang Pencipta yang tidak memiliki tubuh jasmaniah melahirkan anak-anak-Nya. Ada orang yang bahkan menertawakan Dia. Oleh karena itu, Ia dengan sedih berkata, [Engkau menyangka, bahwa Aku ini sederajat dengan engkau] (Mzm 50:21).

Akan tetapi, Yesus dengan jelas mengatakan kepada kita, [Janganlah kamu menyebut siapapun bapa di bumi ini, karena hanya satu Bapamu, (yang telah secara pribadi memperanakkan kamu), yaitu Dia yang di sorga] (Mat 23:9). Bahkan Maleakhi, yang mengetahui kenyataan ini, balik bertanya, [Bukankah kita sekalian mempunyai satu Bapa] (Mal 2:10)? Yesus kembali mengatakan kepada kita, [Karena itu berdoalah demikian: Bapa kami yang di sorga…] (Mat 6:9), dan mulai sekarang panggil Dia [Bapa (kandungmu) sendiri] (Yoh 5:18). Selagi Yesus berada di atas bumi ini, Ia memanggil Allah sebagai [Bapa (kandung)-Nya sendiri]. [Sebab itu orang-orang Yahudi lebih berusaha lagi untuk membunuh-Nya] (Yoh 5:18). Mereka membenci Yesus dan cemburu terhadap Dia dan pada akhirnya membunuh anak kandung Allah oleh karena itu.

Demikianlah dinubuatkan bahwa di akhir zaman ini, mereka yang tidak menerima Allah sebagai Bapa kandung mereka akan menjadi cemburu terhadap anak-anak kandung Allah, membenci dan menganiaya mereka yang telah menerima Dia sebagai Bapa kandung mereka. [Tetapi ketika penggarap-penggarap itu melihat anaknya itu, mereka berkata seorang kepada yang lain: Ia adalah ahli waris, mari kita bunuh dia, supaya warisannya menjadi milik kita] (Mat 21:38). Adalah Setan, ilah dari dunia ini, dan bukan orang-orang Yahudi yang mengatakan ini. Dia telah diusir keluar dari surga dan alam semesta, dan dia berusaha merebut dan menjadikan bumi kecil ini sebagai kubu (kerajaan)nya untuk selama-lamanya. Lalu muncullah para ahli waris dari bumi ini, yakni anak-anak kandung Allah, dan karena itu Setan berkata, “Mari kita bunuh mereka supaya warisan (mereka dari bumi ini) menjadi milik kita.’’

Namun demikian, bahkan hari ini, dengan mengatakan, [Pergilah kepada saudara-saudara-Ku dan katakanlah kepada mereka, bahwa sekarang Aku akan pergi kepada Bapa-Ku dan Bapamu, kepada Allah-Ku dan Allahmu] (Yoh 20:17), Yesus, anak kandung Allah, menegaskannya sekali lagi bahwa kita adalah putra-putri kandung Allah seperti Dia dan ahli waris kekal dari bumi ini sebagai saudara-saudara nan egaliter.

Bapa Kandung Kita Yang Melahirkan Kita Melalui Tubuh-Nya.

Perkenankan saya untuk menampilkan satu lagi kenyataan yang jelas sebagai bukti. Ketika Allah menciptakan langit dan bumi pada mulanya, apakah Ia menciptakan matahari, bumi, bulan dan bintang-bintang dengan meremas-remas lumpur dengan tangan-Nya menjadi gumpalan-gumpalan besar seperti anak-anak menggumpal salju untuk membuat orang-orangan di musim dingin? Tentu saja tidak. Allah menjadikan matahari, bumi dan bulan, hanya melalui perintah dan sama sekali tidak menyentuhnya sekalipun hanya dengan ujung jari tangan-Nya. Juga ketika Ia menciptakan berbagai spesies binatang, burung-burung dan binatang berlari, dan makhluk-makhluk di dalam laut yang tak terhitung jumlahnya, apakah Ia membuatnya dengan meremas lumpur dan membentuk masing-masing mereka dengan tangan-Nya? Tentu saja tidak. Ia hanya menciptakan mereka dengan perintah dan sama sekali tidak menyentuh mereka dengan ujung jari tangan-Nya sekalipun. Oleh karena itu, hendaklah kita ingat fakta-fakta berikut ini dan jangan pernah kita lupakan: ketika Allah menciptakan benda-benda angkasa dan binatang-binatang yang tak terhitung jumlahnya, Ia tidak pernah menyentuh mereka dengan tubuh ilahi-Nya atau bahkan ujung jari tangan-Nya sekalipun. Ia hanya menjadikan mereka melalui perintah. Tetapi akan halnya manusia, meskipun jauh lebih kecil daripada sebuah bintang, bulan, gajah atau bahkan sapi, Allah menyentuhnya dengan jari tangan-Nya dan tubuh ilahi-Nya ketika Ia menjadikannya.

Yehovah Allah menjadikan segala sesuatu yang lain dengan firman-Nya bahkan sama sekali tanpa mendekatkan tubuh ilahi-Nya kepada mereka. Akan tetapi ketika Ia melahirkan manusia, dengan berhati-hati, dengan segenap rasa kasih dan dengan penuh perhatian Ia mengambil debu tanah yang terbaik dan membentuknya dengan indah dengan tangan-Nya sendiri menurut rupa-Nya. Dewasa ini, manusia yang sudah demikian merosot yang bahkan tidak mampu hidup seratus tahun bisa melukis atau mengukir sesuatu yang tampak seperti binatang yang hidup. Oleh karena Allah yang mahakuasa menjadikan manusia dari debu tanah untuk secara sempurna menyerupai Dia, betapa rupawan dan sempurnanya Ia telah menjadikan Adam!

Sama seperti kita tidak dapat melahirkan anak-anak rohaniah oleh karena kita memiliki tubuh jasmaniah, Allah adalah roh; Ia tidak memiliki tubuh jasmaniah sehingga Ia tidak dapat melahirkan anak-anak jasmaniah. Oleh karena itu, [Yehovah menyediakan] (Kej 22:14) – [Allah … menyediakan bagi-Nya] (Kej 22:8) sebuah tubuh untuk anak-Nya. Bahkan setelah itu, Ia meletakkan tangan-Nya pada Adam dan sambil mendekapnya, mengelus seluruh tubuh Adam, dari kepala, ke badan, kemudian turun sampai ke jari-jari kaki. Allah benar-benar bahagia setelah itu. Adam begitu rupawan dan menarik sehingga Ia merangkulnya sekali lagi. Lalu setelah menekankan bibir-Nya ke bibir Adam, Ia [menghembuskan nafas hidup (kekal yang ada di dalam diri-Nya) ke dalam hidungnya] (Kej 2:7). Putra-Nya (Adam) membuka matanya, tersenyum dan setelah mengatakan “Papa”, ia berdiri. Lalu Allah berkata, “[Anak-Ku Engkau! Engkau telah Kuperanakkan pada hari ini]” (Mzm 2:7) dan merangkulnya dengan erat.

Ini adalah peristiwa bersejarah yang dashyat bagi alam semesta – peristiwa yang besar dan mulia di mana Allah secara pribadi melahirkan anak-Nya melalui tubuh-Nya. Oh, betapa indahnya jika kita sekalian mengetahui betapa sungguh-sungguh mulia tubuh kita ini! Begitu kita lahir ke bumi ini, dada pertama yang kita dekap adalah dada Bapa surgawi kita, wajah pertama yang dilihat mata kita adalah wajah Bapa surgawi kita, bibir pertama yang kita kecup adalah bibir Bapa Kandung surgawi kita, dan pipi pertama yang bergesekan dengan pipi kita adalah pipi Bapa surgawi kita. Oleh karena itu Ia berkata, “[Orang-orang kudus yang ada di tanah ini, merekalah orang mulia (para pangeran dan putri surgawi) yang selalu menjadi kesukaan-Ku (Raja agung alam semesta)] (Mzm 16:3). Oleh karena itu, sikap dan tingkah-laku kita haruslah mulia dan kudus. Jangan pernah kita membiarkan tubuh kita atau hati kita menjadi alat najis bagi dosa.

[Tuhan Allah membentuk manusia dari debu tanah dan menghembuskan nafas hidup ke dalam hidungnya; demikianlah manusia itu menjadi makhluk yang hidup] (Kej 2:7).

[Makhluk hidup] ini, roh, adalah entitas Allah dan hidup-Nya, yang hanya Dialah yang memilikinya dan hanya Dialah yang dapat memberikannya. [Tuhan Allah] membentuk dan menjadikan [manusia dari debu tanah], menggendong putra-Nya yang terkasih Adam yang persis menyerupai Dia di dalam rangkulan-Nya, mendekapnya dan menekankan bibir-Nya ke bibir Adam, [menghembuskan nafas hidup ke dalam hidungnya, demikianlah manusia itu menjadi makhluk yang hidup]. Dengan kata lain, Kejadian pasal 2 ayat 7 itu berarti, “Allah dengan tubuh jasmaniah telah lahir.”

Semua binatang yang beribu-ribu jenis itu diciptakan dengan sebuah perintah dari bibir Allah Khalik. Akan tetapi, dalam hal manusia adalah berbeda sama sekali – tubuhnya bersentuhan langsung dengan tubuh ilahi Allah. Dengan kata lain, ia berasal dari tubuh Allah. Hidup yang dimiliki manusia juga berbeda dengan hidup yang dimiliki binatang; manusia memiliki hidup yang abadi yang berasal dari tubuh Allah. Oleh karena itu adalah kesalahan besar berpikir bahwa tubuh manusia dan binatang adalah sama hanya karena keduanya memiliki struktur jasmani yang terdiri dari darah, daging dan tulang-tulang. Tubuh binatang adalah daging; mereka tidak berasal dari tubuh ilahi Allah. Hanya manusia bersentuhan dengan tubuh Allah. Jadi manusia memiliki tubuh ilahi yang mulia yang berasal dari tubuh Allah sendiri.

Hidup yang manusia miliki juga berbeda dengan hidup sapi, babi dan anjing karena binatang-binatang diciptakan hanya melalui perintah dari mulut Allah. Hidup yang dimiliki manusia adalah hidup Allah yang mulia dan kekal, yang berasal dari tubuh-Nya. Karena baik daging maupun hidup kita berasal dari tubuh-Nya sebagai keturunan-Nya, kita adalah anak-anak kandung-Nya. Jika bukan Allah yang telah memperanakkan kita dengan tubuh-Nya maka kita tidak mungkin menjadi anak-anak kandung-Nya, juga kita tidak akan berani memanggil Dia, [Bapa kami yang di sorga] (Mat 6:29). Lebih-lebih lagi, Dia tidak akan pernah mengatakan, [Anak-Ku engkau! Engkau telah Kuperanakkan pada hari ini] (Mzm 2:7).

Baiklah saya membuktikan ini dengan fakta-fakta yang lebih solid lagi. Sebelum induk sapi melahirkan anaknya, anaknya hanya menyentuh sebagian kecil dari rahim induknya yang hanya beberapa puluh sentimeter panjangnya. Anak sapi hanya menyentuh sebagian kecil dari tubuh induknya, dinding kandungannya. Kelahiran tidak menyebabkan usus atau ginjal induknya menjadi terpisah dan terambil dari tubuhnya. Struktur jasmaninya tetap seperti sedia kala; anak sapi hanya menyentuh sebagian kecil dari tubuh induknya, kandungannya, sebelum lahir.

Bahkan anak (telur) burung hanya menyentuh dinding dari indung telur induknya sebelum ditelurkan. Dengan bertelur tidak berarti bahwa sebagian dari struktur jasmani induk burung terluka. Struktur jasmaninya tetap mempertahankan bentuk asalnya. Anak-anaknya hanya menyentuh sebagian dari tubuh induknya sebelum induk menelurkan mereka.

Hal serupa terjadi juga dengan manusia. Seorang anak dilahirkan setelah menyentuh dinding uterus ibunya, yang hanya beberapa puluh sentimeter panjangnya, selama sembilan bulan. Yang harus kita ingat di sini adalah bahwa apakah itu anak sapi, anak burung atau bayi manusia, jikalau mereka sudah “menyentuh sebagian dari tubuh ibu/induknya” – apakah itu rahim, perut, atau indung telur sebelum dilahirkan, mereka adalah keturunan, anak kandung.

Dalam hal ini, kita adalah anak-anak kandung Allah, keturunan-Nya sebab pada mulanya (Kej 2:7) sebagian dari tubuh Allah menyentuh manusia sebelum dilahirkan. Sementara anak sapi, anak burung atau bayi manusia menyentuh hanya satu bagian dari tubuh ibu/induk mereka sebelum lahir, kita bersentuhan dengan bagian-bagian yang tak terbandingkan banyaknya dari tubuh ilahi Allah. Oleh karena itu, kita adalah keturunan-keturunan Allah yang paling autentik. Manusia adalah keturunan sempurna yang berasal dari tubuh Allah. Kita adalah anak-anak kandung-Nya dan Dia adalah Bapa kandung kita yang telah secara pribadi memperanakkan kita melalui tubuh-Nya. [Janganlah kamu menyebut siapapun bapa di bumi ini, karena] hanya satu yang sungguh-sungguh telah memperanakkan kamu, Bapamu, [yaitu Dia yang di sorga] (Mat 23:9). Oleh karena itu, di dalam Alkitab ada tertulis bahwa kita adalah [keturunan Allah yang telah menjadikan bumi dan segala isinya … Tuhan atas langit dan bumi] (Kis17:24, 28). Ini memberikan kesaksian bahwa Ia telah memperanakkan kita. Ia mengatakan, “Karena kamu telah dilahirkan oleh Allah, Tuhan atas langit dan bumi, kamu adalah anak-anak kandung-Ku. [Karena itu haruslah kamu sempurna, sama seperti Bapamu yang di sorga adalah sempurna (hidup kudus)] (Mat 5:48), supaya kamu bisa hidup bersama dengan Bapa kita menikmati hidup yang kekal dan abadi di dalam kerajaan-Ku, dunia baru penuh sukacita.”

Hujat Yang Tak Pernah Dapat Diampuni

Setan, ilah dunia ini, telah menggali tiga macam lubang di bumi ini dan membunuh semua umat manusia dengan memastikan sehingga tak satu pun dari anak-anak Allah yang dapat lolos dari padanya. Apakah ketiga lubang jebakan itu?

Pertama, ia menggunakan kaum ateis untuk membuat sebuah jebakan bernama ateisme. Mereka mengklaim, “Tidak ada Allah, tidak ada Pencipta. Dunia ini dan manusia ada dengan sendirinya, dan manusia berubah secara bertahap dari sebuah organisme kecil (sebentuk amuba) atau seekor binatang (kera). Oleh karena itu, manusia juga adalah seekor binatang (hewan) yang hidup untuk beberapa waktu dan kemudian mati, sama seperti binatang-binatang yang lain.” Untuk membunuh semua orang dengan perangkap ini, Setan menggunakan semua lembaga pendidikan di dunia ini untuk menyebarkan teori evolusi yang palsu.

Jikalau teori evolusi itu merupakam fakta yang tak dapat dibantah, kita seharusnya sudah sering, ataupun paling kurang sekali-sekali, mendengar di radio atau melihat di televisi selama beribu-ribu tahun keberadaan manusia, tajuk-tajuk berita tentang seekor ameba atau seekor monyet menjadi manusia. Akan tetapi, ribuan tahun dan generasi demi generasi telah berlalu dan monyet-monyet hanya melahirkan monyet. Mereka tidak pernah melahirkan manusia atau bahkan bermetamorfosis menjadi manusia sedikit pun. Dari generasi ke generasi, manusia juga hanya melahirkan manusia. Kita tidak pernah mendengar manusia melahirkan monyet atau bermetamorfosis menjadi monyet. Bahkan dengan melihat kenyataan itu saja, dapat dimengerti bahwa teori evolusi adalah sebuah teori yang tidak benar, tak berdasar, dan tidak lebih daripada sebuah pikiran sesat yang kekanak-kanakan, yang dimunculkan oleh setan-setan di dunia ini untuk menentang Allah.

Dewasa ini, yang menyebut diri para ilmuwan telah bangkit kembali dengan publikasi baru bahwa tikus adalah nenek moyang manusia. Mereka menulis, “Kurang lebih 99% dari gen di dalam manusia sama dengan gen di dalam tikus.… Tikus, manusia dan banyak lagi binatang lain berasal dari leluhur yang sama, dari makhluk berukuran kurang lebih sebesar seekor tikus kecil, sekitar 75 sampai 125 juta tahun silam.” Ketika saya membaca itu, saya begitu terkejut dan tertegun membisu. Sebelumnya mereka bersikeras bahwa bapa leluhur mereka adalah monyet karena tengkorak manusia dan monyet serupa. Sekarang mereka kembali bersikukuh bahwa seekor tikus yang merayap di tanah, yang tengkorak, hati atau rupanya sama sekali tidak ada miripnya dengan manusia, sebagai bapa mereka. Saya tidak dapat mengerti mengapa mereka punya begitu banyak bapa. Bagaimanapun, tidak lama lagi, tidak akan ada keturunan keji dari monyet atau tikus najis di dunia baru. Hanya anak-anak kandung Bapa surgawi kita, para pangeran dan putri surgawi, yang akan hidup untuk selama-lamanya, menikmati kebahagiaan kekal dan hidup abadi di kerajaan Bapa mereka.

Perangkap kedua adalah sebuah perangkap ateistis yang dibuat oleh mereka yang mengaku percaya kepada Allah. Setan telah menggali lubang ini melalui kaum teolog palsu yang menyatakan dirinya sebagai hamba-hamba Tuhan. Mereka berseru, “Dahulu Allah memang ada, tetapi Ia sudah tua dan mati.” Oleh karena itu, menurut mereka, kita harus menganggap agama sebagai suatu cara untuk mengembangkan pikiran kita dan setelah itu kita mati.

Jikalau Allah yang menciptakan alam semesta dan menjalankannya sudah mati seperti yang mereka katakan, maka sama seperti sebuah pesawat udara jatuh dari langit dan hancur berkeping-keping kalau pilotnya tewas dalam perang atau karena alasan lain, alam semesta ini tidak akan mampu bertahan sampai sekarang. Bintang-bintang yang tak terhitung jumlahnya niscaya telah menabrak satu sama lain, hancur dan lenyap tanpa bekas. Teori ini sama saja merupakan cara pikir sesat yang kekanak-kanakan yang dibuat oleh setan-setan di dunia ini untuk menghujat Allah. Kita tak akan pernah mendengar pernyataan-pernyataan jahat seperti itu di dunia baru.

Perangkap ketiga adalah sebuah perangkap ateistis yang dipasang oleh penganut teori penciptaan. Setan telah menggali lubang ini melalui kaum teolog yang katanya memperingati hari penciptaan. Mereka mengklaim, “Allah menciptakan manusia dengan cara yang sama seperti Ia menciptakan binatang-binatang.” Perangkap teologi palsu ini menyangkal hubungan kandung Bapa-anak bahwa Allah meperanakkan manusia. Ini adalah dosa yang paling keji di antara ketiga perangkap itu dan merupakan hujat yang tak pernah dapat diampuni.

Jikalau Allah menciptakan manusia dengan cara yang sama seperti Ia menciptakan sapi, babi, atau anjing seperti yang mereka katakan, Allah juga harus menjadi Bapa bagi sapi, babi, dan anjing. Jikalau Ia menciptakan mereka dengan cara yang sama, mengapa Ia hanya menjadi Bapa bagi umat manusia? Ia harus menjadi Bapa bagi sapi, babi dan anjing juga. Oleh karena itu, mereka yang mengklaim bahwa Allah menciptakan manusia melalui cara yang sama seperti Dia menciptakan sapi, babi, dan anjing, menyangkal hubungan kandung Bapa-anak dan dengan begitu menghujat Allah, yang untuk selama-lamanya tidak dapat diampuni dengan menurunkan derajat Allah yang mulia dan kudus menjadi Bapa bagi sapi, babi dan anjing. Saya berharap pembaca bisa menyadari kenyataan ini dan berhati-hati untuk tidak mengikuti mereka yang berdosa dengan menghujat Allah seperti itu. Saya berharap agar Anda menerima Bapa kandung, Ayah Kandung surgawi, sebagai Bapa Anda sendiri dan menjadi anak kandung-Nya yang hidup bahagia di rumah-Nya bersama Dia untuk selama-lamanya.

Sekali lagi, meskipun sapi, babi, anjing dan manusia semuanya sama-sama bernapas, jangan pernah Anda beranggapan bahwa hidup yang mereka miliki sama dengan hidup yang kita miliki. Allah menciptakan sapi, babi, dan anjing dengan firman dari mulut-Nya. Hidup mereka tidak berharga dan sia-sia, yang akan lenyap seperti angin. Sementara tubuh dan jiwa kita berasal dari Allah; hidup yang kita miliki adalah hidup yang kekal, hidup yang tak dapat binasa yang ada di dalam tubuh Bapa surgawi kita sejak purbakala – hidup kudus Allah yang masuk ke tubuh manusia melalui bibir-Nya. Karena itulah, Ayah Kandung kita telah datang kepada kita dan mengonfirmasikan identitas kita dengan mengatakan, “[Kamu adalah allah, dan anak-anak Yang Mahatinggi (Raja agung alam semesta) kamu sekalian]” (Mzm 82:6).

Kita harus bersorak nyaring dan bernyanyi tentang betapa mulianya kita sebagai putra dan putri kandung Allah. Tak terbayangkan betapa banyaknya ayat Alkitab di mana Allah telah menyatakan, “anak-Ku”. Saya harap Anda tidak akan melupakan hal ini. Inilah yang melayakkan kita untuk menjadi ahli waris dunia baru yang tak dapat binasa dan inilah apa yang memberi kita kuasa untuk hidup secara sah bersama Bapa surgawi kita di dalam satu rumah selaku anak-anak kandung-Nya. Saya harap Anda bersyukur atas kenyataan ini dan sebagai anak-anak kandung Allah, Anda menjadi para pangeran dan putri surgawi yang paling dikasihi oleh Allah, yang menikmati hidup, kebebasan dan kebahagiaan hingga selama-lamanya.

Langit dan bumi, lautan dan ciptaan, dan segenap penghuni alam semesta bangkit untuk menari riang menyambut kabar gembira seperti ini. Akan tetapi sudah banyak kali saya menghadapi perlawanan dan gangguan selagi menyebarkan kabar gembira yang menyatukan kembali anggota-anggota keluarga alam semesta yang telah tercerai-berai. Perkenankan saya menceritakan kepada Anda dua buah cerita yang menarik.

Sekali waktu saya diundang untuk berbicara di Provinsi Gangwon. Suatu hari selagi seminar, 14 pendeta dan tua-tua jemaat dari gereja tertentu yang memelihara hari Sabat menyerbu masuk. Saya sedang berada di ruangan seminar pada waktu itu. Segera setelah duduk, mereka memanggil saya, sang pembicara, untuk datang ke kamar di mana mereka berada. Adalah tidak mungkin bagi putra kandung Allah yang mulia ini untuk pergi ke sana hanya karena mereka memanggil. Saya pertama-tama bertanya kepada Ayah Kandung saya apa yang harus saya perbuat. Ketika saya bertanya, “Bapa, haruskah saya pergi, atau tidak?” Ia memberi saya firman, “[Oleh sebab itu, pergilah, Aku akan menyertai lidahmu dan mengajar engkau, apa yang harus kaukatakan] (Kel 4:12). [Bukankah Aku mengutus engkau? Akulah yang menyertai engkau, sebab itu engkau akan memukul kalah (mereka) sampai habis] (Hak 6:14, 16), lalu saya segera bergerak menuju ruangan itu.

Mereka juga bahkan sudah memanggil pasangan pemilik rumah yang kami gunakan untuk seminar itu, sehingga ada enam belas orang memadati ruangan itu. Setelah saya membuka pintu dan masuk ke ruangan, mereka meminta saya untuk duduk di tengah-tengah. Apa yang dikatakan oleh para pendeta di antara mereka itu, begitu rendah sehingga tidak mungkin saya melibatkan diri dan karena itu saya tinggal diam. Lalu, yang merasa dirinya paling berpengetahuan di antara mereka berkata, “Kalau begitu, baiklah Anda berhadapan dengan saya.”

“Silakan.”

“Guru Park, Anda mengklaim bahwa Allah memperanakkan manusia melalui kandungan-Nya?”

“Kalau tidak, apakah Allah menciptakan manusia sama seperti Ia menciptakan sapi, babi, atau anjing?”

“Tentu saja, mengapa tidak?”

Saya menjawab, “Kalau demikian, Allah harus menjadi Bapa bagi sapi, babi dan anjing. Jika Allah menciptakan manusia sama seperti Ia menciptakan sapi, babi, dan anjing, mengapa Ia hanya menjadi Bapa bagi manusia? Bukankah Dia harus menjadi Bapa bagi sapi, babi dan anjing juga? Ini adalah suatu hujat terhadap Allah yang untuk selama-lamanya tak dapat diampuni, karena telah merendahkan Allah yang kudus menjadi Bapa bagi sapi, babi dan anjing.” Perkataan ini membungkam keempat belas pendeta dan tua-tua jemaat itu, seolah-olah mengunci mulut mereka. Pandangan sukacita yang mereka miliki sesaat sebelumnya ketika pertama datang, lenyap dan akhirnya mereka melarikan diri tanpa semangat. Persis seperti perkataan Bapa kita, saya mengalahkan mereka sampai habis.

Pada suatu kesempatan yang lain, dalam sebuah seminar yang saya selenggarakan di Seoul, seorang pendeta yang dijuluki “Alkitab Berjalan” mengkritik saya katanya, “Alkitab menyatakan bahwa Allah mengadopsi kita. Di mana dikatakan bahwa Ia memperanakkan kita?” Ada ayat dalam Alkitab yang mengatakan bahwa kita [menerima Roh yang menjadikan kamu anak Allah] (Rom 8:15). Apa artinya ini?

Allah, sekali waktu, memerintahkan kepada Hosea, putranya yang tampan, baik dan patuh, “Jangan menikahi seorang perawan yang masih murni. Nikahilah Gomer, pelacur kotor itu.” Hosea bahkan mematuhi perkataan itu. Ia, seorang suami yang baik, membawa pelacur itu ke rumahnya dan mengatakan kepadanya, “Saya hanya akan mengasihi engkau. Kuburkanlah masa lalumu dan mulai sekarang hanya mengasihi saya.” Gomer menjadi baik untuk beberapa bulan dan suaminya mengasihi dia. Segera setelah itu, ia kembali kepada muncikarinya dan menjadi pelacur lagi. Lalu Hosea mengambil jelai berkarung-karung dan uang lalu pergi mengemis kepada muncikari itu untuk menjual kembali perempuan itu kepadanya. Oleh karena dia telah menyerahkan dirinya kepada germo, Hosea harus membayar berkarung-karung jelai untuk membeli dia kembali meskipun dia jelas-jelas istrinya.

Demikianlah halnya, meskipun Bapa Kandung kita pada mulanya memperanakkan kita, kita menyerahkan diri kepada Setan iblis setelah berdosa, sehingga Bapa kita harus membeli kita kembali dengan darah penebusan dari Putra-Nya. Dalam pengertian itulah kita diangkat sebagai anak. Fakta-fakta itu mengungkapkan dengan jelas bahwa bukanlah iblis atau seekor binatang yang telah melahirkan kita. Kita adalah putra dan putri kandung Allah, yang dilahirkan sendiri oleh Bapa surgawi kita melalui tubuh-Nya semenjak awal. Lagi pula, frasa [yang menjadikan ... anak (adopsi)] dalam kitab Roma menyiratkan “seorang anak yang Allah lahirkan dan besarkan.” Ia mengatakan, [Sebab kamu tidak menerima roh perbudakan yang membuat kamu menjadi takut lagi, tetapi kamu telah menerima Roh yang menjadikan kamu anak Allah (anak-anak kandung yang dibesarkan oleh Ayah Kandung). Oleh Roh itu kita berseru: “ya Abba, ya Bapa”] (Rom 8:15).

Meskipun Alkitab menggunakan kata [menciptakan] untuk manusia dan binatang, pengertiannya sama sekali berbeda untuk masing-masingnya. Untuk binatang, [menciptakan] berarti “membuat,” tetapi untuk manusia [menciptakan] berarti “memperanakkan, melahirkan.” Sama seperti kita mengatakan seorang bayi “dibentuk” di dalam kandungan ibunya, kata dibentuk mengandung arti “diciptakan.” Ketika saya berbicara mengenai “rahim” Allah, saya tidak bermaksud bahwa Allah yang sepenuhnya roh dan tidak memiliki tubuh jasmaniah memiliki sebuah rahim seperti yang dimiliki manusia. Saya menggunakan kata “rahim” untuk menggambarkan cara dan proses bagaimana Allah yang adalah roh melahirkan kita. Dengan kata lain, indung telur pada unggas adalah rahimnya, alat reproduksi di dalam sapi adalah rahimnya, kandungan pada seorang wanita adalah rahimnya, dan proses melalui mana Allah memperanakkan kita adalah rahim-Nya.

Oleh karena itu Bapa surgawi kita bahkan pada hari ini mengatakan kepada kita, [Anak-Ku engkau! Engkau telah Kuperanakkan pada hari ini] (Mzm 2:7).

Yehovah tidak mengatakan, “Engkau adalah monyet-Ku,” “Engkau adalah babi-Ku,” atau “Engkau adalah anak anjing-Ku.” Ia dengan jelas mengatakan, [Anak-Ku engkau! Engkau telah Kuperanakkan pada hari ini] (Mzm 2:7). Mereka yang menerima perkataan-perkataan yang tidak mungkin salah ini sebagai kenyataan setelah membacanya akan lahir kembali pada saat ini sebagai putra dan putri kandung Allah melalui rahim Yehovah, Tuhan semesta alam. Pada waktu yang sama, mereka akan menjadi ahli waris dunia ini dan dunia baru. Mereka juga akan menerima kuasa yang Allah berikan pada mulanya – [Baiklah Kita menjadikan (melahirkan) manusia menurut gambar dan rupa Kita, supaya mereka berkuasa … atas seluruh bumi, dan atas segala binatang yang merayap...] (Kej 1:26, 28). Anak-anak kandung-Nya akan hidup sebagai para ahli waris yang menaklukkan dan berkuasa atas bumi dan alam semesta. Sampai sekarang, Setan, ilah dari dunia ini dan perantara-perantaranya menipu dan menyeret kita keliling sebagai jongos-jongosnya, monyet-monyetnya. Sekarang setelah kita mendapatkan kembali identitas dan hak-hak kita sebagai anak-anak kandung Allah, kita akan memerintah seluruh bumi dan alam semesta sebagai pemilik-pemilik yang agung dan raja-raja atas segala bangsa.

Tidak Soal Bagaimana Kita Memandangnya,

Tak Dapat Diragukan Lagi Dialah Bapa Kandung Kita

Apakah kita berdebat tentang itu atau menyelidiki hubungan antara Bapa surgawi dan kita dengan menjejaki kembali susur galur keluarga umat manusia, Dia adalah Bapa kandung kita yang bertalian darah dengan kita. Allah melahirkan manusia (Adam), dan manusia (Maria) melahirkan Allah, Yesus. Perkenankan saya mengajukan pertanyaan ini kepada pembaca. Binatang kesayangan apa yang paling dekat dengan Anda atau yang paling Anda sayangi di rumah? Sebagian besar dari Anda akan menjawab, “(anak) anjing.” Itu betul sekali. Kebanyakan orang menyayangi anjing. Mereka makan sisa-sisa dari meja kita dan tinggal satu atap dengan kita. Akan tetapi, hanya karena anjing adalah “sahabat terbaik” kita, apakah mungkin seorang manusia berhubungan dengan anjing dan melahirkan seekor anjing dan bagi seekor anjing untuk melahirkan seorang anak manusia? Anda mungkin berpikir, pertanyaan ini sangat menghina dan merendahkan martabat. Akan tetapi kalau demikian halnya, bagaimana bisa Allah yang kudus dan agung dan manusia yang rendah memiliki hubungan yang tak terpisahkan? Bagaimana Allah bisa melahirkan seorang manusia (Adam) dan seorang manusia (Maria) melahirkan Allah (Yesus)? Kenyataan yang tak dapat dimungkiri adalah bahwa kedua-duanya, Allah dan manusia, sama-sama merupakan anggota perkauman surgawi; oleh karena itu ada hubungan seperti itu. Karena kita sama-sama adalah imamat rajani (1 Pet 2:9) sehingga kita punya hubungan yang tak terpisahkan seperti itu.

[Orang-orang kudus yang ada di tanah ini, merekalah … (anak-)anak-Ku yang selalu menjadi kesukaan-Ku] (Mzm 16:3; 2:7). [Aku sendiri telah berfirman: “Kamu adalah allah, dan anak-anak Yang Mahatinggi kamu sekalian. Namun seperti manusia (keturunan kera) kamu akan mati dan seperti salah seorang pembesar kamu akan tewas”]. [Anak-Ku engkau! Engkau telah Kuperanakkan pada hari ini] (Mzm 82:6, 7; 2:7).

Oleh karena itu, dengan melihat asal-usul kita – kenyataan bahwa Allah secara pribadi telah memperanakkan kita, menyelidiki hubungan darah kita, atau melihat kenyataan bahwa kita memiliki keserupaan dengan Allah, tak dapat diragukan lagi bahwa kita adalah anak-anak kandung terkasih dari Bapa kandung surgawi, para pangeran dan putri Raja surgawi, berdasarkan semua fakta yang demikian jelas itu. Oh, betapa mulianya tubuh dan identitas yang kita miliki! Karena itu, kalau orang yang hidup di bumi ini mempercayai perkataan-perkataan ini dan menerima Ayah Kandung sebagai Ayah pribadi, mereka tidak hanya akan tinggal serumah bersama Dia untuk selama-lamanya, tetapi juga akan menjadi Allah-Allah yang tidak dapat binasa, pangeran Allah dan putri Allah semesta alam yang berbahagia.

Jawaban Jelas Terhadap Kontradiksi

Dengan mengutip Kejadian pasal 2, ayat 7, [Tuhan Allah membentuk manusia dari debu tanah], Anda (Suk Sun) mengklaim bahwa hanya manusia yang secara pribadi dibentuk dengan tubuh Allah, tetapi di dalam Kejadian pasal 2, ayat 19, ada tertulis, [Lalu Tuhan Allah membentuk dari tanah segala binatang hutan dan segala burung di udara...]. Allah tidak hanya secara pribadi membentuk manusia, tetapi juga binatang-binatang. Oleh karena itu, pernyataan Anda itu salah.

Kejadian pasal 2, ayat 19, tidak mengatakan bahwa Allah membentuk binatang-binatang dan burung-burung dari tanah dengan tangan-Nya sendiri. Sebaliknya dinyatakan bahwa Allah memerintahkan agar semua binatang hutan dan burung-burung tercipta dari tanah. Ini tidak berarti bahwa Ia secara pribadi membentuk mereka. Kapan Allah menggali tanah dan secara pribadi membuat berbagai spesies burung dan binatang yang tak terhitung banyaknya itu? Jikalau Allah telah menciptakan sapi, babi, anjing dan burung-burung dengan cara yang sama dengan manusia, tidakkah seharusnya juga dikatakan bahwa begitu Ia menghembuskan napas hidup ke dalam hidung anjing atau babi, demikianlah mereka menjadi [makhluk yang hidup] (Kej 2:7)? Akan tetapi, itu sama sekali tidak masuk akal. Allah menggunakan tubuh-Nya untuk secara pribadi hanya membentuk anak-anak-Nya manusia di bumi, dan sambil bibir-Nya bersentuhan dengan bibir mereka Ia menghembuskan kepada mereka kehidupan kekal yang ada dalam Dia. Sekali lagi, Kejadian pasal 2, ayat 19 menyiratkan bahwa Allah memerintahkan agar setiap binatang hutan dan burung di udara tercipta dari debu tanah.

Mengutip Mazmur pasal 2, ayat 7, [Anak-Ku engkau! Engkau telah Kuperanakkan pada hari ini], Anda mengklaim bahwa Allah telah secara pribadi memperanakkan manusia. Akan tetapi, Mazmur pasal 2, ayat 7 itu tidak merujuk kepada manusia tetapi kepada Yesus, sebagaimana tertera dalam Kisah Para Rasul pasal 13, ayat 33. Ia tidak pernah merujuk kepada kita. Karena itu, pernyataan Anda itu keliru.

Tentu saja, Mazmur pasal 2, ayat 7 merujuk kepada Yesus, sebagaimana tertulis di dalam Kisah Para Rasul pasal 13, ayat 33. Saya tidak membantah itu dan juga bukannya tidak menyadari hal itu. Akan tetapi Mazmur pasal 2, ayat 7 merujuk kepada Yesus dan sekaligus kepada kita. Jikalau kita hanya mengutip Kisah Para Rasul pasal 13, ayat 33 dan mengatakan bahwa Mazmur pasal 2, ayat 7 tidak berlaku bagi kita, maka kita semua harus membuang Alkitab. Alkitab sama sekali tidak berguna bagi kita oleh karena Allah mengucapkan firman-firman yang dicatat dalam Alkitab itu hanya untuk Musa, Yesaya, Daniel, Yesus dan Daud, dan bukan untuk kita. Sudah tentu, ini tidak benar. Bapa kita mengucapkan semua firman-firman di dalam Alkitab itu kepada masing-masing kita melalui bibir para rasul dan para nabi. Jikalau Allah mengucapkan perkataan-perkataan itu hanya untuk Yesus atau Daud, maka Ia seharusnya hanya mengatakan itu kepada mereka dan tidak perlu memberikan Alkitab kepada kita. Mengapa semua itu dicatat dalam Alkitab dan kemudian diberikan kepada masing-masing kita? Bapa kita mengucapkan semua firman di dalam Alkitab itu kepada Yesus dan para nabi dan sekaligus kepada masing-masing kita, anak-anak-Nya.

Jika siapa saja yang masih bersikeras bahwa Mazmur pasal 2, ayat 7 diucapkan hanya untuk Yesus adalah sungguh-sungguh penipu. Kapankah Allah melahirkan Yesus? Adalah Maria yang telah melahirkan Yesus. Apakah mereka melihat Allah melahirkan Yesus?

Mulai sekarang, jangan lagi kita berdebat tentang sesuatu yang demikian tak berdasar. Karena kita semua berasal dari Bapa yang sama dan telah menjadi saudara sekandung, janganlah kita menyedihkan Bapa kita dengan berbantah satu sama lain. Marilah kita hidup bersama secara harmonis, saling mengerti, saling memaafkan dan saling mengasihi satu dengan yang lain. Bapa surgawi kita, Bapa kandung umat manusia mengucapkan firman di dalam Mazmur pasal 2, ayat 7 kepada Yesus dan kepada setiap kita. Oleh karena itu, Bapa kita tidak menggunakan bentuk tunggal untuk hanya menunjuk kepada Yesus, tetapi mengunakan bentuk jamak untuk menunjuk kepada semua anak-anak-Nya. [Aku (Allah) sendiri telah berfirman: “Kamu adalah allah(-allah), dan anak-anak (Allah) Yang Mahatinggi kamu sekalian”]. [Engkau (kamu = jamak) telah Kuperanakkan] (Mzm 82:6; 2:7). Ia menggunakan perkataan, [allah(-allah)], [kamu sekalian] dan [anak-anak Yang Mahatinggi]. Dengan jelas Ia berulang-kali menyatakan bahwa kita sekalian adalah anak-anak-Nya.

Mulai sekarang, saya harap Anda memanggil Allah “Bapa Kandung,” “Ayah Kandung” atau “Ayahku.” Setan, bapa palsu kita menyeret keliling umat manusia dan meracuninya dengan pengajaran-pengajaran palsu selama ribuan tahun. Ia mengindoktrinasi kita dengan pendidikan palsu dari dunia ini, mengeraskan otak kita seperti beton. Untuk segera melepaskan diri kita dari pikiran yang sesat itu, kita harus memanggil Allah “Ayah Kandung” atau “Bapa Kandung.” Akan tetapi, itu tidak berarti dengan memanggil-Nya seperti itu kita dengan sendirinya akan selamat. Tidak jadi soal apakah Anda memanggil Dia “Ayah” atau “Bapa,” saya menganjurkan agar Anda memanggil Dia “Ayah” atau Ayah Kandung” – seperti yang Alkitab minta kita lakukan – sehingga Anda boleh segera melepaskan diri dari indoktrinasi Setan (ilah dunia ini) bahwa Allah menjadikan kita sama seperti binatang-binatang.

Saudara dan saudariku yang terkasih! Marilah kita tidak lagi berdoa dengan tanpa semangat, ”Allah, Bapa yang di surga,” atau “Allah yang di surga,” dengan cara formal seperti yang kita lakukan pada waktu kita tidak mengenal [Allah yang benar], Bapa Kandung kita. Mulai sekarang, marilah kita memanjatkan doa-doa yang bahagia dan berkuasa, yang cocok bagi anak-anak kandung-Nya, doa-doa yang menjangkau jauh ke dalam hati-Nya, dengan mengatakan, “Bapa kami yang di surga!” (Mat 6:9), “Bapaku yang di surga!” (Mat 26:39), “Bapa (Kandung)ku sendiri yang di surga!” (Yoh 5:18), “Ayahku yang di surga!” (Gal 4:6, Terjemahan Umum Korea ), atau “Ayah Kandungku yang di surga!” Jangan pernah lagi kita berdoa kepada-Nya seolah-olah kita adalah putra-putri angkat atau putra-putri tiri, yang memanggil seorang bapa tiri yang asing dan menakutkan. Saya berharap mulai sekarang Anda akan mengangkat bahu dan bersikap sebagai putra-putri kandung yang bermartabat dari Allah yang hidup, Raja agung alam semesta. Jikalau putra-putri kandung dari raja-raja dan presiden-presiden di dunia ini bertingkah-laku dengan penuh martabat dan menikmati hak-hak istimewa yang besar, betapa lebih lagi dengan kita, sebagai pangeran-pangeran dan putri-putri bangsawan, anak-anak Bapa surgawi kita yang adalah Raja agung alam semesta, Raja di atas segala raja dan Tuhan di atas segala tuhan.

Oleh karena itu, fakta bahwa Bapa kita, satu-satunya Allah yang benar adalah “Bapa kandung kita yang telah melahirkan dan membesarkan kita” telah dengan jelas diungkapkan. Akan tetapi, jikalau masih ada saudara-saudara tertentu yang malu akan kenyataan itu di hapadan orang dan dunia, dengarkanlah firman Tuhan berikut ini – [Aku berkata kepadamu: setiap orang yang mengakui Aku di depan manusia, ... (Aku) juga akan mengakui dia di depan malaikat-malaikat Allah. Tetapi barangsiapa menyangkal Aku di depan manusia, ia akan disangkal di depan malaikat-malaikat Allah] (Luk 12:8, 9).

Dahulu kala di sebuah masyarakat pedesaan, ada seorang bapa yang menyesali hidupnya sebagai seorang petani lalu bertekad, “Saya harus menyekolahkan putra saya sampai ke perguruan tinggi supaya sekurang-kurangnya ia boleh hidup dengan lebih mudah.” Mungkin mudah untuk membayar biaya sekolah anak di perguruan tinggi jika Anda menjalankan suatu bisnis di perkotaan atau bekerja di kantor pemerintah, tetapi sangat sulit kalau Anda hanya bertani dengan menanam padi. Untuk mengirim putranya ke perguruan tinggi, bapa tersebut hidup demikian hemat sehingga tidak dapat membeli makanan yang cukup atau pakaian yang pantas bagi dirinya. Pada akhirnya, lewat pengorbanan dan pelayanan sang bapa, putranya itu menamatkan perguruan tinggi dan bekerja di Kantor Daerah setempat.

Pada suatu hari di musim panas, Kepala Daerah itu mengunjungi rumah anak itu. Ketika Kepala Daerah sedang minum bersama dia di ruang tamu, sang bapa memasuki rumah. Ia tampak begitu lusuh dengan lumpur di seluruh wajah dan pakaiannya karena hari itu ia sedang bekerja di sawah. “Siapakah pria itu?” tanya Kepala Daerah itu. Anak itu berpikir, “Saya lulusan perguruan tinggi. Alangkah memalukan untuk mengakui bahwa lelaki itu adalah bapaku.” Meskipun ia merasa tidak enak, ia menjawab, “Dia adalah buruh tani kami di ladang.” Sang bapa telah berkorban demikian rupa untuknya karena mengasihi dia, dan sekarang putranya itu menyebut dia sebagai seorang pembantu di ladang (jongos, budak).

Setelah kembali ke kantornya, Kepala Daerah itu mengetahui kebenaran yang sesungguhnya, dan memanggil anak itu ke kantornya. Setelah berteriak, “Kau bajingan! Bagaimana mungkin bapamu yang telah begitu berkorban untuk membesarkan Anda, kausebut budak pekerja di ladangmu?” dan seketika itu juga memecatnya. Kita tidak boleh menjadi anak-anak yang tak tahu bersyukur, seperti anak itu, tetapi menjadi putra-putri yang berbakti yang secara terbuka berseru dengan nyaring ke seluruh dunia, “Allah adalah Bapa Kandungku.” Karena kita mengetahui bahwa dari sudut mana pun kita memandangnya, Allah adalah Bapa Kandung kita yang telah memperanakkan dan memulihkan otoritas kita sebagai anak-anak kandung-Nya, kita harus mempermaklumkan ini dengan penuh sukacita. Kita harus secara terbuka membanggakan, “Ia adalah Bapa Kandungku yang telah memperanakkan aku dan paling mengasihiku!” Ini adalah kabar paling gembira, berita terbesar di seluruh alam semesta. Seluruh bumi dan segenap alam semesta harus bangkit berdiri, menari dalam sukacita dan bernyanyi tentang itu untuk selama-lamanya. Saya harap Anda tidak akan lupa bahwa hidup kekal hanya diberikan kepada anak-anak itu yang [mengenal] dan bersukacita atas kenyataan bahwa [satu-satunya Allah yang benar] adalah Bapa kandung mereka (Yoh 17:3).

Bahkan di dunia ini, ada bapa-bapa dengan putra-putri angkat atau putra-putri tiri. Jikalau Anda mengunjungi panti asuhan (di Korea), ada ratusan anak di sana, para “putra” dan “putri” dari direktur panti asuhan itu. Mereka semua memanggil dia (direktur) itu, “Bapa (Ibu).” Akan tetapi, kita mengetahui dengan baik bahwa tidak semua mereka akan meneruskan nama keluarga, memiliki hak waris, dan mewarisi hak miliknya. Hanya putra-putri kandungnya yang secara pribadi diperanakkannya akan menjadi ahli waris. [Tetapi apa kata nas Kitab Suci? “Usirlah hamba perempuan itu beserta anaknya, sebab anak hamba perempuan itu tidak akan menjadi ahli waris bersama-sama dengan anak (kandung) perempuan merdeka itu.” Karena itu, saudara-saudara, kita bukanlah anak-anak hamba perempuan, melainkan anak-anak (kandung) perempuan merdeka] (Gal 4:30, 31).

[Dan hamba tidak tetap tinggal dalam rumah (Bapa surgawi), tetapi anak (kandung) tetap tinggal dalam rumah] (Yoh 8:35). Seorang hamba tidak akan pernah memperoleh keselamatan. Kita harus bersyukur bahwa kita tidak menjadi hamba-hamba. Mereka yang menyalah duga bahwa mereka adalah hamba-hamba harus melepaskan kuk perhambaan untuk selamanya dan hidup sebagai putra-putri-Nya yang terhormat, menikmati hak-hak dan kebebasan dari pengeran-pangeran dan putri-putri surgawi. Seorang hamba tidak menerima warisan dan juga tidak berhak untuk tinggal bersama dengan sang bapa. Kalau begitu, mengapa Alkitab memanggil baik rasul Paulus maupun Yesus sebagai seorang hamba? Meskipun mereka disebut hamba-hamba, itu tidak berarti bahwa mereka adalah hamba atau budak seperti yang dipikirkan kebanyakan orang. Sebaliknya, itu berarti “seseorang yang mengemban sebuah misi,” “seorang putra yang menjalani tugas tertentu.”

Di dalam Alkitab, seorang “hamba” bukanlah seseorang yang menjadi “seorang budak bagi Allah” melainkan “seseorang yang menjalankan suatu tugas, seseorang dengan misi tertentu.” Dengan kata lain, seorang putra yang telah dipercayakan Bapanya dengan sebuah misi. Kita harus menjadi anak dan bukan hamba.

Dahulu kala, mata-mata komunis dari Korea Utara membajak sebuah pesawat penumpang dari perusahaan penerbangan Korea Selatan, Korean Airlines, dan membawanya ke Korea Utara. Setelah membajak pesawat tersebut, mereka merampas semua milik pribadi para penumpang dan apa saja yang bernilai dan kemudian membebaskan para penumpang tersebut. Korea Selatan senang karena penumpang-penumpang itu dibebaskan. Keluarga-keluarga mereka demikian bahagia bertemu dengan mereka sehingga mereka lari menjemput para penumpang itu, merangkul dan menghibur mereka. Akan tetapi, ada seorang reporter, seorang anak muda yang tampan, yang berdiri menatap bapanya seakan-akan tidak mengenalnya. Betapapun sang bapa meminta dia, “Anakku, katakan, ‘Bapa’, hanya sekali,” ia sama sekali tidak bereaksi. Meskipun ibunya juga mendesak dia, “Putraku, aku ibumu. Tolong katakan, ‘Mama’” dia sama sekali tidak menjawab. Kaum komunis itu telah menyiksa dia entah dengan sengatan listrik atau memukul kepalanya dengan sesuatu. Entah apa yang telah mereka lakukan, mereka telah membuatnya menjadi kacau mental. Tak dapat diragukan lagi bahwa dia adalah putra mereka. Akan tetapi anak itu telah hilang kewarasan.

Bapa kandung surgawi kita juga telah menemukan kembali tubuh dan wajah kita yang cantik sekarang ini. Akan tetapi, betapa tertekannya Dia jika kita tidak kembali kepada-Nya dengan segenap hati dan memanggil Dia, “Ayah Kandung”! Mari kita dengan sukacita menemui Bapa Kandung kita yang untuk pertama kalinya kita jumpai setelah ribuan tahun dan memanggil Dia “Papa” dan mengatakan, “Papa, ini saya.” (Yoh 5:18; Gal 4:6, Terjemahan Umum Korea). Bapa kita tidak membutuhkan uang, penyembahan atau sesuatu yang lain dari kita. Hanya mendengar kita memanggil-Nya “Ayah Kandung” dari hati kita sudah cukup. Lalu Ia akan berkata, “Ya, Aku adalah Bapa kandungmu yang telah memperanakkan engkau,” dan merangkul kita erat-erat. Ia akan menjadi demikian bahagia sampai tidak tahu harus berbuat apa.

Di dalam Doa Tuhan, Yesus berkata, “Bapa kami yang di surga....” Sebelum Yesus datang ke bumi ini dua ribu tahun yang lalu, tidak seorang pun di dunia ini yang pernah memanjatkan doa seperti itu. Orang-orang Yahudi, para rabi, dan para imam di Yerusalem berdoa secara basa-basi, “Allah yang agung dan mulia,” atau “Allah yang mahakuasa.” Akan tetapi, Yesus datang dan mengajari murid-muridnya, “Jangan berdoa seperti itu. Sebaliknya, berdoalah, ‘Bapa kami yang di surga,’ atau ‘Bapaku.’” Selama empat ribu tahun, Allah telah menjadi lelah oleh doa-doa sekadar basa-basi dan menjijikkan itu. Ketika anak-anak kandung-Nya berdoa, “Bapa kami,” ada tertulis bahwa itu kedengaran seperti musik di telinga-Nya. Meskipun suatu kumpulan besar seperti orang-orang Yahudi itu berteriak siang dan malam, tidak ada jawaban terhadap doa-doa mereka. Akan tetapi, ketika kelompok Yesus yang kecil itu berdoa di loteng sebuah rumah di Yerusalem, Allah dengan segera menjawab mereka karena mereka bedoa menurut cara yang berkenan kepada-Nya. Itulah bagaimana mereka dapat menerima berkat besar yang menakjubkan yakni turunnya Roh Kudus pada hari Pentakosta. Bahkan ketika kita berseru, “Bapa kami,” kedengaran seperti musik di telinga-Nya; jadi jika anak-anak bungsu-Nya memanggil Dia “Ayah Kandung,” mungkin akan kedengaran seperti kanon bagi-Nya. Ayah Kandung akan segera merangkul anak-anak bungsu-Nya dan berkata, “Ya, [Engkaulah Anak-Ku yang Kukasihi, kepada-Mulah Aku berkenan. Anak-Ku engkau! Engkau telah Kuperanakkan pada hari ini]”(Luk 3:22; Mzm 2:7). Saudara dan saudariku yang terkasih, saya berharap Anda sekalian akan dapat mengalami reuni yang menggembirakan dan menggugah hati ini.

[Sebab itu janganlah kamu melepaskan kepercayaanmu, sebab besarlah upah yang menantinya ... Sebab sedikit, bahkan sangat sedikit waktu lagi, dan Ia yang akan datang, sudah akan ada, tanpa menangguhkan kedatangan-Nya] (Ibr 10:35, 37). Dalam sekejap saja lagi, kita akan mendengar berita yang paling menggembirakan dan terberkati dari surga – [Mari, hai kamu yang diberkati oleh Bapa-Ku, terimalah kerajaan (dunia baru) yang telah disediakan bagimu sejak dunia dijadikan] (Mat 25:34). Saya dengan tulus berharap bahwa pada hari itu, kita semua akan bertemu satu sama lain dengan bahagia sebagai saudara-bersaudara/saudari kandung, putra dan putri kandung dari Bapa kita, para pangeran dan putri surgawi yang berbahagia, yang menikmati hidup abadi di dalam kerajaan Bapa kita, dunia baru hingga selama-lamanya.

DOALNARA (MAJELIS UMUM NEGARA BATU DEKALOG)

doalnara.com

Semua pertanyaan dalam bahasa Inggris dialamatkan ke: doalnara101@gmail.com; dalam bahasa Indonesia: doalnarask68@gmail.com

Majelis Umum Negara Batu Dekalog

2013-01-23T04:12:00.000-08:00

Dekalog adalah hukum Allah, yang diserahkan Allah melalui Musa, dan Sepuluh Perintah yang harus ditaati oleh umat Allah merujuk kepada Dekalog (Dasatitah).

Ada sebagian kaum Kristen dewasa ini yang mengklaim bahwa Sepuluh Perintah telah dihapus, tetapi sepanjang Allah ada, Dekalog merupakan hukum yang tak berubah untuk selamanya, yang tak dapat diubah atau dihapus. Mematuhi Dekalog adalah bukti menjadi umat Allah, dan bagi umat manusia yang korup, Dasatitah inilah “jalan surga” yang terpenting untuk kembali menjadi warga kerajaan Allah. Sama seperti warga negara Republik Korea tentunya harus mematuhi hukum Republik Korea, yang disebut umat Allah harus dengan jelas mematuhi Sepuluh Perintah Allah, yakni hukum Allah.

Sepuluh jenis perintah yang diberikan kepada Musa disederhanakan dan dirangkum oleh Yesus dan diberikan sebagai dua hukum baru: “Engkau harus mengasihi Tuhan Allahmu dengan segenap hatimu, dengan segenap jiwamu, dan dengan segenap akal budimu,” dan, “Engkau harus mengasihi tetangga-tetanggamu seperti dirimu sendiri.” Inilah kedua prinsip Sepuluh Perintah Allah dan penggenapannya.

Itulah sebabnya seorang yang mengasihi Allah dan mengikuti Yesus tentunya harus menaati Sepuluh Perintah ini tanpa memandang situasinya – inilah intisari pengajaran Guru Suk Sun, dan Negeri Batu Dekalog adalah tempat berhimpun orang-orang yang sependapat dan menerima pengajaran ini.

Dengan kata lain, organisasi Negeri Batu Dekalog adalah persekutuan orang-orang yang telah bertekad untuk mematuhi hukum Allah, Dekalog dengan tekad hati seteguh batu yang tak berguncang, dan majelis di mana semua anggota organisasi ini berkumpul merujuk kepada Majelis Umum Negara Batu Dekalog.

Sepuluh Perintah yang Allah berikan kepada Musa dirangkum oleh Yesus sebagai, “Engkau harus mengasihi Tuhan Allahmu dengan segenap hatimu, dan mengasihi tetangga-tetanggamu seperti dirimu sendiri.” Sama seperti Yesus menyatakannya sebagai sebuah perintah baru, demikian juga Guru Suk Sun mengambil perintah baru ini dan menyatakannya dengan cara yang akan menyanggupkan kita untuk mematuhinya dengan lebih sempurna dan sukacita: “Dengan segenap hatimu, kasihilah Orang Tua Kandungmu surgawi yang melahirkan kamu, dan jangan bertengkar dengan saudara-saudaramu tetapi hidup dengan bahagia dan baik.” Dengan demikian Ia menyatakannya sebagai sebuah perintah baru yang lebih sederhana tetapi lebih menyeluruh dan berkuasa. Dalam hal ini Dekalog yang Allah berikan kepada kita bukan hukum yang membebankan; siapa saja yang hidup sudah secara sadar mematuhinya hingga sekarang. Inilah disiplin dasar bagi makhluk hidup yang harus ditaati secara alamiah untuk selamanya, dan inilah tonggak penunjuk jalan hati nurani.

Bagi banyak orang, hanya mendengar tentang Sepuluh Perintah Allah atau hukum sudah cukup bagi orang untuk menganggapnya sebagai sebuah hukum yang luar biasa memusingkan kepala yang menindas orang dengan memerintahkan mereka, “Jangan lakukan ini; jangan lakukan itu,” atau mereka menganggapnya sebagai sebuah hukum yang menakutkan yang akan mengakibatkan kematian jika tidak ditaati. Tetapi seyogianya, Sepuluh Perintah adalah hukum yang memerdekakan dan hukum yang membahagiakan yang memberi kita manusia kemerdekaan dan kebahagiaan abadi.

Bahkan dalam keluarga ada hukum dan ketertiban (etiket) keluarga demi mempertahankan kebahagiaan keluarga. Bahkan dalam berbagai perusahaan, organisasi dan negara, ada hukum, ketertiban dan peraturan demi mempertahankan kebebasan, perdamaian dan kebahagiaan warganya. Hukum tidak dibuat untuk menyusahkan warganya, tetapi sebagai hukum yang memerdekakan, hukum yang mendamaikan dan hukum yang membahagiakan, hukum dibuat untuk mengizinkan semua orang hidup dengan menikmati kemerdekaan, perdamaian dan kebahagiaan di dalam hukum yang ditegakkan.

Demikian juga di surga, Sepuluh Perintah diberikan Allah sebagai hukum teragung yang memerdekakan dan hukum kekal kebahagiaan dan kasih yang akan melindungi kemerdekaan, menjamin perdamaian dan meneruskan kebahagiaan bagi semua malaikat dan penduduk bangsa-bangsa semesta.

Kesimpulan, Sepuluh Perintah adalah hukum yang diberikan Allah demi bangsa-bangsa semesa, dan hanya ketika para malaikat, penduduk semesta dan umat manusia di bumi ini mematuhi hukum ini baru mereka dapat hidup dengan bahagia dalam ketertiban, kemerdekaan dan perdamaian abadi. Doalnara, Negara Batu Dekalog, adalah sebuah negeri yang terbentuk dari orang-orang yang telah berkumpul dengan tujuan mematuhi hukum surgawi ini dengan gembira mulai dari bumi ini. Dengan demikian, seluruh persekutuan dari kelompok-kelompok Doalnara di seluruh dunia merujuk kepada Majelis Umum Negara Batu Dekalog.

DOALNARA (MAJELIS UMUM NEGARA BATU DEKALOG)

doalnara.com / semua pertanyaan dialamatkan ke: doalnarask68@gmail.com

The General Assembly of the Decalogue Stone Country

2013-01-23T03:01:00.003-08:00

The Decalogue is God’s law, handed down by God through Moses, and the Ten Commandments that the people of God must keep are referred to as the Decalogue.

There are a portion of Christians today who claim that the Ten Commandments have been abolished, but as long as God exists, the Ten Commandments are an eternally immutable law that cannot be amended or abolished. Keeping the Ten Commandments is evidence of being the people of God, and for corrupt mankind it is the most important “way of heaven” for going back to becoming a people of God’s kingdom. Just as citizens of the Republic of Korea must surely keep the laws of the Republic of Korea, those who are the people of God must obviously keep the Ten Commandments, which is God’s law.

These ten kinds of commandments that were given to Moses were simplified and summarized by Jesus and given as two new laws: “You shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind,” and, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” These are the two principles of the Ten Commandments and its completion.

That is why a person who loves God and follows Jesus must surely keep these Ten Commandments regardless of the circumstances-- this is the core of Teacher Suk Sun’s teachings, and the Decalogue Stone Country is a place where people who agree and concur with this teaching have gathered.

In other words, the Decalogue Stone Country organization is a gathering of people who have resolved to obey God’s law, the Ten Commandments, at all costs with a heart that is as firm and unwavering as stone, and the assembly where all the members of this organization gather is referred to as the General Assembly of the Decalogue Stone Country.

The Ten Commandments that God gave to Moses was summarized by Jesus as, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and you shall love your neighbors as yourself.” Just as Jesus unraveled it into a new commandment, so did Teacher Suk Sun take this new commandment and unravel it in a way that would allow us to keep it more thoroughly and joyfully: “With your heart, love your heavenly Real Parents who begot you, and do not fight with your brethren but live happily and well.” Thus, He unraveled it into a new commandment that was simpler and yet more comprehensive and authoritative. In this way, the Ten Commandments that God gave us is not a burdensome law; anyone who is alive has been consciously keeping it up now. It is the basic discipline for living beings that should be naturally heeded forever, and it is the guidepost of the heart and the guidepost of the conscience.

For many, just hearing of the Ten Commandments or the law is enough for people to think of it as an extremely headache-inducing law that oppresses humans by telling them, “Don’t do this; don’t do that,” or they think of it as a fearful law that will result in death if they don’t keep it. But in actuality, the Ten Commandments is a law of liberty and a law of happiness that gives us humans eternal liberty and happiness.

Even within the family there are family precepts and rules (etiquette) to maintain the happiness of the family. Even in companies, organizations, and nations there are rules, regulations, and laws to maintain the freedom, peace, and happiness of it constituents. They are not there to trouble its constituents, but as a law of freedom, law of peace, and a law of happiness, they were made to enable all people to live a life enjoying freedom, peace, and happiness within the established rules.

Similarly, up in heaven, the Ten Commandments were given by God as the greatest law of freedom and the eternal law of happiness and love that would guard the freedom, guarantee the peace, and further the happiness of all the angels and the inhabitants of the universal nations.

In conclusion, the Ten Commandments is a law given by God for the universal nations, and only when the angels, the universal inhabitants, and the children on this earth keep these laws can they happily live in eternal order, liberty, and peace. Doalnara, the Decalogue Stone Country, is a country made by people who have gathered with the goal of gladly keeping these laws of heaven with their conscience and thereby enjoying eternal happiness starting from this earth. Thus, the entire union of such Doalnara groups all over the world is referred to as the General Assembly of the Decalogue Stone Country.

Doalnara (The General Assembly of the Decalogue Stone Country) /

doalnara.com

email addresses for inquires in English: doalnara101@gmail.com ;

in Indonesian (bahasa Indonesia): doalnarask68@gmail.com

Heirs To The New World

2012-12-19T15:21:00.001-08:00

By Teacher Suksun

Through the countless promises and covenants He made when the father of humanity fell after the Creation, God vowed to return the new world where there are no crimes or death to His children. The time has finally come for God to give this new world to His children who will live as holy saints and not commit sin. This is indeed the best news, the happiest news worth shouting about for mankind that was dragged to its grave, unable to overcome death. If that is the case, who will really enter that immortal new world and live there? They are the people God chooses and accepts, those who receive His seal. Then, how and in what way will they be sealed? Let me now clarify this matter.

[After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory.] (Rev. 18:1) [I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to damage earth and sea, saying, "Do not damage the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have marked the servants of our God with a seal on their foreheads."] (Rev. 7:2, 3, NRSV)

The work of the sealing angel who comes down from heaven appointed by God is the final harvest of this earth. After harvesting apples, watermelons, or other fruits, we affix stickers and labels on the finest fruits. Likewise, the work of the last sealing angel is to seal the children who perfectly resemble God, who perfectly resemble heavenly Daddy's character and may be moved to the new world. This is the final harvest of this earth.

In Revelation, it is written, [After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory.] (Rev. 18:1) This means that God will appoint the sealing angel to come down from His throne, and the great authority represents His authority. This event, which God appoints and will be carried out with the authority of heaven, is the final, greatest, and most important event that concludes the earth's final harvest.

Then, from where will the angel who has been appointed by God to come down from heaven begin selecting and sealing the children who will receive the Seed of the new world?

It is written, [I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to damage earth and sea, saying, "Do not damage the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have marked the servants of our God with a seal on their foreheads."] They held [the four winds of the earth so that no wind (of war) could blow.] (Rev. 7:2, 3, 1, NRSV)

Among the prime ministers, presidents, and kings of the more than 200 countries in the world, there are many rulers and politicians with odd personalities. Nevertheless, not one country or person will able to start a large-scale (nuclear) war because Heaven will not permit it to happen. God will command the release of the winds of a large-scale (nuclear) war only after He has chosen and sealed His children who will receive the Seed of the new world.

In the Holy Bible, it is written that the angel appointed by God begins the work of sealing the foreheads of His children, who will receive the Seed of the new world, from an area where the sun rises. It will begin [from the rising of the sun] and end where the sun sets.

Where is the [rising of the sun]? The [rising of the sun] is Chosun, the land of the morning calm, Korea. From long ago, when Easterners or Westerners drew world maps, they would draw a red sun beside Korea saying, "This is the country of the rising sun." Japan is further to the east than Korea, but they drew the sun next to Korea and not Japan. Since long ago, large nations such as China, Russia, and other countries in the Orient have been referring to this small country Korea as "the land of the rising sun," "a country of courteous people in the East," and "Chosun" for thousands of years. Though the earth is round, Korea was known as "the land of morning calm," "the land of the rising sun," "a country of courteous people in the East," and "Chosun," even before modern-day science. As the saying goes, "The voice of the people is the voice of God."

An American recently wrote the following statements: "The mighty angel is seen ascending from the east (or where the sun rises). This mightiest of angels has in his hand the seal of the living God, or of Him who alone can give life, who can inscribe upon the foreheads the mark or inscription, to whom shall be granted immortality, eternal life. We conclude that the angel ascending from the east with the seal of the living God is the angel of God responsible for the work of the harvesting of the earth." In addition, "God the heavenly Father was very pleased to see the Law (Ten Commandments of love) emerge with strength. The truth (Law of love) increases as it emerges and becomes stronger. This is the seal from the land of the rising sun. It arises like the sun and first shines beams of light to the darkness nearby. When the truth first arises, it is a small light. However, it gradually increases. Ah, what great power lies in the rays of light."

God's love is the seal. When sinners accept the Law of love, the great truth of love, they are transformed into God's image and become Gods. When the light of the truth of love shines in the beginning, there are only a small number of people, but they gradually grow in number. Eventually, the glorious rays of light will cover the whole earth.

In every generation, many sages and prophets of both the East and West prophesied that Korea would lead the world in the new millennium. The following excerpts are taken from articles that appeared in the Joongang Daily Newspaper during the early 1980's.

"Our people will be the heroes of the history of mankind. Buddha has said that the country that will rule this chaotic world and save humanity is a country across the sea; he was speaking of Korea. Confucius spoke of an Eastern Manchurian people in the Northeast; he was also speaking of Chosun. The Bible speaks of a group of people clothed in white; the people of Korea were known as the 'white-clothed people.'"

And in Goong Ul Ga, the prophetic writings of Mr. Nam, Sa-Go, it is written, "In the last days, the savior of the world will come from the Korean peninsula. Goong Ul refers to the 'Tae Geuk.'* 'Tae Geuk Shin Myung' is also mentioned and this refers to the 'Absolute God' who appears as man." In other words, God will appear in the form of man in Chosun, the Korean peninsula. ("Tae Guk" of Chinese philosophy is literally translated as "Great Absolute.")

It is written in the prophecy of Mr. Choi, Jae-Woo that humans will become Gods and ascend to heaven in the last days. "People will be perfected into Gods who rule the universe. God who rules the universe will personally come in the form of man. Man will eternally solve all issues concerning man, and the way to become a perfect God will be opened to all. Therefore, sincerely worship your ancestors and God who comes in the form of man."

It is written in the Book of Changes, "Korea is in the 'gan bang,' the northeastern quarter, one of the eight compass directions--right in between due east and due north. Here, 'gan' is a newborn baby and represents a fruit. According to the prophecies of our ancestors, the time has come for Korea to flower and fruit. The flowers must first fall off in order to bear fruit. If the flowers are to fall off, wind is necessary. This wind is prophesied as 'the gold wind' blowing from the West, which refers to the wind of western culture. In particular, American culture began blowing in our country more than thirty years ago. Korea will bear the fruits of human history and make new world history with the help of America."

In other words, the United States will help Korea become the savior of the world. It has been written, "The grand truth that saves humanity will come out from Korea." The grand truth (great truth) to save humanity and the world in the last days will come out from Korea.

Another prophecy of Mr. Nam Sa Go states, "World civilization begins from 'gan bang,' the northeast. The truth of selflessness, the way of the universe, will be understood in Chosun--a country of courteous people in the East. Selflessness is love, the power of the universe that unites the life of the universe. Selflessness is the word that will awaken the new era (new world) of the universe."

The way of the universe, the way of heaven and earth, is love, which is the life of God. That way of love will be found in "the country of courteous people in the East," and is the truth of selflessness, the life of the universe, and God's life. God's life is love and His love will come out from Korea. The above were prophecies of holy people who were inspired by God.

During the time of Christ's first coming, the corrupt priests of Jerusalem opened up the Scriptures and preached to the people every week. However, they did not recognize the Son of God and committed the sin of killing Him. On the other hand, the Holy Spirit inspired the wise men from the East, gentiles who did not know the Scriptures or the prophecies, and they clearly recognized and accepted Him. Just carrying around the Holy Bible* and books of prophecy did not mean that they knew everything. Throughout history, God fulfilled His work through people who were pure in heart. Most of them were strict vegetarians, transcended carnal desires, lived temperate lives, and were able to keep their thoughts holy. They were holy saints who could never imagine selfishness, greed, or the desire for fame. God used them because they were holy and pure channels.

Selflessness is the life of the universe, God's life, for God's love makes the universe one. The "universal strength to unite," is the love of heaven, and love is power. That is why those who receive the love of heaven will not die but live immortally. Love is the life, strength, and power of the universe.

A nation of love will be established with the sealing of the holy people of the immortal, new world beginning in Korea. [In the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people.] (Dan. 2:44) It is written that this nation will stand forever, be a moral country of love that will never be destroyed. This is the beginning of a new era for the universe. The country established by God will not harm others or conquer them as the countries established by man. It is a country of holy saints who have accepted God, the Embodiment of love, into their hearts. They have established heaven in their hearts; understand that everyone is their real brother or sister; value, love, and care for each person as much as they do themselves; and live together in nature under God's guidance.

Those who do not know God and give themselves to sin may fear the end (destruction) of the world. However, that will be the beginning of happiness for the holy saints led by God. It is the beginning, not the end, for the heirs to the new world. That is why there is such a tremendous difference between the righteous people and the evildoers, just as heaven and earth are different.

Buddha, Confucius, and prophets of the East and West all prophesied that the truth of eternal life will come out from Korea in the last days and save the whole world. Until now, God protected the earth and restrained any nation from stirring up the winds of a large-scale (nuclear) war so that the people of Korea can fulfill that work.

Sir Tagore, a poet and prophet of India, also praised Korea with these words.

[The Light of the East]

"In the golden age of Asia,

Korea was one of its lamp bearers.

That lamp is waiting to be lighted again,

For the illumination of the East.

It is where the mind is without fear

And the head is held high,

Where knowledge is free,

Where the world has not been divided into pieces,

Where words come from the depths of truth,

Where tireless, striving stretch its arms towards perfection,

Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way

Into the dreary desert sand of dead habits,

And where the mind is led forward by you

Into ever-widening thought and action,

Into that heaven of freedom.

The homeland of my heart Korea,

May you awake from your sleep!"

This poet and prophet who never visited Korea said that Korea had nothing to fear since it had accepted God. While other races in the world were divided and lived as multiracial nations, Korea had preserved itself as a single race. The words of life would flow out of Korea to the whole world and it would open its arms to invite all the prodigals of the world to return. All the countries in the world would yearn for Korea. Before he died, he blessed Korea, saying, "The homeland of my heart, Korea! Awake from your sleep. Awake to receive and bestow blessings."

Many sages in the world have envied, prophesied, and praised Korea as the savior of the world, the country of light, and the country of immortality that will save the world. Mr. Ham, Suk-Hun, considered Korea's "Gandhi," wrote a book about Korea. The more I read it, the more it convinced me that it was written with the inspiration of heaven, and not by human wisdom.

The following passages were taken from a chapter titled, "The Mission that History Dictates to Us."

"A new war is calling us. It is not a war of struggles fought by heroes, but a war of the truth. It does not call for steel swords or rifles but true justice. The history of the world is about to change. At this time, when all of the great nations of today that will soon enter the 'trash can' of history look to fight an old-fashioned war, we must prepare our hearts for the new fight that will take place shortly." While the great nations are busy making weapons to kill people and looking to wage old-fashioned wars, we must quickly slip away and prepare ourselves for the splendid war of the truth in the new era.

"Just as the founding Christians were brave before the Roman Empire, we must heighten the fight against modern civilization. If they take our outer garment, let us give them our inner garment as well; if they work us as slaves, let us serve them with brotherly love; if they harm us, we must be prepared with the strength to pray, "Do not account them for their sins."

...Our fight is not a fight to force unhappiness upon others but to save the lives of the world by gratefully bearing affliction, the result of sin. We ourselves will fear and worry about our weaknesses when our consciences are not fully prepared. However, when the light of justice shines in our heart and love for the truth kindles in our heart, we will discover that today's armed countries are nothing more than Goliath.

Just as the fate of Israel rested on one man, David, the future of the world rests upon our victory or defeat. Do you doubt these words? Do you doubt this because it is too great a glory? To think that this is too great a glory is an outdated conception of the past. If you think this is impossible, then you might as well doubt David who saved Israel with a single stone.

David was not a mighty person, just a shepherd boy. He became mighty because he received the calling of God.... We are not determining the future of humanity because we have the ability to, but because Providence commands us to. This is a historical necessity. Since the consequences of injustice in the world have been charged upon us, we are the only ones who can wash them away. This is our mission. We are the only ones who can fulfill this mission. England cannot do it, and the United States cannot either.... Just as in the past, new history has always begun from the "trash can," and it is much more so for the history to come. Therefore, if Korea...does its job and is victorious, humanity will be saved. If not, the world is doomed.

We must prove that people are not slaves to materialism. We must show that power is not justice, and that power will not prevail in the end. We must prove that the forces of injustice can never destroy mankind. We must prove that love can overcome Satan, and that saving humanity through suffering is not a lie. We must also prove to the whole world that we can only rid ourselves of sin through forgiveness. This is why the fate of humanity rests upon us.... If God entrusted us with this unique, grand mission for the future history of mankind, we must courageously arise to fulfill it.

(In order for our people to courageously arise,) there must (first) be a core group to arouse them, just as a seed is needed first in order for a tree to grow. Who will make up the core of that core group? They will have to be those who love the truth.

No one can know the future without the eyes of a religious faith. The future war is a war of the truth, and it is a war won by faith. Because Confucianism failed to do its work, Buddhism failed to do its work, and Christianity failed to do its work, the world has changed considerably. (It has come to ruins.)

We, who are preparing for the new day and bearing all the remnants of civilization and religion, need a new religion. The time has come for those with a will to prepare for the fight. The sound of labor pains from the world giving birth to a new era is growing louder and louder.... Therefore, warriors...! Sell all your garments of old conceptions, old systems, and old rituals and buy the sharp, double-edged sword of the truth. Sell all your old religions, old views of the world, old philosophies of history, old mortal ceremonies, earthly morals, and earthly (deceptive) love. Sell them and buy the sword of truth that is purer than fine gold and finished in the eternal forge of the holy Blacksmith (God). This is all that is necessary from now on. Morals that are dignified in the classrooms, but powerless outside are useless. Those morals that are found to be otherwise in the battlefields are also useless for the coming history (days). Faith that causes people to be pious and shed tears only at church or in the temple but disappears once outside is useless. Religions that tear the universe into ten or twenty pieces, religions that prepare a hell in order to eternally confine most of the pitiful people just to make a few people happy, and other such aristocratic religions are useless in the coming history (days).

Patriotism based on the philosophy of struggling for survival must be excluded in the world to come. We love our country not out of so-called patriotism, but because the kingdom of heaven can come to no other country but Korea. We love our people not out of fraternity, but because the voice of God cannot be heard without them; His will cannot be made known if they are disregarded. They must do their duty well, not for the sake of survival but for the sake of the truth. Koreans not living well is pain for the whole universe and sorrow to God. They will be warriors for the new era on the day that the heart of Korea is perfectly armed with the truth....

Arise, young souls! Let us bear the burden of affliction. Let us bear this earth, which has been defiled by iniquities, upon our shoulders and walk through the purgatory of affliction as martyrs, believing in our great mission and burning with a sacred love. On the day the fire burns our flesh and melts our bones, life will develop anew. The truth will shine brighter in a new light. History will reach a new stage." Observing the Meaning of Korean History by Ham, Suk-Hun>

I contemplated, "There are so many eminent, leading countries in the world such as England, France, the United States of America, Germany, and great Asian countries such as China, Russia, and Japan that are larger and more populated than Korea. Why did God choose to crown a country that is smaller and a race that is physically small with the holy truth of heaven and the glorious mission in these last days?" However, the more I thought about it, the more I was convinced that even if I were God, I would give this holy truth to no other country but Korea. Morality in all the eastern and western countries became irreparably depraved. Even Korea's closest neighbor, Japan, has become so depraved. I do not even want to mention the depravity of America. The whole world has depraved into beasts; people have the face of human beings, but have all become beasts inside. This is not to say that Korea is not depraved. Korea's deep depravity is also a sign of destruction, and it continues to deprave. However, it is a little better than other countries. There is hope because some morals still exist.

Even if we were God and searched the whole earth ten or hundred times asking ourselves, "Which country should I give this truth to?" Korea would be the only country. This is because Korea is less morally depraved than other countries.

When asking Westerners about practicing filial piety toward their parents, they reply, "Filial piety? What is that? Why should I go through the hassle of living with my elderly parents when I can live comfortably alone?" and send their parents off to a retirement home. When asked to be loyal to their country or to their ruler, they say, "Who cares about loyalty? If we do not like him (her), we can either replace that person with someone else or shoot him (her)." When wives are asked to keep their chastity to their husbands, they reply, "What's that?" Most do not even know the meaning of the words chastity, filial piety, or loyalty. They do not even know what the fundamental duties of man are.

From long ago, Koreans served only one king, practiced filial piety towards their parents even at the cost of their lives, and virtuous wives served and were faithful to only one husband. Only the people of Korea showed exemplary filial piety to their parents--during a severe famine, a son cut a piece of his thigh off to feed his parents. Only in Korea, were loyal retainers tortured with a red-hot iron and killed for serving only one king, while women killed themselves in front of their enemies in order to remain chaste to their husbands.

Korea is a beautiful country! It is a country of faithful woman, loyal retainers, and filial children, a country with morals! Those charms allowed Korea to gain the love of heaven. When such people serve God, their loyalty and chastity towards Him will also be single-hearted and filled with ardent love. While the rest of the world has become depraved, how fortunate it is that Korea still has beautiful morals. We should be proud of Korea. Even if the readers of this book were God and you each asked yourself, "Which country should I give this holy, immortal truth to?" no matter how many times you would search the world, Korea would be the only country to give the truth to. Many immigrate to foreign countries because they do not like to live here in Korea. However, the time has come to be grateful for being born in the glorious country of Korea.

Long ago, no one knew about Korea, and it could not be found on any map. Now, Korea has become so well known; anyone unfamiliar with Korea is not a native of this planet. Heaven is glorifying Korea through all kinds of events. Whether it is the Olympics, sports competitions, or the International Vocational Training Competition, Korea is being honored in the world. The attention of the world has focused on Korea, more so now than in the past. They all come to this small country that is like the tail of a rabbit, located at the end of the continent. The world now praises Korea as a wonderful country.

The International Vocational Training Competition brings together the most talented, brilliant, and outstanding competitors from countries such as Germany, Israel, and Japan. The competition has been held once every two years for the past twenty-six years. Korea came in first place twelve times and came in second only once. The contestants from Korea initially practiced with inferior machines and then had to use the newer machines of the host nation during the competition. The other contestants had already been practicing with those machines since they were manufactured in their country, while the contestants from Korea had to get accustomed to the newer machines right on the spot. Yet, they took first place, causing many people in the world to say, as shaking their heads, "We are no match for the Koreans."

No one can say it was by chance that a country with a population of a little more than forty million people prevailed over all the more than 200 World Powers, some with populations of several hundred million people, and placed seventh, then fourth, at the summer Olympic games. At the Seoul (1986) and Busan Asian Games (2002), Korea even surpassed Japan, which is twice the size of Korea, by a wide margin and came in second place behind China, which has a population of 1.3 billion people. When taking into account the population ratio between the two countries, it can be said that Korea defeated China.

In other words, Korea was foremost among the 200 countries that participated in the summer Olympic games and the king of Asia in the Asian Games, too. Though Korea performed quite well, many people may acknowledge that Heaven gave Korea some breaks. "I will give you the glory," Heaven said as Korea won to become the king of Asia and the king of the world. Heaven glorifies and honors Korea in everything and strives to awaken the Korean people in a countless number of ways.

Heaven did not glorify Korea through various events simply out of love for this country. Korea has been highlighted above all the other countries in order to fulfill Heaven's glorious goal and plan and to save all the real children throughout the world in the last days. Afterwards, the world will be shown many unique signs within Korea that disclose the secret revelations of heaven to the world.

[Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.] (Amos 3:7)

When a nation amends its constitution, the government first announces the amendments to the citizens of the country before enforcing them. Likewise, our God first announces a certain plan or providence, and then executes it. That is why it has been said that the voice of the people is the voice of God--God moves the sentiment of the people (the general public). He shows us through various, peculiar signs.

Right before the Korean War broke out, children were playing a popular "Territorial Conquest" game after school every day. They would kneel on the ground, draw a square in the dirt, and flick around a circular piece of wood inside the square to take each other's land. Opponents would take land from each another, and in the end, the land would be divided in half. About that time, war broke out between the North and the South, each fighting to take the other's territory. In the end, a line was drawn at the 38th parallel, and the land was divided in half. God shows us in advance, what will happen in the world. He says, "A certain event will take place, so be careful. Get ready." This is a revelation from God showing us the signs.

Long ago, when the city of Cheongju was destroyed, a man walked throughout the city during the day carrying a rice-wine strainer. Young people nowadays are not familiar with rice-wine strainers. Our ancestors made rice strainers by cutting bamboo into thin strips and weaving these strips into a strainer. The strainer was then nailed to the inner wall of the wine vat and used to keep the residues out. Only the clear wine (raw or refined rice wine) inside the strainer was scooped up with a bowl to drink. However, this man was walking around wearing it upside down on his head. When people asked, "Excuse me, why are you walking around wearing that rice-wine strainer?" he would reply, "Scoop up some wine. Scoop up some wine."* "What? Is your head a wine vat that you ask people to scoop up some wine? You're crazy." However, he continued walking around Cheongju warning people to leave Cheongju. When anyone would ask him, "Why are you going around wearing that strainer?" he would always reply, "I'm telling you, scoop up some wine (leave Cheongju)." People only said, "You're crazy," without realizing that this was actually an omen. After circling Cheongju several times, he disappeared. Shortly afterwards, Cheongju was completely destroyed. Though he was a prophet and a voice warning the people to quickly leave Cheongju, people failed to comprehend the spiritual meaning and simply said he was crazy.

The same thing happened when the corrupt church of Jerusalem, the religious center of the world where people gathered in the millions, was destroyed. The city of Jerusalem was one of the greatest wonders of the world. People said, "Human beings cannot build such a city," and something that scientists could not even build. However, the huge gates of Jerusalem, which could only be opened by more than twenty strong, young men, swung open in the middle of the night without the help of single a human hand, and a voice could be heard underground, "God has forsaken this church of Jerusalem. Leave quickly. Leave!" This was a sign from heaven. (The phrase "Scoop up some wine," and "Leave Cheongju," have the same exact pronunciation when spoken in Korean.)

An unknown young man traveled around the streets of Jerusalem saying, "Because God has forsaken this church, it will be destroyed. Run away. Quickly leave the city. God has forsaken this people." No one knew who sent him, what his name was, or even his identity. He was just a farmer from the countryside who went around crying out those words. The so-called high priests, the servants of the God, took him, beat him, and imprisoned him, but he did not say a word. However, when he came out of the prison, he continued crying out, "This church will be destroyed, so quickly leave." After crying out like that for seven years, the city of Jerusalem, the center of corrupt religion, was completely destroyed. At that time, over one million people were gruesomely burned to death.

[Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.] (Amos 3:7)

Another important event will gloriously take place in the last days. [Behold...before the coming of the great and dreadful day (of judgment) of the Lord (I)...will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers.] (Mal. 4:5, 6) The fathers and children mentioned here are the heavenly Father and the prodigals of this earth. As it is written in the Bible, [do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.] (Mat. 23:9) In the 1980's, there was a campaign to reunite separated families of the Korean War about the time heaven and earth were to be unified according to this prophecy, as a sign. This was about the time the heavenly Father and the earthly prodigals (sinners) were to meet and became one, in other words, about the time the separated universal family was to be reunited. This should have happened sooner. Why did it unexpectedly take place half a century later? This was because heaven's appointed time had come. The whole world, including all the democratic and communist countries, arose saying, "Let us all work together to help reunite the separated families in Korea," and shed tears together as they helped to unite separated families. The news reported this event in the headlines everyday and stirred the entire world. It was a sign from our heavenly Father for the last days. He was saying, "Children! Since the time has come to find My separated children--My children who left My bosom and are suffering scattered--beginning from Korea, you return to My bosom, too" From then on, the earthly prodigals began returning to the bosom of our heavenly Father, completely fulfilling the providence of the reunion of the separated universal family.

Moreover, why did atheists who smoke and drink sing a song based on First Corinthians, chapter 13 in Korea during the early 1980's? If you were to ask atheists to sing hymns, they would reply, "Are you crazy?" and refuse to. However, they sang, "Love is longsuffering, love is kind....♪♬" Why did this happen? God's children should have been singing songs to spread God's love. However, all the churches became corrupt, busy doing impertinent things, instead of spreading God's love. Therefore, God raised "stone-hearted" atheists to proclaim His love. [I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.] (Luke 19:40)

After the song spread, our heavenly Real Daddy's law of love, His truth of love, was spread throughout the whole world from Korea.

When the great truth "Be a Foot," which tells us that we must be feet in order to obtain eternal life, came out, factories all over Korea started making and selling accessories in the shape of a foot with "Love" written on it. It was telling us to be soles of love. I still have a key chain that only has four toes on it and "Forever" written on it. This meant, "Be the toes of love and the sole of mankind, and die serving all. Be an eternal foot." We must be eternal feet in order to receive the seal of heaven. When asked why they made an ugly foot instead of a beautiful hand, the factory managers replied that they did not know why. They said that they just felt like making it. All the factories in Korea made these accessories simultaneously, as if they had made some agreement to do so. This was a sign of heaven. Our heavenly Daddy moved the hearts of the factory owners to make an inaudible proclamation to the world. (The number 'four' is associated with death)

That is not all. In addition, the foot was popular even in the United States. There were drawings of a crowned foot and a foot with a floral wreath blowing a horn printed in newspapers and magazine articles. Who told Americans to draw feet? The signs of heaven precisely reveal what will happen in the world. Our heavenly Daddy moved the whole world and used those signs to make them realize, "You must all become humble feet in order to live with Me." Even politicians who were not Christians went around shouting, "Let us be the feet of the people."

If the world still cannot understand, this earth will soon be destroyed, like Cheongju and Jerusalem. God is a Father who teaches us in thousands of ways. Our Father has now glorified Korea the most with riches, power, and glory.

Why is our Father glorifying Korea? His providence is to gloriously exalt Korea so that the world can behold the country where He will reveal the final truth of salvation, the truth of love, the truth of eternal life. When that happens, that is the end of the final harvesting of the world. Throughout history, all the prophecies in the Bible were fulfilled at the religious centers of the world at that time. It was fulfilled in Israel when Jerusalem was the center long ago, in Rome when Rome was the center, and most recently in America. However, in the last days, Korea will be the religious center of the world. If the fight between the truth and fallacy is won in Korea, it will be victory for the world. The battlefield of the fiercest spiritual wars will be in Korea. That is why the Presidents of the United States of America, for generations, have continuously promised to protect Korea at all cost. They are determined to not give up as in Vietnam and protect Korea to the end, at the risk of their lives. Although it is because their country benefits from doing so, our God also commanded them from the "White House" of heaven, "Be Korea's guard." That is why the Presidents of the United States of America have vowed to protect Korea at all cost until now.

Then why does God love Korea so much? It is because Korea is less morally corrupt. In other words, God gave Korea the mission to select those who will receive the Seed of the immortal country, the new world. Europe or America seems like a good choice since they are more materialistically civilized, but that is the cause of their moral corruption. Korea must not lose its beautiful morals. However, the morals of Korea are rapidly decaying nowadays. If Korea's beautiful native morals die out, the country will also perish.

When I was young, I never heard of housewives drinking or dancing. Only prostitutes working at bars would drink, shout aloud, and dance. Housewives were not even allowed to show their faces outside. Nowadays, the world has changed. Many housewives resemble prostitutes, drinking and dancing with other men and having illicit relationships. Under the mask of travel, they dance with different men on trips. Under the mask of social life they all sink into lechery.

This is truly sad. This is the very sign of Korea's demise. Jesus said, "If salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men." The saltiness of Korea is its morality. God loved Korea for its beautiful morals and chose it to be the last savior of the world and the guide to the new world of the new millennium. Those with perception should strive to preserve the beautiful morals of Korea.

Let me again say that the morals of Korea are collapsing rapidly. Young women stop cars driven by men they do not know and ride off with them. Women even stop motorcycles and ride off with their arms around the man's waist. Moreover, if the woman is disgruntled, she accuses him of rape. What a brazenfaced woman! How can she say she was raped when she was the one who stopped the car (motorcycle) of a complete stranger and rode off with him? That is premeditated enticement and an inexpressibly impudent assertion. Supposedly, women go after men these days.

I, too, experienced something like that when I was living in the countryside in Jeonla Province. I was riding my bicycle on the main road when I suddenly heard a woman screaming, "Mister! Let's go together!" Though I was busy at the time, I stopped, thinking that maybe it was an emergency and that she was on her way back home from the pharmacy with medicine. A woman so young I could not tell whether she was married or not came running. I asked her, "What is wrong?" She said, "Can you give me a ride?" I replied, "You can sit in the back (on the luggage rack)." As soon as she sat down, she put her arms around my waist, causing me to blush. How could I tell her to get off when I had just told her to sit down? Though I was burning from embarrassment, I had no choice but to ride on. On top of that, she was very heavy. I could not take it anymore. Though I had planned to go straight, I steered my bicycle towards another direction. I asked her to get off, saying, "I have to go this way." After she got off, I asked her who she was. I discovered that she was the newlywed daughter-in-law of the owner of the mill on the main road. What would her husband or father-in law have done if they had seen what she did? However, it did not seem to matter to her. I had doubts about her past.

When the leader of our community or the head of our neighborhood association came to collect taxes, I never saw my mother, who has passed away, pay them face-to-face when my father was not present. She handed them the money while looking the other away. In the past, if a man passed by a woman on the street, the woman would quietly stand off to the side until the man passed by and then continue. Korean women had many such beautiful virtues. Some women were so faithful to their husbands that they died with them, despite the abuse and grief they endured during their marriage.

Some faithful retainers in Korean history died keeping their loyalty to one king. Even when being tortured with red-hot iron, they died screaming, "This iron has gone cold. Bring a new one." In addition, there were filial sons who cut off flesh from their thighs, cooked it, and served it to their parents during times of famine.

There is no other country in the world as beautiful and holy as Korea. We must never lose the beautiful morals of "the country of courteous people in the East." Once they are lost, Korea will perish. If Korea loses its beautiful morals, then God will remove the crown and place it on another like the Hunza country. God will surely finish the work of this earth's redemption through any nation or people. This is His pledge, His vow, and His determination. Even if all the housewives in Korea become prostitutes and all the morals in the world disappear, at least those with perception should become the holy saints who walk the path of the holy truth of "the country of courteous people in the East" (Korea) and keep those morals to the end. This is because in the near future, our heavenly Daddy will move them to the new world as its heir, as children who will receive the Seed of the new world, the new heavens and earth that He has spoken of and promised for thousands of years.

In conclusion, let us find out which area of the East and which country the saviors of humanity will be coming from by examining the prophecies in the Holy Bible* since it has been prophesied that they would appear from the East.

[(I will call) a bird of prey from the east, the man who executes My counsel, from a far country.] (Isa. 46:11)

A bird of prey represents those who quickly fulfill God's providence. [As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man...the face of a lion on the right side...the face of an ox on the left side, and...the face of an eagle.] (Eze. 1:10) Those are the attributes of God, and an eagle represents those who fill quickly fulfill God's providence. Where will the people who will quickly fulfill God's providence come from? Who will raise them up from the East?

God said, "I will raise them up." [I have raised up one from the north, and he shall come; from the rising of the sun he shall call on My name.] (Isa. 41:25)

God said He would raise [one] from Korea, from the rising of the sun. The God of heaven did not entrust the work to any nation or corrupt religion but said that [I] would personally raise him up.

[Behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east. His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory.] (Eze. 43:2) The glory of the God of Israel will come from the east, the rising of the sun, from Korea. In the beginning, God's voice is that of one person. Afterwards, many righteous people [like the sound of many waters] arise. This refers to the rising of a core group. At first, one person arises to form the core group. After the core group arises, it will enlighten Korean people and the world, bringing forth the heirs to the new world.

In the beginning, God personally raises an eagle from the East-- [one person] who will quickly fulfill God's providence. Then, many people [like the sound of many waters] will arise with the same spirit.

[Therefore glorify the Lord in the east, the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.... From the ends of the earth we hear songs, "Glory to the Righteous One."] (Isa. 24:15, 16, NASB)

[But news from the east and the north shall trouble him (a protester of heaven); therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many.... Yet, he shall come to his end, and no one will help him.] (Dan. 11:44, 45)

The east and the north mentioned here is Korea, considered a part of Northeast Asia. "Protestants"--holy, righteous people--from Korea, or Northeast Asia, who oppose those who disobey heaven, will arise and oppose the false religions that have consumed the entire world and corrupted morals, and the authorities of injustice. Their fight is not with the armed might of this world or with violence. It is a fight to drive away the evil influences of the dark world through their holy lives. They are the very heirs to the new world of the new era. The fate of the Korea, the world, and the entire universe, rests upon Korean people. Therefore, we must be the warriors of truth whose eyes shine with the light of truth like Christ, and we must be heroes of morality.

[Who raised up one from the east? Who in righteousness called him to His feet?] (Isa. 41:2) [I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, "You are my servant"; I have chosen you and have not rejected you.] (Isa. 41:9, NIV) This means that God raised up a person from the East who would lead people to His feet and throne. This is the last event that will be fulfilled.

He asks the question, "Who did it?" Though He did everything all along, He acts as if He is looking for that person by asking, "Who did it?" Our Daddy is amusing. On the night He wrestled with Jacob at the Brook Jabbok thousands of years ago, He could have said early in the evening, "It's Me." Instead, He acted as if He did not know him. After wrestling all night with him, He said, "It's Me," at dawn. Even today, acting as if He is looking for someone, He asks, [Who raised up one from the east? Who in righteousness called him to His feet?] Right afterwards, He answers, "I did," as if He is playing hide-and-seek with his loving children. Our Daddy is truly amusing. [You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest regions, and said to you, "You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away."]

In Psalms, it is written, [Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in His holy mountain. Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.] (Psa. 48:1, 2) This means that the people (Gods) of the new world who were called and chosen by God, holy people of the great King, will gather on Mount Zion of the Northeast, Korea. What a truly wonderful glory and a universal great blessing. Let us offer gratitude day and night for giving the truth of salvation to Korea, the country prophesied of by Eastern and Western prophets, in these last days and for crowning the Korean people with the mission to save the world.

Let me end after focusing on the exact location based on the Holy Bible. According to Biblical prophecies, the righteous who will save the world will arise from the [east,], from the [way of the east,] [from the rising of the sun,] and those who execute His counsel will come from [north][east] Asia, [from a far country,] [from the ends of the earth,] and from the [farthest corners.]

China, Korea, and Japan together make up Northeast Asia, Far East Asia. Then among the three, which one is the glorious country?

It is written that the children of God who will fulfill His providence will arise from [north][east] Asia and [from the ends of earth.] Japan is not at the [ends of the earth.] It is an island, so it is not applicable. China is at the top of the earth and not at the end, so it is not applicable also. Korea is the only country that is at the [ends of the earth.] More precisely, it is written that the country is at the [farthest corners.] If we take the map of the Far East, we can see that Korea is the corner of Northeast Asia. In addition, it is not in North Korea, but in South Korea, the [ends of earth], that the heirs to the new world in the new millennium will arise. The prophecies of heaven are not even off by 1/1,000 of an inch and are precisely fulfilled.

If you look throughout history, how many times did powerful, surrounding nations try to invade, trample on, and swallow up Korea? It has been invaded close to a thousand times. There is a proverb, "There is no tree that cannot be felled with ten blows of an ax." However, Korea did not fall even after it was attacked close to a thousand times. God of heaven has protected and watched over Korea because the saviors (Gods) of this world will come out from this glorious country. A part of the national anthem of the Republic of Korea is as follows: "Hurrah to our country, for God protects us." Because this is the very country where Gods, the heirs to the new world, incorruptible, holy people, would be coming out from, our heavenly Daddy has protected this country as the apple of His eye.

God has now bestowed the greatest grace and mission of the universe upon Korea and to those of us who will never lose the saltiness of sound morals and who have become Gods. As receivers of such a sacred grace, let us not lose our holiness but carry out this great mission. In order to do so, even if the whole world becomes depraved like beasts and even if Korean people become polluted and corrupted, let us preserve our conscience and the beautiful morals that please God as the small number of people with perception. Let us make sure that heaven's grace never departs from us by becoming Gods who will receive the Seed of the new world in the new millennium, holy heirs to new history. Since heavenly Daddy has placed His expectations on the Korean people and the small number of His children on earth who have retained their saltiness, I hope that you will be the seeds of the new world; heirs to the indestructible country; heirs to the eternally happy country; heirs to the new world of the new millennium. I hope that you will enjoy this eternal glory and grace as the eternally happy, immortal Gods, the splendid Gods who receive all of heavenly Daddy's grace and love forever.

[In the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom (the country of Gods) which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.] (Dan. 2:44) [But the saints (real children) of the Most High shall receive the kingdom (of the new world), and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.] (Dan. 7:18)

I Long to Go to the Immortal, New World

I long to go

Our country, the new world,

The land of peace,

The land of happiness

As soon as possible.

I want to live there as soon as possible.

I long to go to the land

Where righteous people are not made into false sinners

And unjustly beaten and tortured,

Robbed of their money and killed.

I long to go to our country, the new world, as soon as possible.

I long to go to the land

Where sinners are transformed into righteous people,

The land where we are rewarded and loved,

The land of eternal life and happiness.

I long to go to our country, the new world, as soon as possible.

I long to go to the land

Where there are no beastly wicked people,

Where only righteous people as gentle as lamb dwell.

I long to quickly go to our country, the new world.

I long to go to the land

Where there are no evil hands that assault righteous people at night,

Where there are no demons that kill righteous people during the day,

And where people can live in happiness and peace.

I long to go to our country, the new world, as soon as possible.

I long to go to the country of Gods,

A saintly country ruled by the King of peace,

Where there are no evil kings, nations, or thieves.

I long to go to our country, the new world, right now.

Where brethren do not fight with one another,

Where brethren do not betray one another,

Where brethren do not become enemies who try to catch and eat one another.

I long to quickly go to our country, the new world.

I long to go to the land

Where brothers and sisters love one another,

Where there are no kings or subjects,

Where Real Daddy and His real children live together, loving one another.

I long to go to our country, the new world, as quickly as possible.

I long to go to the land

Where my Daddy who begot me,

Where my Mother who raised me,

Where my Brother who saved me,

And where my angel friends who protected me dwell.

I long to go to our country, the new world right now.

I long to go to our country, the new world, as quickly as possible.
My Love, My Fair One

Even when lying in bed at night, I cannot forget you,

My love, my fair one.

Arise and come with me.

Be a God

2012-12-19T15:17:00.000-08:00

By Teacher Suksun

You may wonder why this chapter is [Be a God] when chapter 4, [God is our Real Father] clearly states the fact that we are Gods. Please let me mention one thing before continuing. When we see our grown up child acting foolishly, we, as parents, scold and caution our immature son (daughter), "Please behave like a proper young man (woman)." In the same way, this chapter, [Be a God], is telling us to act as dignified Gods, and it will be a greater blessing if we begin with this understanding.

The offspring of a cow must be a cow, the offspring of a human being must be a human being, and the offspring of God must be a God. Therefore, the children of God who will live with Him eternally in the new world must also be Gods. You cannot be a child of God, live with Him, or enter His country, the immortal new world, unless you become a God. The ultimate objective of the truths found in the Holy Bible is to restore corrupt humans to their original state as God's real children, that is, to restore them to their original divinity as God's sons and daughters. There is one great truth in the universe, and its ultimate objective is to perfect human beings into Gods.

Our heavenly Father personally says to each one of us, [You are my son (daughter), today I have begotten you.] (Psa. 2:7) Cows only breed cows, dogs only breed dogs, humans beings only give birth to human beings, and God only gives birth to Gods. Since He said, [I have begotten you,] we are undoubtedly Gods.

Look at our features (ears, eyes, nose, and mouth). Our face is different from the faces of all the countless animals. We are the only ones who resemble God. In the beginning, our Daddy said, [Let us make (give birth to) man (children) in Our image, according to Our likeness.] (Gen. 1:26) He came to us again and reconfirmed our identity, saying, [You are (Gods), and all of you are sons of the Most High (Emperor of the universe).] (Psa. 82:6)

Those who insist otherwise, who say, "My ancestor is a monkey. I am the offspring of a mouse," will surely die on this earth, as a monkey will. The "son Gods" and "daughter Gods" who dance joyfully, saying, "Now, I have finally found my Real Father," will be taken up to the throne of their real Father, the King of the universe, as heavenly "prince Gods" and "princess Gods." Let me congratulate the crown princes and crown princesses who were separated from their Real Daddy on their dramatic reunion with Him.

The Young "Jesus God" of Nazareth

Jesus was a human being who was born from the body of a woman. His flesh and bones were just like ours. Though we do not know whether His blood type was O, A, or AB, His blood was just like ours. He was an ordinary human being with flesh and blood, born from the body of a woman.

He ate in order to be strengthened, worked during the day, rested when He was tired, slept when He felt drowsy, felt hungry when He starved, felt pain when he was beaten, agonized when He was afflicted, shed tears when He was sad, collapsed when He was exhausted, and died when He was killed. Jesus was an ordinary man who had a body like ours. However, at a certain point in time, that ordinary Jesus was restored as God and acted like God from then on. He departed this earth after living the life of the almighty God who healed the sick, raised the dead, walked on water, and calmed the raging wind at sea.

How was this young man, Jesus, restored as God? Let us see how He was restored, in detail.

[In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.] [And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten (Jesus) of the Father, full of grace and truth.] (John 1:1, 14)

The "Word God," the Spirit who created the heavens and the earth with God in the beginning, was present (became one with) the body of that young man, Jesus of Nazareth. From that hour, He was restored as the Incarnation of God.

In other words, "The 'Word God' that was in the beginning abided in the body of Jesus. [The Word became flesh] in that young man, Jesus; He [dwelt among us], and [we beheld His glory as of the only begotten Son of the Father], Jesus God, [full of grace and truth.] From that hour, the young man, Jesus, became the Son of God who powerfully spoke words full of truth."

Jesus' body was the just like ours. However, when the Word that created the heavens and the earth in the beginning abided in His flesh, divinity united with humanity, and He became the Incarnation of God. The formula is very simple. If the Word God that was in the beginning dwells in our body, we become a third God after the young man Jesus. The next person becomes the fourth God...the tenth, the hundredth, and the thousandth God. We can all become Gods by following Jesus' example and having the "Word God of truth" that existed in the beginning abide in our body. Jesus also speaks about this formula--"[Those to whom the word of God came], like Me, are [called (Gods).]" (John 10:35, NRSV)

Some may still say, "But Jesus was born of the Holy Spirit, (Mat. 1:20) without (the sperm of) a man."

However, Jesus said that we would also be born of the Spirit in the same manner, and that only those who are born again of the Spirit as He was and become a God as He did can enter God's country, the new world. [Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit] as I was, [cannot enter the kingdom of God.] (John 3:5) Unless a man of flesh [is born again] of the Spirit, [he cannot see the kingdom of God.] (John 3:3) The only difference between Jesus and us is that of time; Jesus was born of the Spirit before we were.

People say that Jesus was born in an odd way, without a man, in other words, without the sperm of a man. However, many others besides Jesus were also born without a man.

Was Eve born by a man's seed? Though Jesus was born from the womb of a woman, Mary, Eve was born from Adam's rib as the most beautiful woman on earth. Does that not make her greater than Jesus? Not only that, there is someone even greater than Eve. Adam was born from dirt; he did not need a man's seed, the womb of a woman, or even a rib.

Life is not only man's seed. Life is born from the harmony between a rib or dirt, and God's [Spirit of life.] (Rom. 8:2) This is the law of life. [The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.] (John 6:63) When the Spirit of God's Word comes to sperm, a rib, dirt, or anything else, there is life. We are born solely by God's Word. Life is born in a mysterious and inexpressible way through the working of the [Spirit of life] (Rom. 8:2), the Spirit of God, the source of all life.

Many people consider Jesus completely different from us, as if He is some strange alien from outer space. At the same time consider, they consider Adam and Eve to be human just like us. In reality, Adam and Eve are much greater than Jesus is. Jesus was born from a woman's body, Mary's womb, just as we were. Jesus was a human being who had a body just like us. Let me introduce someone greater than Jesus.

Jesus was born of a young, healthy virgin. However, someone was born from an elderly mother who had been menopausal for quite a long time and was so old that she was [as good as dead (a corpse).] (Heb. 11:12) He was Isaac, a great man who was born from the body of a ninety year-old elderly mother.

[God said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her." Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, "Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?" And Abraham said to God, "Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!"] (Gen. 17:15-18)

[He faced the fact that his body was as good as dead--since he was about a hundred years old--and that Sarah's womb was also dead] (Rom. 4:19, NIV) and [fell on his face and laughed.]

Abraham was almost one-hundred-years-old and his body was as good as dead. He was so old that he looked like a corpse when he closed his eyes. It had been a long time since the body of this frail, elderly man had stopped producing sperm, and his ninety-year-old wife Sarah had begun menopause long ago. Picture a toothless Sarah with her back bent like a bow; her uterus was barren a long time ago. Now, imagine the elderly couple sitting close to the fireplace, warming their cold hands and feet. One day, God paid them a visit.

"Abraham?"

"Yes?"

"Congratulations! At about this time next year, Sarah will have an adorable baby boy."

When God said that, did Abraham reply, "Thank you, God"? He was dumbstruck, [fell on his face and laughed.] "Ha, ha! God, please look at us. How can we give birth to an adorable baby boy? I am almost a hundred-years-old, my body is as frail as a dried stick, and my body stopped producing sperm a long time ago. Sarah is already menopausal and her uterus dried up completely a long time ago. How do You expect us to have a son at about this time next year? Ishmael was born through a female slave of mine. Please let him be the son who carries my lineage." However, God said, "No, your wife Sarah will have an adorable baby boy about this time next year."

God's Word is spirit and life. As soon as the Word of life fell from His lips, there was life, and Sarah delivered a strong, healthy baby boy they named Isaac, the following year. How can we not say that the birth of Isaac was a greater event than the birth of Jesus by young Mary?

People also say, "Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit from His mother's womb." However, someone other than Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb. John the Baptist was born of the wife of elderly Zacharias the High Priest. Like Isaac, he was born from the body of an elderly woman who was menopausal. Like Jesus, John was the son of God who was [filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.] (Luke 1:15) However, they were born with different missions. John was a son of God who was full of the Holy Spirit from conception. Having been inside his mother's womb for six months, John recognized and welcomed Jesus' mother, Mary, when she walked in and welcomed her by dancing, [(leaping) in her womb.] (Luke 1:41)

We can see that other predecessors in the Bible were born in greater ways than Jesus was. They were all sons of God who were born without a man's seed. However, people consider the bodies of those who were greater than Jesus was--Adam, Eve, Isaac, and John the Baptist--to be the same as ours, while they regard Jesus' body to be completely different, as if it were the body of an alien. This is the work of the devil Satan, the god of this world, trying to prevent us from following Jesus, the Way, alienate us from Him, make us fall, and destroy us eternally. As His real younger sibling, we must follow our eldest Brother Jesus, our Way, very closely and arrive safely at our Daddy's home. Let us make sure that estranger, Satan the devil, never gets between us again.

Because people would not accept Jesus as an identical person, an identical friend, or an identical brother, He was very lonely on this earth. He lamented, "[Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.]" (Mat. 8:20) Strangely enough, instead of mentioning His own name when speaking of Himself, He would always say "the Son of Man." He said, "The Son of Man...lay His head," "the Son of Man came to," "eat the flesh of the Son of Man," and "the day of the Son of Man...." The expression, "son of man," refers to a son born of a man. Who was not a son of a man in our generation or in the past? He was not the only son of a man. Then why did He only use the expression "Son of Man," instead of using His name, "Jesus," and say, "I, Jesus...lay My head," "Jesus came to," "eat the flesh of Jesus," or "the day of Jesus"?

The people in our age and that age thought strangely of Jesus. Although He was also human, they excluded and alienated Him. He was so sorrowful and lonely that He sincerely said, "Please, do not look at Me strangely or leave Me out. I am the Son of Man. I was born of a woman, a son of a man, just like you. I am a Son of Man and so are you; I am a Son of God and so are you; I am a human being and so are you; I am a God and so are you. I am a human being who has a body just as you do, and we are all one family. On the contrary, I was born inferior to Adam, Eve, John the Baptist, and Isaac. I have the same body as you do; we are all one family. Therefore, just as I became a restored God by receiving the Word God, you will also become a restored God like Me if you accept the Word God in your heart."

That is why God repeatedly says, "I [called them (Gods), to whom (anyone) the word of God came.] (John 10:35)

The Formula for a Human Being to Become a God

... The mission of the Savior

... The mission of Elijah

... The mission of an heir to the new world

If [the word] [in the beginning] (John 1:1) had not abided in the body of the young man, Jesus, He could not have become the Savior of the world. He would have just lived and died as a common, rural carpenter. He became the great Savior of the world because the "Word God' that created the heavens and the earth abided in His body, and He became the Son of God Whom [the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,] [full of grace and truth.] (John 1:14)

"Moses God" the Shepherd

In order to live according to heaven's will, Moses threw away the throne of Egypt as worthless, went into the wilderness of Median, and became a shepherd, a servant at someone else's ranch. He later found favor with the owner of the ranch who adopted him into the family as a son-in-law. He became a God one morning without his wife even knowing it.

One day, God said to Moses, "[See, I have made you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet.] (Exo. 7:1) You will act with God's authority." From then on, every command from the mouth of "Moses God" was readily fulfilled.

When "Moses God" commanded, "Swarms of flies, appear!" thick swarms of flies were created immediately, and they covered the entire country. When "Moses God" said, "Frogs, appear!" scores of frogs were created, and they covered the entire land. The river turned into blood at the command of "Moses God," and the sea parted as soon as he walked into it.

Even if Moses had stood up all day long shouting, "Flies, appear!" and made all kinds of gestures with his hands and feet, would even a common housefly have obeyed his command and appeared if he had not become a God and was just a human being? According to God's word, Moses undoubtedly became a real son of God by using the same formula Jesus of Nazareth used to become God. Everyone will be [called...(Gods), to whom the word of God came.] (John 10:35)

"Joshua God" the Son of Nun

[Joshua...said in the sight of Israel, "Sun, stand still over Gibeon; and Moon in the valley of Aijalon." So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped.] (Jos. 10:12, 13)

The enormous sun, which is 1.3 million times larger than the earth and 18 times faster than the speed of a bullet, stood helplessly still in obedience to the single command of Joshua, an ephemeral human. What need is there for further explanation? Joshua became a God by using the same method and formula Moses and Jesus used. He became one with the Word that was in the beginning; [the Word became flesh,] and he became "Joshua God."

Even if Joshua had screamed at the sun until he coughed up blood and died, would a passing meteorite, let alone the sun, have stopped and stood still if he had not become a God?

[I said, "You are (Gods), and all of you are children (Gods) of the Most High.] (Psa. 82:6)

"Ezekiel God" the Priest

[The word of the Lord came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Chebar.] (Eze. 1:3)

The moment the word of the Lord came to the priest Ezekiel, in the same manner it came to Jesus, he was no longer a human being but "Ezekiel God." God led this son, "Ezekiel God," to a valley scattered with dry bones of men who had died long ago and commanded him to resurrect them.

That day, "Ezekiel God" called out to the bones. [So I prophesied as I was commanded; and...there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones (obeyed and) came together, bone to bone.... The sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over.... He said to me..."Come from the four winds, O breath (life), and breathe on these slain, that they may live."...And they lived, and stood upon their feet.] (Eze. 37:7-10)

Like Jesus, [the Word became flesh] (John 1:14) and Ezekiel became a son of God. Just as Jesus resurrected Lazarus and the son of a widow in Nain, Ezekiel also resurrected the bones of soldiers who had died long ago.

"Elijah God" the Farmer

Elijah was merely a farmer in the countryside who did not know what a school or theological seminary was. One day, he became a "farmer God" by receiving the Word God that was in the beginning. He then went to the dissolute King Ahab who had been instigated by false religions and scolded him, "[There shall not be dew nor rain] in the country [these years, except at my word.]" (1 Ki. 17:1)

Afterwards, the words of Elijah God were dreadfully fulfilled and not a single drop of rain or dew fell. When the whole country became severely parched, the king and all the false religious groups arose to pray day and night. However, for three and a half years, the whole country was completely ruined, and the offering baskets of the swindlers in the false religions became completely empty. As a result, the brute king and those who were ruining the world with false religions, so-called priests and servants of the Lord, were completely annihilated at the River Gishon by the judgment of the real son of God, "Elijah God." A welcome rain, heaven's great blessing, fell upon the innocent people and the entire country once again. History will soon repeat itself on this earth.

"Elisha God" the Farmer

Elisha was the son of a rich farmer who farmed with twelve oxen and tried to live faithfully according to the will of Heaven. He became Elijah's disciple and devotedly served his teacher. After Elijah ascended to heaven, Elisha also followed the exemplary life of his teacher; he was restored as a God when [the word became flesh] in him. While traveling on a road, a group of scoundrels swarmed around the elderly, bald "Elisha God" and mocked him, saying, "Hey, baldhead! Try to go up to heaven! We heard that you go around saying that your teacher went up to heaven. Let's see you go up right in front of us. Go up." (2 Ki. 2:23) Unable to bear it any longer, "Elisha God" [turned around and looked at them, and pronounced a curse on them.] Immediately, [two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two] (2 Ki. 2:24) of those ruffians who had dared to blaspheme their God.

Likewise, those who do not recognize the Gods who will go to heaven and dare to ridicule and insult them in these last days will surely be visited with Heaven's punishment. However, our heavenly Father will greatly reward and bless those who serve well the saints who have become Gods.

Afterwards, "Elisha God" lived for fifty years performing many benevolent miracles like the other Gods before him. He made an iron ax float on top of water, filled all the jugs in the room with oil from one little bottle, and resurrected the son of a family that loved Him. No one ridiculed him, and he was treated honorably as a son of God and passed away after living a holy life on this earth fulfilling the will and providence of our heavenly Father and doing what was pleasing to Him.

"Peter God" the Fisherman

Due to a lack of space, I will omit the other Gods in the Old Testament. From here on, let me introduce a few Gods from the New Testament.

Peter was a quick-tempered, volatile fisherman. After following the example of his Teacher, he became a God in whom [the Word became flesh,] whose mouth was [full of grace and truth,] who taught the world, healed many sick people, drove out demons, and resurrected the dead. This "fisherman God" performed many benevolent miracles just like his Teacher.

"Paul God" the Persecutor

Paul was an agent of the corrupt, orthodox sect of Judaism who pursued the people who had gathered with Jesus in the upper room to brutally kill those so-called heretics. On a certain road, He repented before the powerful light of the resurrected "Jesus God" for being completely deceived by the false religion into trying to kill the true children of God. After converting to the church of the upper room, he became the noble "Paul God" who was much more faithful than the other disciples. In fact, "Paul God" was outstanding among Jesus' disciples for his striking loyalty. Writing fourteen books of the Holy Bible was one of his greatest achievements. His merits will shine for eternity. He boldly proclaimed, "[Imitate me] and be a God, [just as I also (imitated) Christ] (1 Cor. 11:1) and became a God." Although there are other Gods in the New Testament, I will only mention their names due to a lack of space.

"John God" the Fisherman

"Matthew God" the Tax Collector

"Mark God" the Affluent

"Philip God"

Other Undisclosed "Gods" of the Upper Room

All the above people followed the example of their Teacher, received the [Word (God)...in the beginning,] and became Gods in whom [the Word became flesh.] For thousands of years, everyone in the Old and New Testaments and throughout the ages became holy "son Gods" and "daughter Gods" who obtained the right to enter the new world.

You Also Be a God

If everyone else can easily enter the new world, why can we not? There is a saying in Korea, "Since everyone else is going to the market (marketplace), I will too (follow suit)." If for thousands of years, so many people in the Old and New Testaments went to heaven after being restored as Gods, why can we not? Since everyone else is becoming a God and going to the new world, we should follow them, too. We can very easily and sufficiently become Gods and enter the joyful, immortal, new world, for the Owner of the new world, our heavenly Father and Real Daddy who begot us, raised us, met us, and meticulously taught us, is calling us right now.

Our Daddy's promise is, [He called them (Gods) to whom (whomever) the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken).] (John 10:35) Our Daddy, the Owner of the new world, [said, "You are (all Gods), and all of you are children of the Most High (Me).] (Psa. 82:6) [I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them (you) out of My hand.] (John 10:28)

From now on, let us joyfully become noble Gods and go to the new world where our Real Daddy, my Daddy, awaits. Let us take our genealogy (chapter 4), practice a diet worthy of a God (chapter 3), live a beautiful life becoming to God (be a foot, water, dirt, and salt), and mature into more perfect holy Gods as we study the Nature Bible (chapter 5), the Textbook of truth personally written by our Daddy, every day. Thank you very much for following suit to the end. Well then, let us joyfully meet in the new world. May you do your best as noble Gods. I love you.

My Real Daddy who has begotten me!

You pitied me, an orphan who was roaming around all alone in the world, and found me. Now, I have returned to You. I have come to live with You, Daddy, in Your country.

I am eternally grateful to You for redeeming this son (daughter) who sadly wandered alone and endured hardships until now. I will never be an orphan again, so please embrace me in Your arms and never let go of me until I enter Your country, the new world. For the longest time, I wandered here and there in bitter tears, deceived by the world, by religion, by other people, and by demons.

Real Daddy, I will never leave Your bosom again. Please hold my hand tightly and guide me until the very day I reach the new world, the land of immortality. As I wholeheartedly offer this prayer of thanksgiving to You on this day, From now on, I earnestly desire to be a noble, mature God who consecrates my loyalty in the truest sense, my filial piety in the truest sense, and renders glory to You in the truest sense. Please give me the wisdom, power, and strength of Heaven to be Your most filial son (daughter). I offer eternal gratitude and praise to You for answering my prayer overwhelmingly.
The Love of Gods

Only Gods can possess,

Only Gods can practice,

Only Gods can enjoy,

The love of Gods.

Gods

Exist and live only for

The happiness for others,

The delight of others,

The joy of others,

And the blessing of others.

The love of Gods is

A holy love,

A selfless love,

And a noble love

Devoted only for

The happiness of others,

The delight of others,

And the joy of others.

Within this love,

There is no covetousness,

Selfishness,

Or avarice.

It is a holy love devoted

Just for the happiness of others.

Within this love,

There is no stinginess or regret.

There is only the joy of devoting everything

Just for the happiness of others.

Only those who have become Gods

Know this love of Gods.

Only those who have become Gods

Can practice this holy love.

If these Gods left for heaven,

Traces of this divine love would also disappear.

However, the Gods who ascend to heaven

Will continue to practice this love with God and the angels,

Together for eternity.

It is this love of Gods

That pleases God so much,

That delights Him so much,

And that He loves so much

And blesses so much.

This love is

The eternal life of God and man,

That is, immortal life.

Though this world, carnal pleasures, and all things pass away,

Only this holy love of Gods

Will grow even deeper and remain forever.

Be Salt

2012-12-19T15:13:00.000-08:00

By Teacher Suksun

[You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.] (Mat. 5:13)

Instead of telling us that we are the precious gold of the earth, Jesus said that we are salt. Why did Jesus use something so common and cheap as salt when speaking figuratively about God's precious children?

Salt comes from the largest "country" in the world, the ocean. No matter how broad land is and how vast continents are, they are only one third the size of the ocean. Salt comes from the ocean, which is scores of times larger than the United States and Russia put together and three times larger than all the land on this earth.

Salt Does Not Rot

The salt that is from such a large country comes out to the world and sees that vegetables, which are from tiny fields only a few acres wide and do not even know how large the world is, are so stiff and arrogant. Yet, it never says, "Hey, I came from the largest country in the world! What makes you so great that you can act so proud and arrogant?" Without one slanderous word, salt quietly approaches the arrogant vegetables, caresses them with love, and immediately transforms the swaggering, proud, stiff vegetables into gentle, humble friends.

The stiff vegetables swagger about, thinking they are the best in the world. Yet, they rot so easily and quickly die, reeking of a putrid odor. Although salt does not disclose its identity or name and does not reveal where it came from, it approaches the wretched vegetables that are about to rot and die first. Instead of scolding the vegetables for their arrogance, salt caresses them with love, immediately transforming them into meek, humble friends who will not die, no matter how long they may live. People, God's sons and daughters, can take those vegetables and eat them deliciously because salt transformed them into meek, humble vegetables. When these transformed vegetables enter the bodies of God's children, they become flesh and blood, life that will never pass away. If salt had not transformed them, they would have begun to rot immediately and later disappear forever. The only thing that can transform vegetables so that they can live eternally is the humble, loving salt.

Salt does not rot, even if countless years pass by. However, vegetables rot, and people deteriorate, degenerate, and then die. Even large trees decay after they fall. Though everything else deteriorates, degenerates, and then disappears, there has not been one story about salt deteriorating, rotting, or becoming decadent. No one has ever said, "Look, the salt is spoiled! This salt is moldy!" Salt will not rot, even if countless years pass by. Sprinkling salt over filthy garbage, even rotting fish, preserves its present state, and prevents it from decaying anymore. Salt never rots or deteriorates, and nothing in the world is as holy and unchangeable as salt. Even in the future, salt will live as an upright friend that never rots or becomes decadent.

The Salt from Heaven

Who is the true Salt Heaven teaches? Jesus is the true Salt. He came from the highest and largest country in the universe. [Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life,] (Heb. 7:3) He is the eternal Salt who knows nothing of corruption, sin, and degeneration from the beginning of time to eternity. It was to people who were like grass and to his disciples who were like vegetables that Jesus commanded, "Just as I became the great Salt that keeps the universe from rotting, [you are (to become) the salt of the earth] (Mat. 5:13) that keeps the world from rotting and becoming corrupted."

It is written in the Holy Bible that human beings are vegetables, that is, grass. Just as it is written, [all flesh is grass,] (Isa. 40:6) people are like vegetables or grass. One generation appears, rots, decays, and disappears; the next generation deteriorates, decays, and disappears. However, God is immutable; He remains forever. In comparison to the universe, human beings are really nothing but blades of grass. How can such trivial human beings, who are like grass (vegetables) from the small "field" of this earth, be so arrogant and cocky? They do not realize how wide this universe is. Yet, they assume an air of importance and shake their stiff heads and, at the same time, they rot so easily. They deteriorate immediately, degenerate, and die away.

However, the eternally holy Jesus from heaven, the great Salt who knows nothing of deterioration, approached those vegetable-like human beings. Whether they were prostitutes or robbers--regardless of who they were--He embraced them and said, "I love you," and caressed them once. He transformed them on the spot. A moment ago, they were acting so cocky, stiff-necked, proud, and impudent. Through His love, they immediately became meek, humble, and gentle. In the end, God of heaven will take such people to the immortal, new world where they will live eternally with imperishable bodies. Instead of saying, "You are the gold of the world," or "You are the treasure of the world," Jesus, the great Salt from heaven, said, "You are the salt of the world," and asked us not to lose our flavor. He also asked us to become a salt of love just like Him and transform the proud, ephemeral human beings from the small field of this earth, who quickly deteriorate, degenerate, and die like vegetables, into gentle, humble people.

The Salt Forsaken for Losing Its Flavor

[But if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.] (Mat. 5:13)

If salt loses its saltiness, what good is it? Can we use it to fertilize the fields? Can we mix it with water and make bricks like dirt? Will anyone eat it? It is completely useless.

Everything God created is necessary and important to us. No matter how common dirt is, no one would be able to live without it. Dirt is indeed one of the most precious things in the world. Without sand, we would not be able to build houses or apartments. We would have to live in single-story homes made of mud. In addition, we cannot live without gravel. On the other hand, the weeds that people hate prevent embankments from collapsing. Even human and animal wastes are most precious to vegetables. Nothing in this world, whatever it may be, is useless.

One thing that is completely useless in this world is salt that has lost its flavor. Even if we were to throw it away somewhere, it would be a waste of land. If there was a pile of ten thousands of tons of flavorless salt, where would we throw it all away? No country would say, "Give that salt to us," and no one would say, "Dump it in our field." Everyone would reject it, saying that it useless, and dislike it.

Likewise, if the professed disciples of Jesus do not possess the immutable, "salty" love of heaven He had--the love of the heavenly Father--they are completely useless beings.

The church of Jerusalem that was overlaid with gold and the professed true orthodox church where millions of people gathered for meetings during the time of Jesus was supposed to transform and save the whole world with the holy love of Heaven. When Jesus saw that it had lost its flavor and was acquiring wealth by taking advantage of the people's faith and cleverly exploiting them of their money, He scolded them, shouting, "[My house is a house of prayer, but you have made it a 'den of thieves,']" (Luke 19:46) and declared heaven's curse--destruction--upon them. Therefore, even if the religions that do not possess the love of heaven are destroyed, it will be a waste of land to bury them. Graves supposedly occupy approximately one thousandth of the total land in Korea. At this rate, graves will cover this small earth, and there will be less land to use for farming and building homes. Religions that lack love is like salt that has lost its flavor and only take up space on this earth, like graves. Because contemporary religions that call upon the name of God have become flavorless salt, they are like sand. They only make the eyes burn and hurt those who draw near. Instead of feeding those souls salt, they only provide sand, grit. Regardless of their age, religions (Confucianism, Buddhism, and Christianity) that have lost their salty flavor (eternal truth and love) are useless, and there is no place to dispose of them. They are the hellish gates of destruction--the theatrical stages the false spirits of delusion used to deceive everyone in the world, steal their minds and all their money, and eventually kill them.

Consequently, God proclaimed that He would, [Destroy those who destroy the earth.] (Rev. 11:18) Jesus, who came in an earlier generation, utterly abandoned the fake salt, the corrupt Jerusalem church that claimed to be the orthodox church and had millions of members, and instead chose twelve disciples. After gathering them together, He earnestly requested, "You are my church. I give you all the authority of heaven and earth, so please become salt and transform the world. Just as I have become salt to the world and transformed you into incorruptible people, you also become salt and sanctify the world."

No one knows how old salt is. When God created the heavens and the earth in the beginning, He merely divided and arranged the sea and land that was already there. He did not create the sea at that time. Therefore, there is no way to know the age of the salt in the sea, which already existed in the beginning. Salt is the oldest "adult" who came from the largest country, the ocean. Yet, until it disappears, this older, dignified salt sacrifices itself completely for the ephemeral vegetables that have recently come out--vegetables that are only thirty to sixty days old--and whose lives are short in comparison. This selfless and holy salt truly possesses a holy love.

As "I AM," God who existed from eternal ages before, Jesus is the Lord of the universe, the huge kingdom of heaven. No one knows His age, no one brought Him forth; He is self-existent. Yet, He came down to this tiny earth and unstintingly sacrificed His life for foolish, ephemeral human beings who were like grass and vegetables, only thinking highly of themselves and acting proud and impudent. Jesus was truly the great, selfless Salt from heaven.

Jesus earnestly pleaded with His disciples not to be like the degenerated religions of the time, like the false Jewish religious groups of that time who had lost their salty flavor. It would be a waste of land just to bury them. He wanted His disciples to be salt to the world, just as He was. Jesus, who is the same yesterday and today, also appeals to us today. "[You are the salt of the earth.] Do not become like the corrupt religions that have lost their flavor, but become the last salt of this generation. Save those grass-like human beings and transform them into people who will never become corrupt," He says. This is His last request and our greatest mission on this earth.

Those who try to save others by becoming salt are blessed by becoming holy salt first. Just as salt is the only thing in this world that can transform vegetables, only those who possess the salty love of our heavenly Real Father can save and transform the people in this world. However, any religion that lacks the truth and the love of Heaven is like salt that has lost its flavor, and [is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men] (Mat. 5:13) and destroyed. This is what determines the fate of every single person, whether he (she) will enter eternal life or eternal death.

If we all just make a determination to be salt, almighty God will bear the responsibility of making us into holy salt of the universe. On the other hand, those who continue to clasp selfishness and greed instead of the salty flavor of that holy love will soon perish and become "human trash" for others to trample. They are not necessary in this universe any longer. However, those who become precious salt will disappear after unstintingly sacrificing themselves to transform ephemeral human beings who are like grass and vegetables. This is the life of a true disciple and follower of Jesus.

Salt, a Treasure of the Universe

Does the salt that sacrifices itself for others really disappear forever? No, it does not. The salt that dedicates its love, that is, its life, to transform a vegetable by entering deep into its constitution and stems remains alive inside the vegetables. Though people consume it, it does not disappear but remains alive in the blood and circulates throughout the body.

Neither humans nor vegetables can survive without salt. Our bodies cannot produce blood without salt (sodium). All animals and plants eat salt; the only difference is the amount each consumes. Salt is much more precious than gold or jewels, which people seem to value the most. It is indispensable, and it is the life of all creatures. For this reason, the entire universe and all the nations in this world welcome those who have the salty flavor of our heavenly Father's love. The earth has existed until now because of the few people who possessed the salty taste of God's love; the universe will exist forever because of such people. Just a few handfuls of salt will melt and transform a large pile or load of vegetables. In the same way, a small group of disciples can easily transform this large, wide world if they just become a mass of salt that possesses God's love.

No one would put flavorless salt in sacks and then store them in a warehouse. Likewise, people or religions that do not possess God's love are completely worthless in this world. They are useless in their families and in society, in heaven and on earth. Please do not become such pitiful people but become a lump of love like Jesus, a large mass of salt from heaven. This world only needs salt--holy, selfless love.

Sprinkle Your Whole Life with Salt

[No grain offering which you bring to the Lord shall be made with leaven, for you shall burn no leaven nor any honey in any offering to the Lord made by fire.] (Lev. 2:11)

[Every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your grain offering. With all your offerings, you shall offer salt.] (Lev. 2:13)

Here, our God explained how to perform a sacrifice properly and offer an offering He would joyfully accept. When placing bread on the sacrificial table as an offering to God, He instructed us to flavor it with salt, instead of any bean powder or honey, and to leaven it with nothing but salt. Who would eat a plate of bread covered with salt? However, God requested this kind of sacrificial offering.

At times, we have no idea what God is speaking of. However, those words are life to us. It is written in the Holy Bible that we are to consecrate ourselves as a living offering, meaning we are to devote our entire lives to Him. God does not want a calf, lamb, or bread offering, but our bodies and hearts. In addition, when offering our lives to Him, He tells us to never use any leaven or honey. He is telling us not to come before Him with the mind-corrupting leaven of sin or with sugarcoated or honey-glazed words. Many people are just smooth-talkers, their hearts full of the leaven of sin, and they talk with honey-glazed lips. However, everyone who goes before God must discard the leaven of sin in their heart and sweet-talk. They should devote their heart and life combined with the salty flavor of God's unchanging love.

Now that the work of redemption is completed and the time has come to enter the new world, everyone who is useless will be abandoned and only those children who are needed in the new world will be gathered. In other words, it is now time for the final harvest of the earth, when the chaff is burned and the grains are gathered and moved. The only grains that will survive this threshing floor are those that have become eternally incorruptible, unchanging salt. When God asks us to be salt, He is requesting us not to be vegetables that rot or degenerate but immortal Gods who will never degenerate.

He is saying, "If you are not salt, or if you become salt that loses its flavor, that is, if you degenerate and become flavorless salt like the rotten, corrupt religious world throughout history, then you too will be trampled on as ash." Though you may be Jesus' disciple, if you refuse to be salt, you will be trampled as ash, just like the evildoers. However, the disciples who have become salt will live eternally in the new world in the same house with Real Daddy and be the ones who live receiving all the glory and grace as the most precious, indispensable treasures of the universe.

Therefore, we must not go before the holy God covered with the leaven of sin or with lips coated with sugar or honey. We must be the same inside and out, just like salt, and go before Him with the salty love of our heavenly Father and His Son. Salt is the same inside and out, whether it is a small mass or a large mass the size of a rock; we must be like that as well.

Salt never disappears or ceases to exist. Though Jesus, who possesses a holy body and whose age is eternal, sacrificed His life early for vegetable-like humans, He still exists today. Salt continues to exist and remains in the stomach or is excreted from the body as urine. In other words, when He says, "Be salt," He is asking us to be those who possess everlasting, immortal life. While other things may die when put in water, disappear when thrown in a fire, or eternally disappear when consumed by someone, salt still exists even after being dissolved in water, burned in fire, consumed, or thrown away. Let us also try to become eternal, immortal, everlasting salt.

The Covenant of Salt

[All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer to the Lord, I have given to you and your sons and daughters with you as an ordinance forever; it is a covenant of salt forever before the Lord with you and your descendants with you.] (Num. 18:19)

"When offering a sacrifice to Me, do not come before Me covered with the leaven of sin or with lips coated with sugar or honey, but come before Me as someone who is the same inside and out. I desire that kind of offering, an offering of your life. This is the immutable covenant of salt before the Lord for all your generations to come." This covenant of salt is God's promise to move those who have become eternal salt to the immortal world. God is telling us that He will only accept the offerings of those who make it their determination to first be eternally unchanging salt and transform the world like Jesus, who came as the great Salt, and move them to the new world.

As the last children of God, we should make the firm determination, "I will not live unless I become salt," and make a covenant of salt before our Real Daddy and Lord. If we do not become salt, we will be thrown away just like the salt that has lost its flavor. Judas was a disciple who failed to become salt, and people trampled on him for two thousand years. The remaining eleven disciples became salt, sacrificed themselves for the world, and obtained immortal life. Judas, however, became insoluble sand and died after living only for himself. Let us not fail in becoming salt like Judas, but instead become salt like the other eleven disciples and die gloriously for the world.

Though you are a heavenly prince or princess, please make this determination: "Wherever I go in this world, I will be salt and fade away after sacrificing myself for those pitiful vegetable-like people." Only those who keep this covenant of salt will become the eternal heirs to the new world; they will receive and enjoy the numerous blessings God has promised.

[Should you not know that the Lord God of Israel gave the dominion over Israel to David forever, to him and his sons, by a covenant of salt?] (2 Chr. 13:5) This is telling us that the Lord God of Israel, the true God, has promised to give the immortal, indestructible country to those who keep the covenant of salt with His son David (Jesus).

Only those who are salt will ultimately survive on this earth. In addition, if there is only salt on this earth, there can never be any bacteria of sin or mold of immorality. That is why the new world, heaven, will be free of decay and degeneration forever. This earth will be a happy, immortal world where there will never again be death or curses. If there can be no mold or bacteria in a load of vegetables after it is sprinkled with just a bowl of salt, the bacteria of sin and mold of immorality will never be able to form or exist on this earth, the eternal new world, since it will be completely filled with salt.

God will surely fulfill His plans. When we think about our own feebleness, we may worry, "My heart is so fickle, and my resolutions are broken just as easily as they are made. If someone like me were to enter the new world, will I not commit a sin and become corrupt again?" There is no need to worry about that at all. God's plan is perfect. When we look at ourselves, we may seem weak and feeble-minded, but God is the almighty Creator and our Daddy has power, for [with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.] (Mat. 19:26) God will take responsibility and recreate us into perfect salt. That is why there is no need to worry at all about becoming salt. Only pray, "God! I would really like to be salt. Please make me into salt." Then God will see your determination and make you into a great mass of salt, a mass of perfect salt--an eternally unchanging mass of Real Daddy's love. Do not look at your present, weak-willed self but believe in the almighty power of God who can perfect you and place yourself in Daddy's hands. Then He will recreate you into an eternally unchanging creation, a mass of salt and love.

Salt Placed I n a New Bowl

[The men of the city said to Elisha, "Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren." He said, "Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it." So they brought it to him. Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, "Thus says the Lord: 'I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.'"] (2 Ki. 2:19-21)

The city was situated in a beautiful area, but bad, toxic water was coming out from the ground and the vegetables that absorbed it were withering and dying, and all the fruit on the fruit trees were falling off before becoming ripe. Elisha, a man of God, said, "Bring salt in an unused, brand-new bowl." Sweet spring water sprang from the source when he sprinkled salt on it. This is a prophecy to be fulfilled again in the last days of this earth, and it is already being fulfilled among us.

Before meeting our heavenly Real Daddy, our bodies (location) may have been fine and our outer appearance, our faces, may have looked nice, but the verbal toxic water (slander and curses) that came out from our mouths ruined ourselves as well as the tender "branches" of the hearts of our family and neighbors. It prevented us from blooming flowers of peace and bearing fruits of love. However, living water, the truth of love, flows from our mouth that was once the source of a poisonous spring when we are sprinkled with Real Daddy's salt of love, which was held in a new bowl brought by the Son of God. This living water causes my family and I to bear the fruit of love and happiness, and causes our neighbors to bear the fruit of peace.

We should discard the old "bowl" of our heart that the world defiled. Our hearts must become new "bowls" and new "fountainheads" in order to receive the heavenly salt of holy love. Then, we will become sources of living water that the entire world drinks from for eternal life--we will make the "heart-branches" of our families and all the human "trees" in the world bloom flowers of peace and happiness and bear fruits of divinity (God's divine nature).

If There Is No Salt

[Can flavorless food be eaten without salt?] (Job 6:6) This question asks us, "Can you eat food that lacks salt?"

I once went somewhere and had a delicious salad of mixed, wild greens. Even though the salad was prepared with organic, wild greens grown naturally without any chemical fertilizers, what would it have tasted like if the cook had not added any salt to it? It would have been as if I was chewing on compost or dried leaves. Salt made it taste so good. What happens if you make some soup without adding any salt? How would it taste? The soup would be bland and insipid. However, adding salt would make the soup delicious. According to the lunar calendar, January 15 is the first full moon of the New Year, and a holiday observed in Korea. On that day, Korean people traditionally eat "five-grain rice," glutinous rice boiled with four other cereals. It is considered to be much more delicious than plain steamed rice because it is prepared with salt. In any case, food that lacks salt does not taste as good and people may have difficulty eating it. However, adding salt makes the food delectable.

Therefore, God says, "Have you not tried all different kinds of foods? Whether there are ten or a hundred different kinds of foods, would you be able to eat them if there was no salt in them? Likewise, I cannot accept a meeting, service, or worship that lacks the salty flavor of love." Whatever you do, whether you hold meetings for the general public, converse or associate with you friends, date your fiance or fiancee[accents], converse with your parents or children, or have a get-together with your neighbors, you should do it with the salty love of our heavenly Father. If you include the salt of love in your associations and in your conversations and love life, it will not be a common love of this degenerate world, but a holy love that our heavenly Daddy will bless all the more, just as He has blessed Adam and Eve before the Fall.

Just as salt should be in all the foods we cook and eat, we must never omit Real Daddy's love in anything we do and live before our heavenly Father sprinkling salt uniformly in our whole lives. Until now, we may have gossiped about others and talked about impertinent world events when meeting friends. However, from now on, please include our Heavenly Real Father's salty love wherever you go, whatever you talk about, and whomever you associate. Salt has a salty flavor wherever it goes, whether sprinkled on vegetables, in soup, or on salads. Since we have all become heavenly salt, from now on, let us only have our Real Daddy's salty flavor wherever He has us go. Salt is never sweet or sour, only salty. That salty flavor is the preservative that saves it and others. When we become salt that is only salty, we will be able to stop the degeneration and corruption of the world and possess the power that will easily change this sinful earth into a new world. Then, we will be Real Daddy's most precious sons and daughters in the universe and heirs to the new world, the new universe.

A certain king once called his subjects and asked them, "What is your favorite food? Whatever it is, it will be yours to eat everyday." Delighted, the subjects began to order: "I like beef stew the most." "I like barbecued ribs." "I like hamburgers or sandwiches the most." One subject even said, "I would like to eat bread and doughnuts everyday." However, one subject sat down quietly and then replied, "I will have salt." Puzzled, the king asked, "What? You would like salt? Why are you asking for salt?" The subject answered, "Your Highness, what food does not have salt in it? I would like to eat everything." The subject answered the question prudently. We each have a favorite dish. However, if we had to eat it all the time, we would grow tired of it. However, if we become salt, everyone will like us and follow us. If we become salt, we will enjoy the glory of people looking up to us, and we will become the most precious, indispensable treasures in the entire universe. Let us all be salt.

[Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.] (Col. 4:6)

This means, "Just as you [let your speech always be with grace] and [seasoned with salt,] always mix heaven's love with your speech. Then, you will be able to speak the words of life that will heal [each one] of the hurt souls."

[For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.] (Mat. 10:19, 20) God does not give the words necessary in that hour, the water of life, to those who gossip about others, talk about secular things, and do abominable everyday. He abundantly supplies the words of life to only those who possess the salty taste of heaven's love on their lips so that they can become food and strength for weary people and the medicine of the truth to comfort and heal hurt souls.

Have Peace with One Another with Salt

[Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.] (Mark 9:50)

This means, "If you have fought with someone, take a handful of salt in your pocket and reconcile with him (her)." However, if you really were to go to someone you fought with and apologized with a handful of salt, then he (she) would think you were mocking him (her) and become even more upset. Jesus was not talking about the salt we eat. He meant, "Fill your heart with your heavenly Father's salty love and then go and reconcile with someone you fought with. Then all the dissatisfaction will be melted away."

Only those who understand Heaven's words can be prosperous in everything. Therefore, no one can understand or comprehend the Holy Bible without knowing God's love. Without knowing His love, even carrying around the Bible is offensive in the sight of Heaven.

As long as we fill our hearts with the salt of heavenly Real Daddy's love, we will be able to completely forgive, reconcile with, and love any brother, relative, neighbor, or country we have fought with.

It is written, "Every offering you shall season with salt," and "Sprinkle salt when entering an unclean place and it will be pure and holy." When He told us to sprinkle unclean places with salt to make it pure and holy, as if it were a disinfectant, He meant that He would sanctify any unclean sinner who receives God's salty love. How much holier we will be when we ourselves become masses of salt who possess our heavenly Daddy's love!

Some people criticize others by saying, "That man has believed in God for 20 years, but just look at him. He's still so proud and arrogant." "My husband has not changed at all." "My wife is still the same." Actually, they are still like that because the people who are criticizing them have not become salt yet. If they had already become salt, their family members or neighbors would have been salted and transformed into meek and humble people. The responsibility lies upon the person who is doing the criticizing. If you see someone who is not yet humble and swaggering about like an arrogant, stiff vegetable, you should repent, tell that person, "You are still like that because I am not salt yet. Please forgive me," become salt immediately, and transform your brethren and family.

Our heavenly Father and His Son will be with us only when we become salt. Then, we will be the most precious people in the universe, loved wherever we go, and welcomed by everyone. Moreover, we will be immortal Gods who will never rot, deteriorate, or die, even if our enemies try to kill us. To be salt is to be an everlasting child of God, that is, to be a God.

Jesus Christ tells us again today:

"Since the entire world has become salt that lost its flavor, you at least become salt. If you too will not be salt, then there is no one to save this world. This world will be destroyed and you, too, will be destroyed and trampled. Therefore, in order for you to live and the world to be saved, you must be salt. You must be salt!"
The State of the True Way

The state of the true way

Is to choose to die forever

Disappear,

And quietly vanish.

It is to supplicate in prayer

Before God to your last breath

For wretched humanity

So that they may enter and live

In the paradise of immortality.

In addition,

It is to not say a word

When meeting people.

This is the state of the true way.

The State of the False Way

Those who say that we should all live,

That we should all live eternally,

Are like greedy bandits

Who snatch precious treasures

To satisfy their greed to their hearts' content.

They are like a bunch of crooks

Looking to divide the loot.

They are not those who walk the state of the true way.

If they do not get what they believe is their fair share,

When their greed is not satisfied,

Their hidden, demonic natures erupt immediately,

And they harm the person next to them they normally called their brother

And lunge at God like Cain.

The state of the true way

Neither seeks for one's own profit

Nor think about one's own life in the least.

Be Dirt

2012-12-19T15:07:00.003-08:00

By Teacher Suksun

[In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.] (Gen. 3:19)

After Adam, whom our heavenly Father formed from the dust of the ground, sinned, God said to him, "You are dust, and to dust you will return." Many people believe that God was cursing Adam, "Go into a grave of dirt and die forever," for the sin of disobeying His command. However, was He really cursing Adam? Of course, He was not.

Why was God telling Adam to return to dust?

No one knows the origin of dirt, which has existed from the beginning of time. There is no mention of God creating dirt when He created the heavens and the earth. Though we do not know exactly when He created it, God arranged the dirt that He created from the beginning and used it to form man.

When Jehovah God begot His adorable, youngest son Adam, He hugged him, kissed him, and rejoiced, [You are my son, today I have begotten you.] (Psa. 2:7) Why did He form His precious son Adam from something as common and worthless as dirt instead of carving him from fine wood or beautiful stone, or making him out of valuable gold or a precious jewel?

No one but our Daddy knows the mystery of how dirt became human flesh. Moreover, animals, plants, and all creation came from the dirt. Though their shapes and sizes are all different, they all came from dirt. Regardless of their appearance, they all return to the bosom of dirt when they die.

Dirt Is the "Mother" of All Creation

Dirt is a loving mother that imparts happiness to creation. Everything in nature, including four-legged animals, birds, and humans are born from dirt and live happily forever in the bosom of dirt, their mother. We build houses on top of dirt, live on top of dirt, live off the vegetables that are grown in dirt, and we will live eternally in the bosom of dirt. Dirt is the mother of all creation because no animal, person, or plant can survive apart from it.

Dirt Possesses Great Love

Although rough trees and thorn bushes drive their roots deep into the dirt and absorb all the nutrients, it accepts them all with love. It does not ask, "Why are you doing this to me?" or scold the trees when they drive their roots into its side. When ferocious animals or snakes dig holes in it, the dirt embraces and accepts it all with love. When rough humans recklessly dig into it or make tunnels, the dirt embraces it all with love. Dirt is a possessor of love that rather gratuitously supplies them with vegetables, fruits, water, and food. Dirt, whose entirety is love, never abuses anyone or anything. It does not become irritated even once, but loves them with an unchanging heart.

Those who ignore, pollute, or betray such a loving mother as dirt have nowhere to go or live. Nothing, whether a person, animal, or plant, can live after leaving the bosom of dirt that begot, fed, and raised them, and unsparingly gave them everything. Those who betray dirt cannot live on this earth or in the land of immortality, the new world.

Dirt Is the Humblest in the Universe

All people, animals, even microorganisms and insects live in the bosom of dirt, yet none show their gratitude or appreciation to dirt.

However, dirt, the humblest in the universe, constantly upholds and serves them wholeheartedly without even frowning once. Dirt is truly a lovely, holy, selfless "saint" that completely practices the universal, grand truth of selflessness.

Dirt Is the Richest in the Universe

Not only does dirt possess the greatest love and is the humblest, it is also the richest. All the treasures in the entire world--gold, silver, bronze, iron, jade, diamonds, and all kinds of jewels--are "held" underground. You cannot find a single treasure away from the dirt, anywhere in the world. Dirt also possesses water and fire. We must go to dirt to drink water and get fire, for both fire and water are found underground. We must go to the dirt to obtain the gravel, sand, rocks, and cement needed to build a house. Dirt is wealthy and endowed with everything. We must obtain the materials needed to build a house from dirt so that we can settle down and have a family.

Yet, dirt is so humble and never acts as if it is rich. It is kindhearted and does not receive any money for all of its precious possessions, but instead gives it all for free. Dirt is neither greedy nor selfish in the least. It is not self-seeking, and it only lives for the sake of others and to sacrifice itself for others. Dirt is truly noble-minded and possesses a holy heart.

Dirt Is Broad-minded

Dirt has a broad mind and never condemns anyone but forgives all. Its heart is wide and tolerant like God, and it forgives, covers, embraces, and feeds every wicked tree, animal, or person, even thieves and murderers.

People are incriminated and expelled in our society. Animals run off when driven away in the animal kingdom. However, there has never been a story of dirt incriminating, expelling, or killing someone or something. This is because dirt possesses a broad and generous heart of love, like God.

Dirt Possesses God's Heart

The universe and all creation originated from God, whose life is only love. God is the "Mother" who brought forth all creation, and He is the Embodiment of love. Not only is God the humblest in the universe but the richest, as well. He never condemns anyone, but forgives everything and loves everyone.

Dirt, like God, is the everlasting "mother" of all creation. People, animals, and plants come forth from it and eventually return to it. Dirt is the foundation of all creation and supplies it with things to eat, wear, live in, and use. Though the people, animals, and insects it brought forth trample upon its face and roam around it excreting all kinds of wastes, it accepts everything. It shares water and fire. Dirt is truly God's correspondent.

Nothing can live after betraying or departing from the grateful dirt of love, their "maternal body." It does not seek the slightest bit of gain, selfishness, or greed and freely gives everything to others. Thieves may betray the dirt, secretly steal its treasures, and run away thinking they have succeeded. In the end, they will die and disappear, and the treasures will be returned to the original owner, the dirt. Dirt never loses anything. Ultimately, it regains everything it originally possessed.

[In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; you are dust, and to dust you shall return.] (Gen. 3:19)

[Lord God formed (begot) man from the dust of the ground.] (Gen. 2:7, NRSV)

[He said, 'You are my son, today I have begotten you.'] (Psa. 2:7)

[You are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High.] (Psa. 82:6)

Though we were originally born from the dirt, God said, "I have begotten you." This makes dirt God's precious counterpart. That is why dirt has so much love, is humble and rich, and possesses God's heart as the origin of all creation and the mother of all creation. Its life is love and it never condemns anyone, but conceals, hugs, and embraces each person with a wide heart.

There Is Only One God

To say that dirt is a partner and a counterpart of God does not mean that dirt is the Creator God, but that it possesses His character.

[(There is) one God and Father of us all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.] (Eph. 4:6)

Dirt cannot be God because there is only one God who created all things in the universe. Not only did God create everything, He rules and abides above and in all things in the universe. He is the omnipresent God because He abides in dirt, in flowers, in the heavens, and in the seas. Therefore, when I say that dirt is God's partner, I mean that He talks to us and reveals Himself to us through it.

If we just open our spiritual eyes, we can always meet God through His creation because He abides in all. We can meet Him in water, in dirt, in flowers, and in galaxies. That is why God abides in all things and is the Head of all things.

[Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and You are exalted as head over all.] (1 Chr. 29:11)

God created everything in heaven and on earth, and they reveal His character, love, and glory. Through His creation, our omnipresent God says to us, His real children, "Children, look at this! I love you this much."

Unfortunately, very few people look at creation, understand our Real Daddy's deep love, and gratefully praise Him. For thousands of years, people have only seen a mountain to be just a mountain, water to be just water, and dirt to be just dirt. Very few have met God in creation, conversed with Him, and understood His great truths.

Restorer of All Things

It is prophesied that someone will appear as God's witness in these last days and restore all things. Who will appear to restore all things?

God [in these last days has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir (restorer) of all things.] (Heb. 1:2)

[He (the Son) must remain (hidden) in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as He promised long ago through his holy prophets.] (Acts 3:21, NIV)

All throughout the history of this world, God has abided in everything and above everything, and all creation has taught His love. However, it was prophesied that He would speak to us directly through His Son in the last days, at the end of the world, because His children could not understand that love.

The disciples who followed Jesus and learned from Him asked Him about the Son of God who would appear in the last days to open the eyes of the blind, restore all things, and unite the universe. They asked Him thinking, "Our Teacher is most certainly the only One who can do it."

[Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"] (Acts 1:6) Jesus became serious and replied, ["It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.] Just wait for the [Holy Spirit.] (Acts 1:7, 8) [Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.] (Acts 1:9)

For Dust You Are, and to Dust You Shall Return

When God told Adam, "For dust you are, and to dust you shall return," He wanted him to resemble the dirt, the humblest in the universe. Dirt is humbler than the trees, water, or rocks. When we build a house, we use rocks to support the wood posts. However, the dirt under the rocks supports the posts.

Among all creation, nothing is humbler than dirt. Though all creation was brought forth from it, when they trample on it, dig its side, or pierce it, it silently endures all the pain. It does not condemn them but rather supplies them with food and clothing.

No one has ever heard of dirt dying. It cannot die; it is eternal because it is like God, who possesses a meek and humble heart and whose life is love.

Though the ones it brought forth steal all its possessions, trample upon it, and pierce it in the side, dirt endures everything. It possesses the same love of Jesus, the Son of God, who said, [If anyone wants to...take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.] (Mat. 5:40)

God told Adam to be dirt because he was arrogant, because he had fallen trying to ascend to God's position. Therefore, God told him, "Do not be so arrogant. Become humble like dirt. You are my lovely son who was originally brought forth from dirt, so revert to the heart of dirt. That is how you will be able to live with Me once again." This was not a curse upon him. It was our heavenly Father's lesson of infinite love, telling him not to die from arrogance but to become a humble son who would be able to live eternally with his humble Father.

However, people understand God's words to return to dust to be a curse on Adam and a death sentence for disobeying His words. If we are unfamiliar with our loving heavenly Father, it is easy to misunderstand the God in the Bible as a God who curses, judges, and kills.

Once we fully understand the Holy Bible, we will realize that God never curses us or tells us to die. There is only His reproof of love, words for us to live by turning away from the path of dreadful sin and death.

Let us never again die from ignorance like Adam or Satan, but revert to becoming humble dirt. Only when we become dirt can we serve all creation and live immortally. Only when we become dirt can we be the children of God who live with Him, who can completely forgive, accept, and love the world that pierces our side, stabs us with spears, denounces, and curses us.

Dirt is a beautiful friend that sweetly accepts all human excretion and wastewater, swallows all the poisons, and afterwards yields only good vegetables and fruits. Only dirt can do this. Even when ungrateful people and animals that have been brought forth by dirt dig tunnels through its side and recklessly devastate it, it accepts everything without scolding them about the pain.

People get upset and angry when others disregard or harm them because they still stand in the place of arrogance and death. Those who are humble like dirt are indifferent to such things. Though people slandered, ridiculed, and persecuted the Son of God who was dirt, He utterly disregarded it all. Jesus forgave them and rather blessed them. Ultimately, He lived the life of dirt, sacrificing Himself for them.

In the end, everyone who humiliated, spat on, beat, and killed Jesus died. However, Jesus, who became dirt and sacrificed Himself for them and for humanity, was resurrected; He ascended to heaven and lived eternally.

When God told Adam (humanity), "Dust you are, and to dust you shall return," (Gen. 3:19) He was not cursing him and telling him to die. It was our heavenly Real Daddy's blessed request of salvation, filled with His infinite love, pleading with him to be dirt and live eternally.

Even today, our Real Daddy says to us, His last real children, "My beloved son (daughter), since you were born from the dirt, let us live happily together with the heart (love) of dirt enjoying eternal blessings in the new world, the everlasting new land (new dirt), the new heavens and earth."

Be Dirt

My beloved son,

Be dirt.

I repeat, be dirt.

Only be dirt.

Even though you are stepped on,

Crushed,

Drenched with water,

Dried in the sunlight,

Ground, scattered, and thrown away,

Be dirt

That is quietly scattered and thrown away.

Even though you are dug by a hoe,

Stabbed by a shovel,

Turned over by a plow,

And pierced and broken by a rake,

Be dirt

That endures and suffers all things.

Even though you are dug by a weeding hoe,

Dug by a shovel,

Even though grains are sown,

And trees are planted,

Be dirt

That quietly raises the grains and trees.

Even though cows trample on you,

Dogs trample on you,

Pigs trample on you,

Birds trample on you,

And people trample on you,

Be dirt

That bears and endures all things.

Even though animals defecate on you,

People defecate on you,

And birds and insects defecate on you,

Be dirt

That silently endures and accepts all things.

Even though animals dig holes,

People dig holes,

Snakes dig holes,

And mice dig holes in you,

Be dirt

That does not voice the pain but quietly suffers.

Even though billions of trees thrust their roots into you,

Thousands of plants drive their roots into you,

And people dig wells in you

To take more and more water from you,

Be dirt

That is silently deprived and dispossessed.

After quietly receiving and swallowing

All the poisons the animals of the world give out,

All the poisons humans give out,

All the poison the factories and cars give out,

Be dirt

That serves everyone and every living thing

By bringing forth only good nutrients

And by bringing forth good vegetables and fruits.

Just as all animals in the world,

All plants in the world,

And all people in the world

Cannot live without or away from dirt,

Be dirt

That the world needs in order to live or exist.

Just as no trees or plants can bear fruits without dirt,

Just as animals cannot give birth

Or raise their offspring without dirt,

Just as humans cannot give birth

Or raise their children away from dirt,

Be dirt

By which creation bears fruit,

Spreads their seed, and obtains happiness.

Eternally be dirt.

Be Water

2012-12-19T14:39:00.002-08:00

By Teacher Suksun

God Appeared Joyfully

[When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.] (Mat. 3:16) [A voice came from heaven which said, "You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased."] (Luke 3:22)

During the thirty years that Jesus lived on this earth, never did God appear to Him and say "[You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.]" However, on this day, God personally appeared [when (Jesus) had been baptized, (and) came up immediately from the water,] and delightfully said, "You are truly My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." For thirty years, God had never been that joyful or delighted. Why was He so happy today after Jesus was [baptized, (and) came up immediately from the water]? In addition, the Holy Spirit joyfully appeared. [And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him (Jesus).] Why were the heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit so happy and delighted, and why did They love Jesus so much for going into the water and coming out of it? What is [water]?

Let us learn about water.

Tearful Self-denial

Water is originally from the alpine regions and the high mountains.

A long time ago, adults used to say, "Water is higher than the mountains." This is true.

Water can be found on top of Mt. Baekdu, the highest mountain in Korea, and on top of Mt. Tien Shen, the highest mountain in the neighboring country of China. As it looks down at the rest of creation, it struts with pride thinking that it is the highest, that there is nothing above it.

Then, God says to the water, "Water, come down from your proud place and descend to the lowest position, the lowest place." Disappointed over God's command, the water turns pale from shock and disappointment. It would rather die than come down from its high place. Yet, it has no choice but to do so since it is God's command. As it forces itself to come down, the water complains and murmurs every step of the way, even shedding tears out of agony. It continues to grumble and unwillingly descends to lower places, but later accepts its fate with resignation. Some grow angry and complain about God's command. They say, "I can't go down," and insist on remaining on the mountaintop. They are none other than the stagnant waters that refuse to come down. Because of disobeying God's word, which is their life, they soon begin to rot. Later, deer or birds refuse to drink that "dead" water, and they become infested with insects.

Meanwhile, the water that obeyed and forced itself in tears to come down does not die but descends very well. While it descends, it begins to think that it only denied itself, left its high position, and dropped endlessly to lower places. For many days, it continues to descend in tears. However, to its surprise, the lower it goes, the more it meets and befriends other waters that have also relinquished their high positions and are coming down from other ravines. They are happy to meet one another, and they comfort one another holding each other's hands and placing their arms around each other's shoulders. Instead of murmuring, they now sing songs of joy so loudly that their singing later echoes throughout the ravine as they joyfully flow down.

The Mountainside Stream Meeting

The water is not lonely anymore. It has made many friends, and now they can travel together to even the lowest places on this earth singing. The amusing journey continues without rest. After many days, the waters suddenly arrive at a place where a large crowd of water have gathered, something they have never seen before. They ask a water among the crowd, "Where are we, and what is going on?" The water answers, "This is where the mountainside stream meeting is held." The waters from the ravines have finally reached a wide stream.

Then, a lecturer stands up and says, "Ladies and gentlemen! I am sure that you went through much trouble to get here from the high mountains. However, we still have a long way to go to reach our home in the new heavens and earth. Let us continue to move forward with greater humility and patience." Everyone in the audience responds with applause.

The waters have made more friends, and the lower they humbly descend, the more they dance waving their arms, shaking their shoulders, and even swinging their hips. They all flow down with their arms around each other's shoulders. The lower they go, the happier, the more joyful and broad-minded they become.

The River Meeting

The waters continue traveling in a long procession, shouting their motto of modesty and humility. After traveling for many days and nights without rest, they once again arrive at the largest meeting place they have ever seen. One water asks another water among the crowd where they are. The water replies, "This is where the river meeting is held." The waters have arrived at the river.

The crowd is so large here that they cannot see the lecturer. They can only hear his gentle voice over the loud speaker. "Ladies and gentlemen! I am sure you all went through much trouble and suffered for many days in order to obey God's words and come all the way here from the high mountains. However, we still have to travel for many more days to arrive at our homeland, the ocean in the new heavens and earth. Yet, I fully believe that our God who has guided us this far will undoubtedly have us arrive at our destination shortly. Though you may be exhausted from the journey, please be patient to the end. Please make sure you arrive at our homeland, the ocean in the new heavens and earth, and live happily for eternity." All attendees of the river meeting respond with loud applause.

Homeland, at Last!

Everyone continues traveling with the motto, "Nothing but humility! Nothing but modesty!" As they travel, they greet each other: "Friend, where are you from?" "I'm from Mt. Sorak." "How about you?" "I'm from Mt. Fuji." "I'm from Mt. Everest." They were all born in different places. One day, after traveling for many long days, they suddenly hear the sounds of cheering and splashing. They look up and realize that they have finally reached the ocean in the new heavens and earth they have always dreamt about, their homeland.

Then someone shouts, "Wow! We've reached our homeland!" Everyone lifts up their voices simultaneously to sing songs of triumph. Overflowing with love, a countless number of brothers and sisters in the ocean of the new heavens and earth swarm to them, embrace them, and welcome them. They hold their hands and tenderly say, "Brothers and sisters! How much trouble did you go through to come this far? There is nothing here that will hurt your feelings, no more rocks and stones to block your way or crash into, no more brambles to block your way or tear at you, no more pain from falling off high cliffs, and no more anxiety from passing through dark gorges and narrow passes. Here, you will live enjoying eternal joy, freedom, peace, and happiness." They add, "Since you have traveled through many adversities and obstacles for many days without rest, from now on, rest comfortably for eternity. Until now, close friends would meet together, and then have to part with one another, gather together, and then separate again. Here, you will live eternally with your dear friends and never have to part with them again."

The Song of the Choir of the 144,000!

Brethren tell them that the choir of the 144,000 will sing a happy, new song forever as they happily live there. When asked what the title of that new song is, they say, "The Roaring of the Waves in the Azure Sea." They carefully explain, "When the choir of the 144,000 sing the new song, innumerable sea gull 'angels' will especially fly here to dance together and a countless number of waters will join in to sing as one grand choir. All through the day, large numbers of cloud 'audiences' will gather to watch with a smile, and all night long, the moon and innumerable stars will gather around to listen devotedly with joy." Someone else draws near and whispers, "This homeland, the ocean of the new heavens and earth is filled with infinite jewels of every kind and rare, precious treasures."

Upon hearing this, the waters that have finished their travels shout in unison, "Wow! How exciting!" All through the night, they repeatedly sing songs of gratitude and praise to the grateful God who led them from the high mountains to this place.

True Baptism

Water possesses the most beautiful, humble, and modest heart among all creation in the world. When Jesus was thirty years old and at the closing years of His life, He went under the water, or lower than water, and then came out (baptism). The heavenly Father, whose entity is humility and who loves those who possess a humble heart the most, immediately appeared to Jesus in inexpressible gladness and joy and exclaimed, "Truly, [You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.] Likewise, our heavenly Daddy joyfully says, [You are My beloved son (daughter); in You I am well pleased,] to His children today who possess a humble heart, who go down lower than the humble water. This is the purpose of true baptism and the ceremony that makes us holy citizens of the new world.

Contemporary Christians try to follow the example of Jesus, and they indiscriminately baptize people by immersing them in water. However, if that baptism does not move both the one who baptizes and the one being baptized to empty their hearts and have humble, modest hearts that are lower than water, like God and Jesus, then that baptism is a false, meaningless act, a mere formality.

Jesus, who perfectly resembled our heavenly Father, said, "[Unless one is born of water...he cannot enter the kingdom of God (the new world).]" (John 3:5) This does not mean that simply entering the water and then coming out of it will save a person. It means that we will not be able to see the new world unless we possess a humble mind and character like water, the lowest of all creation. Every baptism that is not based on humility and is performed as a formality or carried out as some annual religious function, or held just to increase church membership will be recorded in heaven as the capital sin of cursing and defiling the holy names of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Those who recklessly call the names of the most holy Three Gods will be culpable in the eyes of Heaven.

"The vows which we take upon ourselves in baptism embrace much. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit we are buried in the likeness of Christ's death and raised in the likeness of His resurrection, and we are to live a new life. Our life is to be bound up with the life of Christ. Henceforth the believer is to bear in mind that he is dedicated to (the humble) God, the Christ, and the Holy Spirit."

Baptism by immersion is making the following vow before God: "I will be a son (daughter) who, like water, humbly obeys my heavenly Father."

"Baptism is a most solemn renunciation of the world. Those who are baptized in the threefold name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, at the very entrance of their Christian life declare publicly that they have forsaken the (proud) service of Satan and have become (humble) members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King."

"You must see your own death through the death of Christ.... Know that you end a sinful life and begin a sinless, new life through faith (baptism)."

"How deep is the meaning of this ceremony! It symbolizes the great truth of Christianity and the dual effect upon the believers who accepts it. First, the reformed man sees and symbolically reenacts the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. A life of sin becomes a life of righteousness. Yet, the purifying characteristics of baptism call for the purification through the blood (death) of Christ in the heart. Next, he will realize that he is not the person that he was in the past but 'a new creation in Jesus,' who lives a 'new life' through the power of God (the heavenly Father) who raised Christ from the dead.

Baptism symbolizes the greatest change in a person's life, [for as many...as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ (with humble heart).] (Gal. 3:27) Baptized souls become holy citizens of the new world. They have already died (self-denial) and have nothing to do with the sinful habits of the past. The Bible states that they are resurrected into a new life of communing with heaven once they are dead to sin. A 'tomb of water' (baptism) lies between his past (and present) life."

"Baptism is a vow before heaven as an outward show of a greatly changed life for all to witness. Therefore, it is very important not to baptize too hastily, for it is not something to be chosen today and forsaken tomorrow."

"It is the grace of Christ that gives life to the soul. Apart from (the heart and character of) Christ, baptism, like any other service, is a worthless form. He that does not (follow and) obey the Son of God will not see eternal life (in the new world)."

Baptism "demands that reformed people perfectly follow the footsteps (live a selfless life) of its Founder, Christ. Only then can they be called Christians and enter a true baptismal ceremony."

All baptisms that are not reciprocated with a humble, selfless character and Christ-like life and end as a mere formality are false. They are abominable sins.

Unless we all become like the humble water, go lower than water, and be [born of water,] we [cannot enter the kingdom] of Christ and [God (Real Daddy)] (John 3:5) who are humble.

The entire Bible focuses on the coming of the Helper, the Holy Spirit in the last days who will literally fulfill "heaven" in our hearts and souls so that we may enter the eternal, new world.

You Also Be Water

Many people who are ignorant about heaven, the new heavens and the new earth, say that we go up to heaven. However, no one who tries to go up to heaven will be able to enter. Only those who go down will reach the new heavens and the new earth, the new world. Neither those who try to ascend in front of others nor those who say, "No other denomination but ours will go to heaven," will enter heaven. Heaven--the new heavens and the new earth--the new world, is a place only those who continue to yield to others, who descend to lower places in modesty and humility like water, can enter.

Though Jesus said, "[Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it,]" (Mat. 7:14) I would like to tell my beloved brothers and sisters today that the road of life is very wide and easy.

Jesus said that few would find the narrow and difficult road to life because He did not see anyone humble like water among those who were listening to His sermon in that age; He only saw pride and arrogance in their hearts. He said, "As for you, the way to life is narrow and difficult to enter." However, the lower humble people descend, the wider, smoother, and easier the way to life becomes.

The waters that traveled for so many days to reach their homeland, the new heavens and the new earth, attain a state selflessness. As their humility is perfected even in that place, they become invisible water vapors. Every day, billions of tons of water joyfully ascend to heaven apart from the world. They also become saviors who supply all creation in the world with fresh water (life) while traveling through the skies. In the same way, when we continue to humble ourselves like water and become saints who have perfected our humility, that is, attained a state selflessness--become "invisible" like vapor--we will enter and live in the new heavens and the new earth, the new world God prepared. We will live forever and travel freely from star to star around the whole universe. The true purpose and vow of a sacred baptism is to help us pass through the "door" of such a holy state.

Blessed are those who, like water, constantly follow the road to their homeland with a humble heart. From this world to the new world, Real Daddy's eternal love and grace will be with those whose hearts, like Jesus, have descended to a position lower than water.

In our generation, there are those who [came up immediately from the water;] [behold, the heavens were opened,] and they heard [a voice (that) came from heaven which said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."] (Mat. 3:16, Luke 3:22) Their hearts have become water. They live a humble, selfless life of humbly flowing under the world and their brethren. Real Daddy's love, reward, and grace will be with them forever and ever.

[Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.] (John 3:5) Therefore, you must be water, like Me. Then, you will live with Me eternally in My Father's land, the happy new heavens and new earth, the new world."

No matter how much we try to pick up water, we cannot grab it. Unlike people, it does not stab or hurt anyone. It becomes perfectly selfless vapor and ascends to heaven. I hope that by casting aside all the greed and selfishness in our lives and becoming selfless, we will all become members of the "water family" who fly to the new heavens and new earth, the happy new world, like Jesus.

The Ocean Smiles

The ocean smiles.

It smiles in pleasant weather

And in poor weather.

It smiles when it rains,

When it snows,

And even when it is windy.

The ocean smiles when people fight,

And when they dance.

The ocean smiles when nations are at war

And when they are at peace.

The heart of the ocean is wide.

The heart of the ocean is deep.

That is why the ocean can forgive all things,

Love all things, and just smile.

All the beautiful brethren of our country, the new world,

Are beautiful, holy water,

Citizens whose hearts are like the ocean.

Be A Foot

2012-12-19T14:20:00.003-08:00

By Teacher Suksun

The Final Lesson

[Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, "Lord, are You washing my feet?" Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this." Peter said to Him, "You shall never wash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me." Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!"] (John 13:1-9)

When our heavenly Daddy and Jesus love us, They love us forever. As it is written, Jesus loved His people to the end, while the devil strove persistently to destroy Judas Iscariot to the end. Here, we can see two powers. One is a heavenly power that loves us to the end in order to take us to heaven, and the other is the earthly power of Satan, who clings on to us incessantly in order to destroy us. Which side each person chooses determines their fate.

When Jesus knew that it was time for Him to leave His beloved disciples behind in this world and go back to the Father, and [having loved His own who were in this world, He loved them to the end]. He planned to give them one final lesson before leaving. This lesson, given during the last meeting with His beloved disciples, was the most important one He gave to them. It was the lesson they were to keep in their hearts forever and practice in their lives. Jesus, who had only taught with words until now, stood up that evening to give His final object lesson, an action. He [rose from supper, laid aside his garments, and girded himself with a towel. Then He poured water into a basin,] [began to wash the disciples' feet,] and wiped their feet with [the towel with which He was girded.] He [came to Simon Peter] who [said to Him, "Lord,] You are not my servant, but my Teacher. Why [are You washing my feet?"] [Jesus answered him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will after this."] (John 13:4-7)

Why was foot-washing so important that Jesus said, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this"? Our Lord was doing more than just washing their feet with water. There was a deep, profound, important, hidden lesson--a lesson that the disciples could not understand alone. There was a deep, hidden meaning only Jesus knew, a lesson that could not be understood unless revealed by the Helper, the Holy Spirit. Peter, who did not understand, [said to Him, "You shall never wash my feet!"] and refused to allow Jesus to wash his feet. [Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with me."] (John 13:8, 9)

Peter was shocked. Why was washing his dirty feet so important that Jesus had to renounce their relationship at his refusal to be washed and said, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with me." Surprised, [Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord,] then [not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.] Wash my entire body." However, [Jesus said to him,] "That is not necessary. All I need to do is wash your feet. If I just wash your feet, you [are clean."] (John 13:9, 10) As his Teacher washed his feet, He once again emphasized the importance of foot washing.

Peter could not understand his Teacher's words. Until now, no one has understood that profound truth, that final lesson and revelation. However, with the coming of the Spirit of truth, the latter rain, the time has come for us to understand this truth.

The Life and Character of a Foot

Jesus, who [loved] His disciples [to the end], could have washed their faces or held their hands. Of all the parts of the body, why did He express His love for them by touching and washing their dirty, smelly feet? Let us study Jesus' deep and profound lesson.

The foot is the lowest part of the body that upholds and serves the rest of the body. It is most beautiful, selfless, and humble; it devotes its whole life to serving the rest of the body without a complaint or displeasure.

The foot is different from the rest of the body because it does not brag or show itself off while serving others all its life and is a quiet, selfless worker that likes to hide inside smelly shoes. When the foot becomes exhausted or sick with athlete's foot or eczema, it never looks grudgingly at the eyes, nose, mouth, head or other parts of the body for making it do their errands. The foot is a meek and humble worker.

The foot is also a faithful worker that does all the tough jobs alone. It does not hesitate to be the first to enter the sewer, bathroom, and other places the rest of the body refuses to go into. The foot is also the first to enter good places like the land of Canaan, the paradise, and the new world.

When the feet run with all their strength in an international marathon and gloriously come in first place, no one gives them any credit. No one shakes the feet to congratulate or compliment them for their hard work. Everyone shakes the hands, compliments them, and gives them the awards and prizes, even though they did not do much. Moreover, though the face did nothing, it is shown close up on TV and in newspapers as the winner. How upset the feet must be to see this sight! Greedy, selfish people would go away seething with wrath. Though it was the feet that worked so hard to win, they selflessly look up to the hands and face that are receiving all the glory and joyfully say, "[He must increase, but I must decrease.] (John 3:30) We [are not worthy of praise. We are servants who have simply done our duty,]" (Luke 17:10, NLT) and hide themselves in the smelly shoes.

Jesus praised the foot, saying "Dear, dear, foot! How are you so selfless and humble? You do not have the slightest bit of greed or selfishness, and you live with such a kind heart and a beautiful heart of selflessness! Dear foot, you deserve to receive the greatest praise and reward from God."

While I was serving in the army, there was a race between neighboring units, with 20 people on each team. When I finished as the overall winner, the members of my unit came running towards me, lifted me, threw me in the air, told me that I ran well, and shook my hands that had done nothing. I thought they would grab my feet and compliment them for doing well. Instead, my hands and face received the glory. I asked my feet, "Feet! You won the race. How do you feel about the hands and face receiving the glory?" They replied, "[He must increase, but I must decrease,]" and hurried back into my smelly boots. Hearing the humble, selfless, and beautiful feet say that moved my heart.

You Also Become a Foot

Jesus presented the foot in His last lesson to His beloved disciples. He praised and stroked the foot saying, "Foot, foot! Beautiful foot! I love you more than the eyes, nose, face, or head that are above you. I love you the most for silently serving others from the lowest place," and washed the foot with care.

Before leaving for heaven, Jesus made a very important request, giving a living lesson not only to His first disciples, but also to the disciples in the last days of the earth. On His final night, He left behind the greatest lesson: "You all become a foot. Be a silent and selfless server of love to your family, brethren, and others."

There is another important lesson to keep in mind. Only when we become a foot will Jesus personally come to us, purify our hearts and characters to be holy and without blemish, and perfect us as Gods of the new world.

Even though we pursued the teachings and truths of heaven for all our lives, we were unable to possess the holy character of heaven because we always thought we were superior and placed ourselves above others, judging and criticizing them instead of becoming a foot. However, if we become a foot from now on, Jesus will appear to us during the sinful last night of the world. He will completely cleanse the hearts of His beloved people who possess the humble heart of a foot, just as He did two thousand years ago when He cleansed the feet of His beloved disciples on the last night at the upper room. Only they will become saints who live a sinless life and possess a flawless heart and character.

At the same time, Jesus will never come to those who refuse to become feet, whose hearts desire to become high like the eyes, nose, mouth, and head. Such people may believe in God and hope to possess a flawless heart and character, but it will be impossible. They will always wonder if a sinless life is possible and, after futilely believing in God for so long, go to their grave without God or His character in their hearts.

Therefore, God's last children today must all become feet in heart. We can become heirs to the new world only when the fruits of Jesus' final lesson are borne within us, and we become perfect feet. Let us all become feet! Let us all become perfect, eternal feet!

The Universe Is a Family of Feet

Jesus came down from the highest throne of the universe to this low, sinful world in order to rid us of all our filthy sins. People always rejected Him, and He never received honor or glory. Yet, He washed the dirty feet of filthy sinners. He is the most selfless server and the greatest Foot in the universe.

Our heavenly Daddy, the King of the universe, personally follows His earthly children who were taken to court for no reason and accepts the insult and punishment by a human judge (sinner) in their stead. He followed His Son Jesus to the cross on Calvary and to His tomb and resurrected Him. He is also the greatest Foot in the universe who possesses a selfless heart.

Likewise, the Holy Spirit God and all the angels are selfless servers of love as members of the foot family.

The sun, the moon, and the stars are selfless servers that serve others (all creation) by shining light on them day and night as members of the foot family.

Water and air are feet, selfless servers that enter humans and animals, give them life, and clean out the waste and excretion in their body that will be used to fertilize vegetation.

Plants and trees are selfless servers as members of the foot family that gratuitously and unconditionally provide people and animals with beautiful flowers, fruits, honey, pollen, and oxygen with a boundless love.

Rain and clouds, heaven and earth, and the whole universe in general only live to serve others and are all members of the selfless, universal foot family.

God, the King of the universe, is a foot; Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and angels are feet; the sun, the moon, the stars, clouds, air, water, and everything in nature are all feet. The whole universe is composed of members of the foot family. We must also become selfless feet in order to be a part of the universal foot family and live in the new world. As the saying goes, "Birds of a feather flock together." We must become feet in order to live happily together with the universal foot family.

Only a foot can walk with and live together with other feet. The eyes, nose, or mouth cannot follow the foot into a shoe and live with it. Consequently, if we want to follow Jesus, the great Foot, then we must become little feet. Only when we have the selfless, humble heart of a foot, can we walk together with Jesus, the selfless Foot. Jesus will be the right foot and I will be the left foot. These two feet will walk together into the new world.

Let us all become feet. [A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master] (Mat. 10:24, 25) and become a foot.

Jesus announced that his relationship with Peter was over when His beloved disciple refused to have his feet washed. The truth was that important--the most important final lesson that determined his eternal life and death. Refusing to have his feet washed signified his refusal to become a foot; refusing to become a foot meant that he did not want to be a part of Jesus' family. In reality, Peter had announced the end of his relationship with Jesus first. However, he quickly repented, changed his mind that evening, chose to become a foot, and became a member of the foot family who could live eternally with his Teacher who was a Foot.

On the other hand, [Jesus,] speaking of Judah, [was troubled in spirit, and testified, "Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me."] (John 13:21) This agonizing message meant, "Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will refuse to become a humble foot, remain arrogant to the end, and become My enemy."

It distressed Jesus to frankly say, "He who eats bread with Me will lift up his heel against Me." Extremely tormented and sad in heart, He reluctantly said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will sell Me to the enemy." [Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke.] (John 13:22) They wondered, "Who is it? Who among us will be another betrayer?"

[Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke. Then, leaning back on Jesus' breast, he said to Him, "Lord, who is it?" Jesus answered, "It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it." And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him.] [Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night.] (John 13:23-27, 30)

When Jesus said, "One of you will betray Me and sell Me," the disciples began to whisper among themselves. Peter, the most impatient disciple, anxiously wanted to know who it was but did not dare ask Jesus out of fear of being scolded. Yet, he could not bear to be still. Just then, he saw John leaning on Jesus' bosom and with his chin signaled, "You ask Him since you are especially loved by Teacher. Ask Him. You won't be scolded even if you ask." I believe that apostle John was younger than Jesus was since he was leaning on His bosom. Though John was violent by nature, Jesus especially loved him for his simple-mindedness. Once John decided to be a foot, he was astonishingly transformed into an apostle of love.

Leaning on Jesus' bosom, John asked, [Lord, who is it?] Jesus did not hide anything from the disciple leaning on His bosom. All the revelations of the Holy Bible come from those who are in God's bosom. Only the Son knows the Father, and only the Father knows the Son. We must understand that those who teach our heavenly Father's love are people who are, in the least, in His bosom. All the last disciples must also be in God's bosom (the truth).

Though no one else in the world knew about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, God reveled it to Abraham, who was in His bosom. He said, [Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing?" (Gen. 18:17)] God secretly revealed to Noah, who was also in God's bosom, that the world would be destroyed. We must be the children in this generation who are in God's bosom and receive His perfect love and revelations and whom heavenly Daddy keeps no secrets.

Though the other disciples did not dare to, John asked. Jesus replied, "How can I keep it from you? It is the person I will give a piece of bread to." While He was eating, He gave a piece of bread to Judas Iscariot, and [Satan entered into him] immediately.

If a disciple separates himself (herself) from Jesus, the heavenly bread of life, Satan immediately enters their heart and captivates their soul. [Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night.] It did not become night because he received the bread. Judas was immediately caught in the dark world of death, the dark powers of Satan, because he left the bosom of Jesus, the Light. If we leave God's bosom, the dark night will enclose us and we will die wandering in the world without light. We will walk on the road of death, fall in some trap, and die. Perhaps we may be dragged around in the dark night to our death.

Dismissing His beloved disciple Judas, whose feet Jesus washed to the end, was a heart-rending pain--agony that tore His heart. [So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him." (John 13:31)] While all the other disciples tried to be a foot, Judas always wanted to be the head.

While Jesus was washing his feet that night, Judas' heart moved to repent. He had just returned from agreeing to sell his Teacher. Though Judas felt the urge to confess all his sins to Jesus and repent, he rejected the appeals of his conscience to the end and became eternally hapless.

When God calls our heart to repent, we should do it immediately. If we miss that moment by hesitating or lingering, there may never be another opportunity to repent. Let us not reject that call to the end with a stubborn heart, but immediately confess our misconducts before God and repent.

Judas lost his chance to repent by suppressing the appeal of the Holy Spirit. Had Judas repented at that time, he would have entered eternal life together with the other disciples. As he suppressed his heart, he saw Jesus washing the feet of the disciples beside him and said to himself, "Oh, He's washing Peter's feet, too. If He washes his feet, then He must wash mine, too." He always compared himself to others, thinking he was far superior and greater than they were.

In addition, Teacher seemed imperfect to him, and he always judged Him in his heart. As Jesus had said, Judas was very arrogant and looked down upon his humble Foot Teacher. Judas tried to look through Jesus, judge, weigh, and test Him as he pleased. In doing so, he eternally lost the privilege of becoming part of the foot family and died after leaving his Teacher's side forever.

It is the same today. Judas is none other than someone who refuses to be a servant and a foot that serves humanity as Jesus did. That person is the "Judas" in the last days of this earth who will sell the Savior of this age and is a part of the "Judases" who fail to be part of the universal foot family forever.

The beloved disciple Peter almost became an eternal Judas, as well. [Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered him, "Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward." (John 13:36)] This meant, "Right now, you are too proud to follow this Foot. After you repent and become a foot, you will be able to follow Me." Without knowing what Jesus meant, Peter boasted, ["Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake." Jesus answered him, "Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times."] (John 13:37, 38) Even when they have not become a foot in heart, many Christians today boast that they will give up their life for Jesus. On the bright dawn of the new era, the day of eternal life, they will leave Him after completely denying Him [three times (complete number)] as Peter did. However, those who sadly lament, throw away their pride, and lower themselves to live as a humble foot as Peter did, will be the last "Peters" who stand by Jesus' side as His most beloved disciples.

Sin is not fighting or stealing. It is the desire to always be a head instead of a foot, comparing yourself to others, and arrogantly pushing them aside. No matter how many sins people may have committed in the past, if they know our Real Father's love, are embraced in His bosom, and become feet, then they will become the most righteous people in the universe. Jesus will sanctify them by cleansing their hearts and souls and take them to the new world. Those who say, "I am spotless. I never stole anything or committed murder, and I did a lot of service. What else do I need?" lean on their own righteousness, and desire to be a head, are hopeless and incurable.

Though Jesus showed Judas what it was to be a foot and enlightened him with so many lessons for three and a half years, He ultimately removed him for refusing to be a foot. [When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him."] (John 13:31) There are two ways to glorify God.

First, [the fear of the Lord is to hate evil. (Pro. 8:13)] Hating and rejecting evil is to fear the Lord and glorifying God. To truly fear the Lord is not to worship Him for a long time or make large monetary offerings but to hate, confront, and eradicate evil and cut off sin. It was this evil that brought down and killed God and Jesus and destroyed the human race. When we conspire with evil, we are killing God and the human race once again. Therefore, we must never conspire with evil but lay down our lives to fight against it. True love neither rejoices in iniquity nor ever tolerates evil, but rejoices only in the truth.

Achan was not a leader but a commoner among the 600,000-member Israelite army. Even when a commoner such as Achan sinned, God departed from the congregation of Israel. If there is someone like Achan or Judas in the group led by God in these last days, we will all perish. For that reason, Jesus cut off Judas who only wanted to be a head, even though it was agonizing and painful. Afterwards He said, "God is glorified in the Son of Man."

Second, our Father and Jesus are glorified when we possess the beautiful character of being feet for mankind, like Jesus. We must never tolerate sin but glorify God by living beautifully as a foot. God in turn glorifies such people and seats them on the right side of His throne. They will live eternally with the rest of the universal foot family.

After cutting off Judas whom He was very much attached to, Jesus said, [A new commandment I give to you.] The disciples always liked new things and high hopes filled their heart. He said, [As I have loved you...you also love one another.] (John 13:34) He meant, "Just as I loved you, laid down My life for you, and gave up the heavenly throne to be a Foot and serve humanity, you must also be a foot to your brethren, serve, and love them with your life. Then the whole world will know that you are My disciples and follow you, even if you do not carry out any missionary work."

Those who accept this new commandment will serve their brethren as feet and love their neighbors as they love themselves. Fighting, domestic troubles, family discord, marital quarrels, and international wars occur because one party desires to be the head and take control of the other party. If everyone served each other as feet, there would never be any more fighting, no matter how wide this universe may be.

The True Foot-Washing Service

In following Jesus' example, churches today perform what is known as the "foot-washing service" or "humility service." Countless numbers of people pour water into basins and wash each other's feet. Afterwards, they continue to hate and be jealous of one another, fighting to rise above one another. Jesus never commanded such a foot-washing service. Instead of acknowledging it, He considers it abominable and turns away from it. The true foot-washing service that Jesus joyfully acknowledges and receives is to genuinely love everyone as He loved all the sinners in the world (John 13:34) and to serve them as a lower foot and servant--the "practical foot-washing service of the life." Those who wash each other's feet like the members of the modern church, with hearts full of pride and jealousy, always comparing themselves to other brethren and criticizing them, will be judged by Jesus at His Second Coming. He will be filled with wrath against the abominable tribe of Judas Iscariot and greatly judge them for defiling His holy name.

The True Pledge of the Foot-washing Service

"To those who receive the spirit of this service, it can never become a mere ceremonial. Its constant lesson will be, [Through love, serve one another.] (Gal. 5:13) In washing the feet of His disciples, Christ gave evidence that He would do any service, however humble, that would make them heirs with Him of the eternal wealth of heaven's treasury. His disciples, in performing the same rite, pledge themselves in like manner to serve their brethren. Whenever this ordinance is rightly celebrated, the children of God are brought into a holy relationship, to help and bless each other. They covenant that the life shall be given to unselfish ministry. Moreover, those who would partake of His divine attributes, and share with Him the joy of seeing souls redeemed, must follow His example of unselfish ministry. All this was comprehended in the words of Jesus, [I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.] (John 13:15) This was the intent of the service He established. He says, [If you know these things,] if you know the purpose of His lessons, [blessed are you if you do them.] (John 13:17)"

We must all become feet for all mankind just like the Son of God who was the great Foot.

Even today, Jesus says, "If you desire to live eternally with Me in the happy, new world, then you also become a foot like Me!"

I Will Be a Fallen Leaf

Though the world

May praise

The towering,

Magnificent trees

And the beautiful,

Desirable fruits,

No one

Seems to praise

The fallen leaves

Who sacrificed themselves,

Even to death,

And sustained bloody bruises

So that the fruits

Could grow

And ripen.

I also will become

A fallen leaf

To the world

And disappear.

I also

Will leave

As a fallen leaf.

The Book Personally Written By God

2012-12-19T14:12:00.000-08:00

By Teacher Suksun

The Nature Bible

In the beginning, God gave us a book, the Nature Bible--the very first Bible personally written by the Creator God for His earthly children. The Holy Bible we read today is the second Bible, written by human beings.

The second Bible was given to us temporarily; those who become holy sages will throw it away when they leave for the new world. The Word became flesh in Jesus and so He ascended to heaven without the Scriptures.

In the last days, those who will go to the new world must be able to live apart from sin even without the sixty-six books of the second Bible. If that is the case, their eyes must be opened to read the first Bible, the Nature Bible.

[For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made.] (Rom. 1:20, NASB)

[The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.] (Psa. 19:1-4)

The heavens proclaim God's love, and the skies testify of the work of His hands. Day testifies to day, and night speaks to night. Though nothing is audible, their voice spreads throughout the earth and to the ends of the universe. All nature in heaven and on earth exclaims our God's love.

In the beginning at the Garden of Eden, God never gave the sixty-six books of the Bible, which were written on paper. Our forefathers, like Adam, Enoch, Noah, or Abraham never even got a glimpse of the Holy Bible. In fact, they never even heard of the Bible. Yet, they lived holy lives obeying the Word of God, associated, and walked with Him as closer friends than us. How was that possible? Remembering the Word of God that had been passed down by word of mouth helped considerably. However, they were able to live such holy lives because they walked with God while "reading" the Nature Bible, a much better Bible than the one written by human beings.

Degenerated humans (prophets) wrote today's sixty-six books of the Holy Bible with an imperfect language and imperfect expressions. We can say that the Bible is an imperfect book. The Holy Spirit spoke through a prophet: "The Lord speaks to human beings in imperfect speech, in order that the degenerate senses, the dull, earthly perception, of earthly beings may comprehend His words."

If we were to teach a cannibal race about God, we could not do it speaking to them in fluent English or Korean. We would have to learn their imperfect language and use it to communicate with them. Likewise, God must use Korean in order to communicate with Koreans and English to communicate with Americans. He comes down to our level of communication and degenerate senses in order to meet us. The Heavenly language spoken throughout the universe is neither English nor Korean, but a separate unified language. Because He could not use that language on this earth, He spoke to people using their imperfect language.

"Thus is shown God's condescension. He meets fallen human beings where they are. The Bible, perfect as it is in its simplicity, does not answer to the great ideas of God; for infinite ideas cannot be perfectly embodied in finite vehicles of thought."

Though the great truths of the universe and the holy thoughts of the infinite God of heaven should be expressed in the Holy Bible, it is impossible for finite human minds and incompetent hands to express everything properly. That is why God gave us the sixty-six-book Bible as an imperfect Holy Bible to use temporarily on this earth and then discard.

"Instead of the expressions (within the sixty-six books) of the Bible being exaggerated, as many people suppose, the strong expressions break down before the magnificence of the thought, though the penman (human prophets) selected the most expressive language through which to convey the truths of higher education. Sinful beings (prophets) can only bear to look upon a shadow (shade) of the brightness of heaven's glory."

There is no way to properly express the thoughts and objects of Heaven, regardless of how powerfully people try to express them and how accurately and beautifully sinful prophets try to express them. Apostle John's exile to the island of Patmos for testifying of Jesus is a simple example. There, he beheld a greater glory.

On the Lord's Day, Jesus came to him and showed him the New Jerusalem coming down from the heavenly Father. He was so amazed and spellbound when he beheld New Jerusalem that he could not properly express the joy of his amazement and enchantment. He began to write about this vision in order to reveal quickly the good news to the brethren who were being persecuted (executed) every day across the seas. He wrote, "Then I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God." Afterwards, he did not know what to compare it to and was unable find the proper words to describe New Jerusalem, no matter how much he searched in heaven and on earth. Though he was anxious to quickly deliver this news, nothing--not the sun, the moon, or the flowers--could describe the beauty of New Jerusalem. He could not write anything else. After agonizing so much, he finally concluded that God's children were the most beautiful out of all creation, that a woman was the most beautiful among people, and that a woman (bride) was the loveliest on her wedding day. As unsatisfied as he was, all that he could say was, [Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.] (Rev. 21:2)

Do you believe that New Jerusalem is only as beautiful as a human bride is? Regrettably, John was forced to compare it to a bride because he could not find anything else to compare it with in heaven and earth.

The Bible that we possess is full of such weak expressions; there are sixty-six "imperfect" books in the Holy Bible. Though critics in the world today claim that the Holy Bible is exaggerated, in reality, not even 10.01% has been properly conveyed.

However, there is a Bible personally written by the hand of God. As mentioned before, He gave us the first Bible, the Nature Bible, in the very beginning, before the sixty-six books of the Holy Bible were written. God originally intended that we have this Bible. His original plan was for us to only read the Nature Bible, obey the truths written within it, and live happily forever.

Therefore, before we go to the new world, our heavenly Father will open and restore our eyes so that we can read the first Bible He personally wrote in the beginning. The restoration of our eyes must occur now on this earth, before we go to the new world.

However, God's real children became degenerate by following the gods of this world. Their eyes and senses became numb and degenerate, and they were unable to read the first Bible at all. Our heavenly Father had pity on them and gave them a second Bible, the sixty-six-book Holy Bible we read today, saying, "Now read this and understand." However, God's children became so terribly corrupt and degenerate that they could not even understand this second Bible. He therefore interpreted it for us and told us to read it and understand. That was the third Bible, the [spirit of prophecy.] (Rev. 19:10)

Sadly enough, God's children could not even understand that. Therefore, He said that He would send His Son in the last days to teach them and take them to Heaven. [For thus says the Lord God: "Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out...on a cloudy and dark (blind) day.... I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down,...I will seek what was lost...bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick...I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them; My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them; I, the Lord, have spoken.] (Eze. 34:11, 12, 15, 16, 23, 24)

Oh, how tenacious the love of our Father is! No matter how much His earthly children follow the gods of this world and become blind, deaf, degenerated, and their senses become numbed, they are powerless before His tenacious love and cannot help but be saved. He follows them, determined to personally redeem them and take them to heaven.

Holy Sages who Will Ascend to Heaven on Clouds

As mentioned before, God's real children who will enter the new world must be able to read nature, the first Bible, well in order to be qualified to enter the new world as its heirs. That is because in the new world, there will not be a single volume of the printed Holy Bible, but only the Nature Bible because our Daddy originally gave it to us and filled the universe with it. Therefore, those who will enter the new world must be skilled in reading the Nature Bible on this earth. Those whose hearts, eyes, and ears are opened to read the Nature Bible on this earth right now are already prepared to enter the new world and are suffering on this earth waiting for the brethren who are not prepared yet.

We call such people divine people, spiritually enlightened pursuers of the truth, or holy sages. From long ago, it was said that those holy sages would not die but ascend to heaven riding the clouds, and it is a fact. The holy sages who partook of God's divinity amidst nature, the first Bible, will ride to the new world on clouds when it is time for the new world. Holy sages such as Moses, Elijah, and Enoch already became immortal gods and went to heaven before Jesus came to this earth. Likewise, the last holy sages will also ride on clouds to the new world at the end of the world.

A holy sage is merely someone who lives with God in the mountains. "Holy sage" is written in Chinese (神仙) as, <神 (God) + 人 (person) + 山 (mountain) = 神仙 (holy sage)>. God made it clear that a holy sage, an heir to the new world, is someone who may not know Jesus or the Holy Bible but departs from the secular world, lives amidst nature--the first Bible--and is transformed into God's image and character by understanding His love and the truth through an intimate relationship with Him.

"Those whom Christ commends in the judgment may have known little of theology.... Among the heathen are those who do not know the Holy Bible or Jesus but have worshipped God ignorantly, those to whom the light (the truth of the Holy Bible) is never brought by human instrumentality, yet they will not perish. Though ignorant of the written law (Word) of God, they have heard His voice speaking to them in nature (the Nature Bible), and have done the things that the law (the Ten Commandments) required. Their works (lives) are evidence that the Holy Spirit has touched their hearts, and they are recognized as the children of God."

[When Gentiles, who do not possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, these, though not having the law (Word), are a law to themselves (their conscience).] (Rom. 2:14, NRSV)

Holy Sages of China

China is one of the last countries introduced to the Holy Bible. However, God already prophesied in the Holy Bible that many holy citizens of the new world would be found in China, [the land of Sinim] (Isa. 49:12), even before it would be introduced to the Holy Bible. Then who will be heirs to the new world from China, [the land of Sinim]? They are the holy sons of China who resembled God by reading the first Bible He gave, the Nature Bible, and understanding the great truths of Heaven through it. They are the holy citizens of the new world from [the land of Sinim]. Many Christians today may say, "Confucius was a sinner and does not have salvation because it is written in the Bible, [Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name (except Jesus) under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.] (Acts 4:12) Since he was a sinner who did not know Jesus, he will be judged." However, those are the words of narrow-minded humans, not the Word of God. As mentioned before, God said that [when Gentiles, who do not possess the law (and do not know the Bible or Jesus), do instinctively (conscientiously) what the law requires (and live accordingly), these, though not having the law, are a law to themselves,] (Rom. 2:14, NRSV) and He would save them. Christians today do not know that [the Spirit of Jesus] (Acts 16:7), by which [there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved], was with Confucius. He taught the world to obey God and live immortally (eternally). Everything he taught was a truth of the Holy Bible and the Word of God.

I presently live in Songni Mountain. Some families moved here, the entrance of Songni Mountain, from distant provinces. They studied the Korean prophetic writings of Jeong Gam Rog and Gyuk Am Yoo Rog, and believed in the prophecy that the savior of mankind would appear in the last days from Songni Mountain. As they became old and reached the end of their lives, they entreated their children and grandchildren not to move but to live there and wait for that savior. I was told that the sons, now in their seventies with their hair in a topknot*, were still living there. (The traditional hairstyle for Korean men long ago was to tie their hair into a knot.)

One day, I rode my motorcycle out to meet one of them, a knowledgeable, elderly Confucian scholar. Upon greeting him, I said, "Sir, if there are any spiritual truths you have realized, please teach them to me." At first, he was very humble and replied, "Oh, I'm just a farmer living in the countryside." I knew that though Confucianists seem humble, they have a great deal of pride. Not wanting time to drag on, I urged him, "Please just teach me." His only answer was that he knew nothing.

I spoke first. "Sir, I believe that Confucius taught, 'He who follows the will of heaven shall live, and he who opposes the will of heaven shall perish.' In other words, he who obeys God will live, and he who disobeys God will die. Since Confucius died, was he not someone who opposed the will of heaven?"

This elderly man became flustered by my question and answered, "Oh, uh, uh, well, that is not so. I think He will be born again in a later generation...." Flustered, he profaned the god he revered and reduced him to a child of his own children. I replied to the flustered, elderly man, "Sir, I think he meant this: 'He who obeys God will live; even if he dies, he will be resurrected and live immortally. But he who disobeys God will die and disappear forever.' I believe that Confucius taught the way of resurrection." The elderly man opened his eyes wide in astonishment.

For thousands of years, teachers in private schools for the study of Chinese classics always raised their voices to teach, "He who follows the will of heaven shall live, and he who opposes the will of heaven shall perish," without even knowing what it meant. They are no different than the people who carry the Holy Bible around today and teach others without even knowing its meaning.

Confucius, like Jesus, never told anyone to believe in him. He was a son of God who only led people to God. Confucius never stated that people should believe in him. As a guide, he only introduced God to others and led them to the path to God. He played the role of Jesus during his time.

Let me introduce several teachings of Confucius and other holy sages of China.

 "He who follows the will of heaven shall live, and he who opposes the will of heaven shall perish."

"He who obeys God will live; even if he dies, he will be resurrected and live immortally. However, he who disobeys God will die forever. Therefore, obey God to live immortally." Confucius taught the way (the Holy Bible) of resurrection, the grand truth of Heaven.

 "Though people secretly talk with each other, it sounds like thunder in God's ear. Though people deceive their conscience in the dark, it flashes like lightening in God's eyes."

"People may whisper quietly with each other, but it sounds like thunder in God's ear. People may deceive their consciences in the middle of the night, but it flashes like lightening in God's eyes." This is a Biblical teaching that everyone should live with a clean conscience, speak kind words, and do good deeds since no one can evade God's discernment between good and evil and His eyes of judgment.

 "Sow a cucumber and reap a cucumber; sow a bean and reap a bean. Though Heaven's net is wide, nothing will just pass through."

This is a Biblical teaching. "You will reap a cucumber if you sow a cucumber seed, and you will reap a bean if you sow a bean. Likewise, each person will reap according to whether he (she) sowed sin or righteousness; God will judge according to what he (she) said and did in the his (her) lifetime, whether good or bad. Not one sinner can escape the net of Heaven's judgment, as wide as it may seem, and everyone will be judged. Therefore, be a sower of righteousness and goodness."

 "Heaven repays those who do good with blessings and repays those who do not do good with misfortune."

"God repays those who do good with blessings and repays those who do evil with misfortune." This testifies of the reward that befalls a righteous person and the woe that befalls an evildoer. This is a Biblical teaching, "Be blessed by God by only doing good deeds."

 "Though no one harms the one who gains fame through wicked methods and means, Heaven will surely kill that person."

"Though people do not harm someone who gains worldly honor and power using evil methods and means, God will surely kill that person." This testifies of God's retribution and fair judgment. It is a Biblical teaching that tells us not to commit a vice in order to gain honor and power.

 "Though no one knows, Heaven surely knows the loyal and filial person who wakes up early and sleeps late working diligently."

"Though no one acknowledges those people who wake up early in the morning and sleep late at night with a heart of loyalty and filial piety and are faithful in everything, God will surely recognize and bless that person." God carefully observed the faithful and filial people in every generation, holy sages who lived faithfully and sincerely such as Enoch, Daniel, Joseph, Confucius, and Lao-tzu, in addition to nameless commoners, and He surely blessed them. This testifies of God's meticulous love and care.

 "Those who commit sin against God have no where to supplicate."

"Sinners who commit sin and leave God have no where to go and pray; there is no God who will listen to their prayers." This refers to the unforgivable sinners who have sinned against the Holy Spirit and departed from God.

 "When the jug of sin is full, Heaven will surely empty it."

"When the cup of sin in this world is full, just as a bucket is full of water, God will surely execute judgment." This is a Biblical teaching referring to the merciless judgment of wrath after the door of grace is closed and the just balances of God and His long-suffering comes to an end.

All the previous teachings of Confucius and the other holy sages of China are the same truths that are found in the Holy Bible. The way of the universe and the truth are one. The truth is not the actual writings of the way, but the deep meaning and significance found within them. Like Confucius and the other holy sages of China, our spiritual eyes must be opened to read the truths that God personally inscribed throughout all creation.

The astonishing great truths of Heaven mentioned above are not the words of the mortal Confucius or other spiritually enlightened men who lived in China. The mortal Confucius and all the other people (sages) of China could not have uttered these mysterious, great truths of Heaven on their own even if they were to die ten times and be resurrected each time. The God of heaven poured His Holy Spirit, [the Spirit of Jesus] (the Spirit of salvation), upon His specially chosen sons (sages) and inspired them with those Biblical truths in order to save so many of His loving children living in China (Sinim), before the means of transportation and printing were as developed as they are now. China is where most of God's children live. How could God just leave them to die for thousands of years, before the printing of the sixty-six-book second Bible? He could never allow that to happen.

Before Jesus came to this earth and long before the sixty-six books of the Holy Bible were made, God already poured [the Spirit of Jesus] upon various sages in China, [the land of Sinim] (Isa. 49:12), where most of His children were living. He taught the way of salvation through the lips of those sages who were inspired by the Holy Spirit. It is a grave mistake to make judgments about God with our narrow views and think that He is like humans. His love and wisdom are infinite, and He has thousands of different, unknown ways to save His real children on this earth. Once again, let us not forget that the teachings of Confucius and the other sages of China were all God's words of truth and that the same God who gave us today's Holy Bible gave us those teachings.

Therefore at the end of the world, God will resurrect His messengers (holy sages) who taught the old world with the Nature Bible, the first Bible, and take them to the new world. For this reason, people call them, "holy sons." What is a "holy son"? In Chinese characters, "holy son" is written "聖子." The character for "holy" (聖) is comprised of the characters "king" (王), "ear" (耳), "eye" (目), and "mouth" (口). A "holy son" is the son of God who has the ears, eyes, and mouth of God, the King of kings, the great King of heaven, the son of God who perfectly resembles God. In other words, "Jesus."* He is the son of God who, like God, only listens to, sees, and speaks what is holy. Therefore, Confucius was the savior who appeared in China with a different name and face during that generation. (*The meaning of "Jesus": someone who [will save His people from their sins.] (Mat. 1:21))

In addition, it was prophesied that many other nameless non-Christians (holy sages) who lived holy lives in every age in China and the other parts of the world would also be heirs to the new world. I have a drawing based on a true story hanging on the wall in my room that I value and love very much.

Long ago, two friends (Huh-yu and So-bu) left the secular world with their family, moved into the deep, deep mountains where a stream as clear as glass flowed, and lived holy lives as neighbors. One day, as So-bu was letting his cow drink from the stream, he noticed that Huh-yu, who lived in the house above, was washing his ears in the stream repeatedly, murmuring something to himself. Thinking it very strange, So-bu called out to his friend.

"My dear friend!"

"What?"

"Why are you washing your ears today and murmuring at the same time?"

"My dear friend, you will never believe this. Some secular people (state ministers of the country) came to see me and asked me to be the king of this country. Since I've heard such foul words, I'm washing out my ears with this clean water."

Upon hearing this, So-bu quickly reined in his cow and exclaimed, "Ugh! I'm scared my cow will drink the water you cleaned your dirty ears out with," and did not allow his cow to drink that water. This is the true story the drawing is based upon.

How holy these two people are! Their hearts and ways were congenial. Indeed, the friend of a holy man is also holy. They are people we would consider "holy sages," heirs to the new world.

Those non-Christian holy sages neither knew of Jesus nor knew of the Holy Bible. They were holy people who were led by [the Spirit of Jesus], the Spirit of salvation; understood God's love by learning the Creator's laws of love and His virtuous truth through the Nature Bible, the first Bible given to us by God; and lived transformed lives. He will take such people to the new world at the end of the world.

[When Gentiles, who do not possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, these, though not having the law, are a law to themselves (their own conscience).] (Rom. 2:14, NRSV) They are the holy sages who will go to the new world.

The Greatest Happiness of Living in the Nature Bible

"The book of nature (the first Bible) is a great lesson book (God's book), which in connection with the Scriptures (the second Bible) we are to use in teaching others of His character (love), and guiding lost sheep back to the fold of God. As the works of God (the first Bible) are studied, the Holy Spirit flashes conviction into the mind. It is not the conviction that logical reasoning (the theoretical knowledge of scholars) produces.... The sublime, spiritual truths of the (God's) written word are impressed on the heart.

In these lessons direct from nature, there is a simplicity and purity that makes them of the highest value. All who will enter the new world need the teaching to be derived from this source (the first Bible). In itself the beauty of nature leads the soul away from sin and worldly attractions, and toward purity, peace, and God. Too often the minds of students are occupied with men's theories and speculations, falsely called science and philosophy. They (students) need to be brought into close contact with nature (the first Bible). Let them learn that creation and Christianity have one God. Let them be taught to see the harmony of the natural with the spiritual. Let everything that their eyes see or their hands handle be made a lesson in character building. Thus the mental powers will be strengthened, the character developed, the whole life ennobled."

"As we come close to the heart of nature, Christ makes His presence real to us, and speaks to our hearts of His peace and love.... We shall ever be learning new lessons of heavenly truth, and growing into the image of His purity. Thus shall we [be taught by the Lord] (Isa. 54:13) (through nature); and in the lot wherein we are called, like Enoch, we shall be granted the privilege to [remain (walk) with God.] (1 Cor. 7:24)"

"Nature (the first Bible) and revelation (the second Bible) alike testify of God's love. Our Father in heaven is the source of life, of wisdom, and of joy. Look at the wonderful and beautiful things of nature.... The sunshine (Sun) and the rain (water, dew) that gladden and refresh the earth, the hills and seas and plains, all speak to us of the Creator's love.... The thorn and the thistle...were appointed for (man's) good.... 'God is love' is written upon every opening bud, and upon every spire of grass. The lovely birds making the air vocal with their happy songs, the delicately tinted flowers in their perfection perfuming the air, the lofty trees of the forest with their rich foliage of living green--all testify to the tender, fatherly care of our God and to His desire to make His children happy."

"Many are the ways in which God is seeking to make Himself known to us and bring us into communion with Him. Nature speaks to our senses without ceasing. The open heart will be impressed with the love and glory of God as revealed through the works of His hands. The listening ear can hear and understand the communications of God through the things of nature. The green fields, the lofty trees, the buds and flowers, the passing cloud, the falling rain, the babbling brook, the glories of the heavens, speak to our hearts, and invite us to become acquainted with Him who made them all.

Our Savior bound up His precious lessons with the things of nature. The trees, the birds, the flowers of the valleys, the hills, the lakes, and the beautiful heavens...were all linked with the words of truth.

If we will but listen, God's created works will teach us precious lessons of obedience and trust. From the stars that in their trackless courses through space follow from age to age their appointed path, down to the minutest atom, the things of nature" speak of the Creator God's love.

Beloved readers! As we have seen in God's words up to now, have the sun, the moon, clouds, rain and dew, seas, hills, green fields, prairies, trees, birds, flowers, and even thistles, spoken God's love to you? Were you able to read the message, "God is love," written on the heavens, the earth, oceans, mountains, trees, flower petals, and spires of grass? God who cannot lie clearly said that all creation speaks to us and has words of love written on it. Our ears must be able to clearly hear the whispering of all creation, and we must be able to plainly read their letters of love. This is normal. Unfortunately, we cannot hear the voices of nature or read their letters of love, no matter how much we try. Though we rub our eyes repeatedly, the mountains look like mere mountains, the oceans look like mere oceans, and the flowers look like mere flowers. We cannot hear anything or see anything written anywhere.

This boundary line separates the world of divine sages from that of secular people, and the very difference between a partaker and non-partaker of God's divinity. The ability to converse with nature is the proof that God's divinity has become one with humanity. They are holy sages, people who are spiritually awakened, spiritually enlightened. Even though God converses with all creation in heaven and on earth, we cannot. However, there is one way to converse with creation. If the true God who converses with nature enters our hearts and abides in us, then we can also converse with all creation and easily read the messages written in nature. This is what it means to attain the state of spiritual enlightenment and the state of sanctification. In particular, how can secular people and the corrupt religions of these last days attain this holy state? The children of God who accept these words with childlike simplicity and a pure heart can easily attain this state, for it was His plan to bring His children up to this level.

[I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.] (Mat. 11:25, NIV) [Therefore, whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest (heir) in the kingdom of heaven (the new world).] (Mat. 18:4)

[If He called them (Gods), to whom the word (the truth of nature) of God came (and the Scripture (the truth of the grand way) cannot be broken)....] (John 10:35)

"It was God's plan that through various beauties of nature, people would learn the lessons directing them to the glories of the new world."

"God has bound our hearts to Him through countless tokens (all creation) in heaven and in earth. Through the things of nature...He has sought to reveal Himself to us."

[Ever since the creation of the world His eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things (nature) He has made.] (Rom. 1:20, NRSV)

"Those who close their senses to the joyful voice which speaks to them in nature...are not (believers)."

"His (Jesus, the holy sage) happiest hours were found when along with nature and God."

"It is the (believer) who enjoys the beauty of the earth (nature) with the highest appreciation."

This was the life of the holy sages in the past and is the eternal happiness we are to enjoy by becoming the holy sages of this age.

The Teachers of Truth

Then, let me introduce to you the first Bible that I see and read, and the nature friends I meet and converse with.

 Sun: The sun uniformly and evenly shines its warm rays of love upon the mountains, fields, oceans, shores, plains, and valleys and tells us of the impartial love of the heavenly Father, who equally loves all people in the world, whether evil or righteous.

 Moon: The moon shines at night alone, regardless of the darkness in this bleak world, and tells us of the life of the Son of God who came alone to this dark, sinful world and shed light upon it. At the same time, we can see that the earthly children who follow Him and live a life apart from sin will shine once again in this dark, sinful world.

 Sky: The sky tells us of our heavenly Father's wide, lofty love. In addition, when we see the birds flying in the endlessly vast, lofty skies and dancing to their hearts' content, we can see prodigal sons enjoying infinite happiness and freedom to their hearts' content after returning to our heavenly Real Father's wide, lofty arms.

 Oceans: Unlike the sky, the oceans tell us of our heavenly Father's deep and wide love. We can see the earthly children who were once caught in Satan's snare enjoying freedom and happiness to their hearts' content after returning to our heavenly Father's wide, deep bosom of love when seeing small and large fish swaying their tails, dancing, and joyfully swimming around the endlessly wide and deep ocean.

 Harsh wildernesses and deserts: We can see the harsh wildernesses and desolate deserts of the hearts (characters) of the earthly children who abandoned our heavenly Father's loving bosom.

 Deep marshes and swamps: They tell us deep, indented unhappiness in the hearts of the earthly children who left our heavenly Father's bosom of love.

 Magnificent rocks and mountains: They tell us of our heavenly Father's firm, eternal promise of salvation for His children who sinned and fell into misery.

 Trees in winter: We can see the wretched appearance of the youngest, earthly children who stand in tears after leaving our loving heavenly Father's bosom, having lost all the given blessings and happiness trying to seek happiness on their own.

 Trees in spring: We can see the happy appearance of the youngest, earthly children who returned to our heavenly Father's bosom of love. The once lost leaves of regeneration and flowers of sanctification of their characters bud and bloom, and fruits of love are borne.

 Various flowers: From the flowers of the largest trees in the mountains to the those of the smallest grasses, we can see the beautiful charm of each flower that contains the loving touch of our heavenly Father who beautifully created each one of them. They tell us of the tender love of our heavenly Real Daddy who meticulously loves and looks after each one of His children living on the earth, to the point of counting the hair on their heads.

Happiness at the Beach

For the first time in a long while, I took my family on a trip to the beach when we were living in the southern region of Korea. After playing badminton and swimming with my children, I went up to a large rock at the top of a hill by the beach. While looking at the sky and the ocean, our heavenly Daddy's love overwhelmed me. I wept so much I was unable to pray. I came down and spent more time with my family, who had no idea what had happened, before returning home later in the afternoon.

The following is our Father's love that was revealed to my heart at that time: it was the rainy season and the vast, endless summer sky was completely covered with dark clouds that looked like black smoke billowing from a smokestack, and it seemed as if nothing could penetrate those dark clouds. Before the fall of God's youngest children on this earth, there were never dark skies in heaven. The sky showed our heavenly Father's heart filled with sorrow and anxiety after beholding His children who were doomed to die. Later, there was lightning and loud rumbles of thunder. This was our heavenly Father scolding His dear children with a sad voice, worried on their behalf. "My children! How did you become like this? Why didn't you listen to Me?" Our heavenly Daddy was sadly lamenting and calling out to His children. Such sounds of anxiety (thunder) were unheard of in the heavenly paradise before the youngest children of this earth fell. Moments after hearing the anxious scolding from the sky, large drops of tears fell on the galvanized steel roofing, making loud noises. Unable to hold back the sadness welling up, rain poured down in a roar. The shower of tears spoke of our heavenly Father's tears of redemption that fell unceasingly as He beheld His earthly children bound to death. Such tears were unheard of in the heavenly paradise before the youngest children of this earth fell.

Right after the shower of tears, all the black dark clouds disappeared without a trace, as if they had never filled the sky, and as if it had never rained. A clear, blue sky appeared and the warm sun shone brighter and stronger than ever before. This spoke of the greater love our heavenly Daddy poured upon His children, earthly sinners, after completely forgiving them for their [iniquity, transgression, and sin] (Exo. 34:7), the dark, cloud-like sins they had committed.

The shower that fell earlier revived once again the withered, dried, and dying trees and plants throughout the world. This spoke of the recovery and revival of the thirsty souls throughout the world, who were dehydrated and dying without the living water of the Holy Spirit, through the shedding of our heavenly Father and Son's endless tears of redemption, the living water of the Holy Spirit. In addition, the dried streams and riverbeds overflowed once again due to the shower. This spoke of the dried streams of the heart and the dried riverbeds of the soul of His youngest earthly children that were dry without the living water of the Holy Spirit but are now overflowing once again as [rivers of living water. (John 7:38)] [He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.] (Psa. 1:3) And so, through the living water of the Holy Spirit brought down by the shedding of our heavenly Father's tears of redemption, sinners will abundantly bear the beautiful fruits of the Holy Spirit (love) (Gal. 5:22, 23) and become holy sages on this path to the restored paradise and go to the paradise of the new world.

When our heavenly Father taught me to understand these facts as I sat atop a hill by the beach, I wept so much thinking about how this unfilial son had brought great sorrow to His wide heart by making Him worry and feel anxious about me, and how much I had made Him shed endless tears. I again wept in gratitude for eliminating all the sins of this unfilial son once again, pouring upon me a greater love than before, and allowing me to receive the joy of His love and salvation.

Happiness in the Mountains

Let me tell you a story about a friend I met in the mountains.

As long as there is nothing special for me to do at home, I like to spend at least half the day in the Nature Bible, together with my heavenly Father. This is my life and my greatest joy. Let me briefly share this happiness with you.

"The closer we come to nature, God and His Son make Their presence real to us and speak of Their peace and love in our hearts."

One day, when I was living in the southern region, I went to the mountains, as was my habit. I was singing praises to God for about an hour and forty minutes when, suddenly, I just had to stop. Filled with gladness and delight, all the trees in the mountains in front and on both sides of me arose and joyously waved to me with their pretty hands. They were all saying to me, "God is love. God is love," as they continued waving their hands to me. I waved back to all my friends in the mountains, saying, "Yes, yes. God is love. God is love." Even after I reached the top of the mountain and looked around me, I saw that they were smiling joyously, waving their hands continuously, and still looking straight at me. Filled with happiness, I once again joyously waved my hands back to my lovely friends.

How time passes when spending such happy moments with nature friends! An old saying goes, "Sages in leisure know not that the axe handle rots." Though my watch was telling me that half of the day had already passed, I did not want to go down from there. However, I could not help but return home at the thought of my beloved wife and children sitting around the table at home waiting to eat with me. I waved goodbye, told them that I would come again, and unwillingly parted with my friends in the mountains that day. As I was making my way down, they continued to wave at me until they could no longer see me.

While quickly making my way down home, a pretty "young lady" grabbed me at the corner of the mountain trail. I looked down to see Miss Wild Rose smiling at me with her beautiful rose-patterned sleeve extended to block my way. Though I was already feeling quite happy, seeing pretty Miss Wild Rose grasping me filled me with greater happiness. She coquettishly said to me, "Prince, it has been a long time since we last met. Will you please talk with me for a while?" When I told her to go ahead and talk, she gave a brief testimony about her entire life. It was a silent testimony of her life of First Corinthians, Chapter 13. I was completely astonished at that moment. I was so deeply impressed with her life and felt ashamed. I bowed to her in my heart and confessed that my own character and life were deficient. I repeatedly thanked this dear friend for teaching me that precious truth through her own life.

Truly, the wild rosebush is a friend in whom...[the Word became flesh] (John 1:14) and who fulfilled First Corinthians, Chapter 13 in her life.

The wild rosebush possesses a love that always suffers long. She knows how to endure the pain of little children or adults bending her arms or cutting her branches off with sickles. [Love suffers long.] (1 Cor. 13:4)

The character of the wild rosebush is never rough, but always tender and kind. [(Love) is kind.] (1 Cor. 13:4)

The wild rosebush does not envy others or become jealous, all her life. [Love does not envy.] (1 Cor. 13:4)

The wild rosebush does not boast, show off, act haughty or proud, or single herself for praise, all her life. [Love does not parade itself, is not puffed up.] (1 Cor. 13:4)

The wild rosebush does not behave rudely but is always well mannered, all her life. [Love...does not behave rudely.] (1 Cor. 13:4, 5)

The wild rosebush does not seek its own gain, all her life. Instead, it gives its delicious leaves and tender stems to cows, lambs, goats, and little children for consumption. She is a friend that overflows with love and unsparingly gives her honey and pollen to bees and butterflies. [Love...does not seek its own.] (1 Cor. 13:4, 5)

The wild rosebush does not fight or quarrel with its neighbors, all her life. [Love...is not provoked.] (1 Cor. 13:4, 5)

The wild rosebush does not harbor evil or foul thoughts, even for a moment, all her life; her thoughts are only pure and holy. [Love...thinks no evil.] (1 Cor. 13:4, 5)

The wild rosebush does not know what sin or unrighteousness is, all her life; she only lives righteously. She lives a beautiful life, follows the heavenly truth, and bears the leaves of regeneration, the flowers of sanctification, and the fruits of the Holy Spirit. [Love...does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth.] (1 Cor. 13:4, 6)

Though there are smelly trees and many rotten fallen leaves among her mountain friends, the wild rosebush does not criticize or speak ill of them, despite their defects and weaknesses. Instead, she covers their faults and defects with her fragrance and her flowery sleeve and skirt. "Love bears all things."

The ill-natured, cruel winter brings cold frost, snowstorms, and windstorms and persecutes her so terribly that her blossoms and leaves fall. After she is stripped of all her clothes, the harsh winds punish her. However, she does not say a word and endures all the persecution and insult. She believes and hopes that the God of love will clothe her with new and better clothes in the spring of the coming year and comfort her by embracing her in His loving arms. The wild rosebush never in the least confronts or criticizes her persecutors. She quietly endures the winter offender's severe persecution with perseverance, only hoping all things. [Love...bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, (and) endures all things.] (1 Cor. 13:4, 7)

Unable to hide how ashamed I was in front of the gentle testimony of her life, I confessed, "Wild rosebush, your life is truly commendable, and I feel ashamed standing before you. Though I am your lord, I am ashamed to look at you because I have not yet attained the life you live. I am truly ashamed." I was not sure how to return the courtesy of this friend who had taught me a great truth through her beautiful life.

So I asked, "Dear wild rosebush, I am so grateful that I cannot just part from you. What can I give you as a gift?" Then the wild rosebush replied, "Dear Prince, I do not want anything. My only wish is that you quickly resemble our heavenly Father so you can go to the new world where our Father is waiting."

"Still, I am too grateful to just leave like this." Then, I suddenly thought of something.

"Oh, there is one thing I can do. Before I leave, as a gift, I will sing you a nice song that praises your beautiful life." She was very pleased and asked me to sing it to her. I joyfully sang a song about First Corinthians, chapter 13 to praise and commemorate her beautiful life.

Love always suffers long

Love is always kind

Love is never jealous

It does not boast or is proud

Love does not act rudely

Love does not seek its own

Love is not provoked

But rejoices with the truth

Love bears all things

Hopes all things, believes and endures all things

Love is forever unchanging

Faith, hope, and love

Is eternal until the end of this world

But among faith, hope, and love

The greatest is love

I waved goodbye to the wild rosebush and came down. I had not gone too far when I suddenly heard loud applause coming from both sides of the path. I looked around to see the pine trees, oak trees, and other trees standing in rows on both sides of the path cheering and applauding, overjoyed to see the heavenly Prince passing by.

[For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.] (Rom. 8:19) [For you shall go out with joy,...(and) the mountains...and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.] (Isa. 55:12)

According to the trees, false sons of God (false servants) had appeared in the world for countless years and were incorrectly teaching that God has eyes of fire and fearfully judges and kills humans." These trees were so upset and sad that they did not know what to do. Now, they were joyously applauding, saying, "The real Son of God, who teaches the world God's infinite love and the path of salvation frankly, has now come." In response, I waved to them, saying, "How long have you been waiting? Yet, during all that time you did not grow weary but endured with unwavering perseverance. Now that I, the Son of God, have appeared, I will unveil all the false accusations against our heavenly Father in front of the whole world and universe to your satisfaction. Rest assured, and please rejoice." After waving back to them, I came down home. What a truly joyful, happy day it was!

[We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now;] [For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God.] (Rom. 8:22, 19, NRSV)

Happiness while Traveling

I frequently travel from place to place, at times to distant areas, at the invitation of those who desire to hear about God's love. When I look out the window of the train, I can see mountains near and far. They sing resoundingly, "The son of God is passing by!" I really enjoy the trip, seeing their beautiful appearances and hearing them with the eyes and ears of my heart. [For you shall go out with joy...the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you...and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign.] (Isa. 55:12, 13)

Moreover, I am infinitely happy to hear the trees, near and far, joyously sing together and see them wave their hands at me along the train tracks. Listening to the chorus of willows, the chorus of pine trees, and other kinds of tree friends standing in rows makes the trip truly enjoyable. When I stop at a certain train station, I see baby forsythias, young maples, and midget spindle trees standing side by side outside the window. The forsythias see me first, wave their hands, and happily smile at me. If they notice the maple and spindle trees blankly looking elsewhere, they poke them in the side and say, "The Prince of heaven is passing by." Then, all the maple and spindle trees that were looking away turn to me and joyfully wave their hands at me. I see them waving their pretty hands at me until they can no longer see the train I am riding. I also wave back, filled with happiness, until I can see them no longer.

As the trip progresses, I see pretty but shy willow maidens bashfully hanging their longhaired heads down and waving to me by the roadside, and pine tree men that possess a firm, indomitable will all through the four seasons waving their hands at me in farewell. Later, young forsythias and bush clovers wave with their pretty hands at me. I am also glad to see poplar and oak giants that "emigrated" from Italy waving at me. Behind them, sycamore tree giants wave to me with their big hands. I am able to enjoy the best receptions, the greatest glory, and the greatest happiness that no king in this world could possibly enjoy from such happy trips. I will live together forever with just these beautiful friends who do not have the least bit of deceit or impropriety in their consciences.

The Chinese sage Confucius said, "A knowledgeable person is fond of water, and a virtuous person is fond of mountains; a knowledgeable person moves, and a virtuous person is quiet; a knowledgeable person is happy, and a virtuous person lives long." This means, "One who knows God, that is, a person who is friends with God, is fond of water (rivers and oceans), and a person who possesses God's character is fond of mountains. Therefore, a person who is a friend of God is active in saving the world. A person who possesses God's character is not noisy but quiet. A person who is friends with God is always joyful and happy, and a person who has God's character will eventually live forever." Holy sages, sons of God, live this life--the happy life of holy sages living with God in nature. Whether in ancient or modern times, they are God's friends, immortal holy sages who will ride to the new world paradise on clouds.

Happiness Day and Night

At night, the charm of the beautiful moon captivates me. The night seems to pass so quickly in the happiness of whispering to the baby stars. My heart flies endlessly throughout the serenely flowing Milky Way. As the day breaks, looking at the gallantly smiling, invincible sun gives discouraged people new courage and strength. With a smile, cloud painters pass by, freely drawing whatever and whenever they want to--lovely pictures of deer, lamb, pretty birds, angels, etc.--upon the spacious blue and white canvas of the sky. They are the most distinguished artists in the universe. As I gaze on, enraptured by the sight, someone gently comes along, softly touches my shoulder, and asks with a sweet voice, "What are you looking at that is so captivating?" I turn around to see the cool breeze friend who always smiles with a happy face.

This unchanging friend is always a smiling optimist. Even when a crabby person is sweating heavily on the brow from being terribly unkind to his neighbors, this amusing breeze friend comes along, asks, "Why are you so cross again?" wipes the sweat off his forehead, and smiles as he passes by. Where in the world can you find such a good friend?

When walking through the narrow mountain paths, pretty vines, runners, and young arrowroot vines on both sides of the path adorably stretch out their cute little hands to me and ask me to hold them. These young forest friends are so overwhelmed with joy as I go around holding all their hands, telling them to grow up happily. I tell myself, "Ah, how beautiful is my Father's world! It is filled with beautiful, affectionate friends that teem with a sincere love! It is so beautiful and so delightful!"

Countless numbers of tree and plant families live together all throughout the mountains, in both rich and poor soils. In some small areas with poor soil, pine trees, oak trees, runners, arrowroot vines, and various weeds all live together. They all look sallow from malnutrition since there is nothing to eat. Yet, I have never seen them complain to or fight with their neighbors, saying, "Hey, this is my land since I was here first! This land is small. It's only big enough for me to live on, so get off my land." Though they live on barren land and look sallow from malnutrition, they still love one another, share even the smallest amount of food with each other, and live together happily with their arms around each other's shoulders. They happily wave to passersby with their arms around each other's shoulders. Truly, they possess the hearts of beautiful, holy angels! Even though people live on fertile land, eat and drink to their hearts' content, and enjoy all kinds of pleasures, they argue with and snap at each other, saying, "My land is too small! Go away! I am going to sue you for ruining my honor and reputation!" Yet, these nature friends live together, loving and sparing each other with such beautiful hearts!

"Oh, my beautiful friends, my nature friends! Surely, God has bestowed the beautiful new world paradise, the new heavens and the new earth, upon you. He has already blessed you abundantly so that you may enjoy eternal happiness and immortality there. And God will live together with you for eternity."

My Father's Happy World

The songs of mountains far and near,

The chorus of the willows,

The chorus of the pine trees,

The whispering, the smiles, and the waving of their hands in farewell

Of the forsythias, maple trees, and spindle trees

Fill the traveling heavenly Prince's heart with infinite happiness.

Seeing the willow maidens bashfully hanging

Their longhaired heads down and waving their hands;

The pine trees with a firm, indomitable will

All through the four seasons waving their hands;

The forsythia and bush clover young girls waving their hands;

The poplar and oak tree giants that emigrated from Italy

Waving their handkerchiefs;

And the sycamore trees waving their big hands,

Fill the heavenly Prince's heart with infinite happiness

They are truly

My eternal friends without hypocrisy or falsehood.

The charm of the beautiful moon captivates me at night,

And I infinitely enjoy the chorus of baby stars.

My heart flies endlessly

Throughout the serenely flowing Milky Way.

As I gaze enraptured at

The strong, invincible

Sun gallantly smiling during the day,

And the smiling cloud artists passing by

Freely drawing all kinds of beautiful pictures

Upon the white and blue canvas of the sky,

A smiling cool breeze friend,

Always kind and happy,

Softly comes by and gladly puts his hand on my shoulders.

When walking through the narrow, mountain paths,

All the young vines stretch out their pretty hands to me,

Adorably asking me to hold their hands.

Oh, my Father's happy world

And all the beautiful friends within!

They have lived for thousands of years

Without a single frown, without any discord,

And without jealousy or greed.

My friends who only live

And love for the happiness of others!

I will only be friends with you and live together with you for eternity.

God Is My Real Father

2012-12-19T07:35:00.000-08:00

By Teacher Suksun

[I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, "You are my Son, today I have begotten You."] (Psa. 2:7)

The son who you personally begot is your real son. Just because you take someone else's child and draw up documents to make him your son does not mean that he is your real son. Even if you drew up enough documents to make several books out of them, he would only be your son on record; you would not be able to use the word real. Therefore, there is a father who is merely one in writing and then there is the real father. However, a son can only call someone who personally begot him his "Real Father." So when we say that God is our [real Father] (John 5:18), we are saying that God actually begot us through His body. Let us take a detailed look into the fact that God has personally begotten us through His body.

Man's Genealogy

Let us look into our genealogy to see whose children we are.

[Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi...the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan, the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.] (Luke 3:23-38)

In other words, "Jesus' father is Joseph, his father is Heli, his father is Matthat, his father is Levi...his father is Noah, his father is Lamech, his father is Methuselah, his father is Enoch, his father is Jared, his father is Mahalalel, his father is Cainan, his father is Enos, his father is Seth, his father is Adam, his Father is God." Thus, God is our real Father.

To say it in a different way, "Jesus was begotten by Joseph (Mary), who was begotten by Heli, who was begotten by Matthat, who was begotten by Levi...who was begotten by Noah, who was begotten by Lamech, who was begotten by Methuselah, who was begotten by Enoch, who was begotten by Jared, who was begotten by Mahalalel, who was begotten by Cainan, who was begotten by Enos, who was begotten by Seth, who was begotten by Adam, who was begotten by God." Therefore, God, our heavenly Father, is our real Father who begot us.

If we trace our genealogy, we can clearly see that God is our real Father who begot us. If God is not our real Father and He did not beget us, then where did we come from? We have multiplied because someone obviously begot us. Therefore, God of heaven is our real Father who personally begot mankind.

If that is the case, some may ask in return, "In Genesis chapter 1, verse 26, God said, [Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.] How can you claim that God personally begot us?" However, my answer is nevertheless the same--God of heaven is clearly our real Father who personally begot us through His body.

If we were worthless handicrafts God formed out of dirt in the beginning, just as the world knows, would all three Gods have arisen and gone so far as to sacrifice Their lives to search for such worthless handicrafts?

Would there even be a mortal king in this world who would forsake his throne and lay down his life to search for a handicraft he made out of clay or wood? The reason why the three Gods sacrificed Themselves so greatly and died to save us is that we are the real children God personally begot. Therefore, if we do not understand the relationship our Real Father has with His real children, there is no way to interpret the Bible correctly. We become ignorant people who do not know our own roots or ancestry, who, in the end, are deceived into believing the foolish theory of evolution, thereby becoming monkeys just like those who claim that monkeys are our ancestors. It is truly lamentable and regrettable that God's noble and holy real children, heavenly princes and princesses, pitifully say that they are the offspring of monkeys without realizing how disgraceful it is.

The Various Ways of Giving Birth to Offspring

Let me now prove that God is not One who made us with His hands, but our real Father who has actually begotten us through His body.

There are countless galaxies in our universe. The longitudinal diameter of the galactic system (the Milky Way) we live in is approximately 15,000 light years (light travels seven and a half times around the earth in one second) and the transversal diameter is approximately 100,000 light years. Even if humans were to journey for tens of thousands of generations, we would not be able to travel this distance. Scientists have counted billions of stars in our galaxy and billions of large galaxies like ours in the universe. Even then, this is just a rough estimate by scientists. For all we know, there could be much more. The universe is indeed huge and vast. In contrast, the earth is nothing more than a grain of sand and what squirms around in it as if mold is people.

Compared to the universe, this tiny earth is nothing more than a grain of sand. Yet, there are so many different kinds of animals living on it. Let us take the time to look into how they bring forth their offspring (young) and how they raise them.

Animals such as cows or deer bring forth young that bear a striking resemblance to them in form and appearance. Winged animals such as sparrows or pigeons also bring forth young (offspring) that bear a striking resemblance to them in form and appearance. However, we should realize that they each deliver their young in a different way. Hoofed animals like cows or deer, deliver their young from their bodies. From the womb, the mother delivers its young through the female reproductive organ and then feeds white fluid from sacks on the mother's stomach. We call this white fluid milk. However, winged animals, like sparrows, pigeons, or chickens deliver and raise their young in a completely different way. As you man know, they deliver their young from their bodies, but not from the womb and reproductive organ. Round, stony eggs that do not have eyes, ears, or even a mouth are produced in the ovary and laid from the anus. The mother then takes the eggs and broods them for many days. Finally, when the appointed number of days have passed, the chicks hatch bearing a striking resemblance to their mother and father in form and appearance. Once they hatch, they do not feed on their mother's milk. Instead, they directly eat the insects and coarse grain their mother and father eat. Even within the animal kingdom of this small world, though they may live together on this earth, we can see that a great, incomprehensible and unimaginable difference exists between the way four-legged animals give birth to their young and the way winged animals bring forth and raise their young. However, the results are the same. In the end, they both have lovely offspring that bear a striking resemblance to them in features, temperament, and bodily form. The difference is how they bring forth their young and raise them.

Likewise, the way man, a created being with a physical body, delivers children is completely different from the way our heavenly Father, the Creator who is [spirit] (John 4:24) and does not have a physical body, begets children. Human beings, created beings with physical bodies, deliver their children in nearly the same way as animals, which also have physical bodies. They deliver their children through wombs in their bodies. However, because God the Creator is spirit and has no physical body, He delivers His children in His way--through the Creator's spiritual womb. The Creator has children by delivering them through His womb. This may seem difficult to understand at first. Just as birds cannot understand how hoofed animals, like cows or deer, bring forth and raise their young, it may be difficult for man--creatures with physical bodies--to understand how our heavenly Father, the Creator who is "spirit," has children.

Nevertheless, when we think it over again, it is something anyone can easily understand. When people have children, the child is born after spending ten months in his mother's womb, and then nourished on liquid from a sack on the mother's bosom, just like the four-legged animals on this earth. However, in the beginning, our heavenly Father delivered Adam through the Creator's spiritual womb. Then, just as birds do not feed their young milk, but nourish them personally with coarse food, our Father, the God who is spirit and flies, also personally fed His newly begotten son Adam coarse food instead of mother's milk. He fed them fruit from the Tree of Life and all the different fruits and seed-yielding vegetables in Eden. Though the way birds give birth to their young is completely different from the way animals give birth to their young, in the end, they both have young bearing a striking resemblance to them. Likewise, though the way human beings with physical bodies have children is completely different from the way our heavenly Father, the Creator who is "spirit," has children, in the end, both have children bearing a striking resemblance to them. God said, "[Let Us...] beget [...man in Our image, after Our likeness,] through the Creator's womb." Afterwards, He said, "[You are My Son, today I have begotten You.]" (Gen. 1:27, Psa. 2:7)

Birds mock four-legged animals because they cannot understand the way four-legged animals bring forth their young and four-legged animals mock birds because they cannot understand how birds have their young by laying stony eggs that do not have eyes, noses, or mouths. Likewise, people only think about their physical bodies and refuse to acknowledge or even try to understand how the heavenly Father, the Creator who does not have a physical body, begets His children. Some people laugh at Him instead. That is why He sadly says, "[You thought that I was one like yourself.]" (Psa. 50:21, RSV)

However, Jesus clearly told us, "[Do not call anyone on earth your father, for one is your Father, who has begotten you personally, who is in heaven.]" (Mat. 23:9) Even Malachi, who knew this fact, asked in return, "[Have we not all one Father?]" (Mal 2:10) Jesus again told us, "[Pray then like this: 'Our Father which art in heaven...] (Mat. 6:9, RSV) and from now on, call Him [your own (real) Father.]" (John 5:18) While Jesus was on this earth, He called God His [own (real) Father.] [Therefore, the Jews sought all the more to kill Him.] (John 5:18) They hated Jesus and were jealous of Him, and eventually killed God's real Son because of that. Likewise, it was prophesied that in these last days also, those who have not accepted God as their real Father will be jealous of God's real children--those who have accepted Him as their real Father--hate them, and persecute them. "But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.'" (Mat. 21:38) It was Satan, the god of this world, and not the Jews who said this. He had been cast out of heaven and the universe, and he was about to take over this little earth as his eternal stronghold (kingdom). Then the heirs to this earth, God's real sons, appeared, and so Satan said, "Let us kill them and 'seize (their) inheritance (the earth).'"

But even today, by saying, "[Go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God,'] (John 20:17) Jesus, God's real Son, makes it clear once again that we are God's real sons and daughters like Him and eternal heirs to this earth as equal brethren.

Our Real Father Who Begot Us through His Body

Let me present another plain fact as evidence. When God created the heavens and earth in the beginning, did He make the sun, the earth, the moon and the stars by pressing mud into large lumps with His hands, as children in the winter make a snowman out of snow they press into lumps? Of course, He did not. When God made the sun, the earth, and the moon, He merely created them by command and did not even touch them with the tip of His finger. In addition, when He made all the different species of animals, every kind of bird and running animal, and all the countless numbers of creatures in the ocean, did He make them by kneading mud and shaping each one of them with His hands? Of course, He did not. He merely created them by command and did not even touch them with the tip of His finger. Therefore, we should keep the following fact in our minds and never forget it: when God created the celestial bodies and the numerous animals, He never touched them with His divine body or even with the tip of His finger. He merely created them by command. However, when it came to man, though remarkably smaller than a star, the moon, an elephant, or even a cow, God touched him with His fingers and divine body when He created him.

God Jehovah created everything else with His words, without even drawing His divine body close to them. However, when He begot man, He carefully, lovingly, and devotedly took the best dirt and made him beautifully with His own hands, according to His image. These days, degenerated human beings that do not even live a hundred years can make carvings that look just like living animals. Since the almighty God made man from dirt to resemble Himself perfectly, how beautifully and perfectly He must have made Adam!

Just as we cannot give birth to spiritual children since we have physical bodies, God is Spirit; He does not have a physical body so He cannot beget physical children. Therefore, [Jehovah Jireh], (Gen. 22:14, KJV)--[God ...(provided) for Himself...] (Gen. 22:8) a body for His child. Even then, He placed His hands on Adam, and with His body against him, passed His hands over Adam's entire body, from his head, to his body, and all the way down to his toes. God was quite happy afterwards. Adam was so lovely and cute that He embraced him one more time. Then after pressing His lips against Adam's, He [breathed into his nostrils the breath...] (Gen. 2:7) of immortal life that was within Him. His son (Adam) opened his eyes, smiled, and after saying, "Daddy," stood up.”Then, God said, ["You are My Son, today I have begotten You,"] (Psa. 2:7) and hugged him very tightly.

This was a great historical event for the universe--the glorious, great event of God personally begetting His child through His body. Oh, how wonderful it would be if we all knew how truly noble our bodies are! As soon as we were born on this earth, the first bosom we were embraced in was our heavenly Father's, the first face our eyes beheld was our heavenly Father's, the first lips we lovingly kissed were our heavenly Real Father's, and the very first cheeks our cheeks rubbed against were our heavenly Daddy's. That is why He says, "And to the saints who are on the earth, they are the excellent ones (heavenly princes and princesses), in whom is all My (the great King of the universe's) delight." (Ps. 16:3) Therefore, our conduct and manners should be noble and sacred. We should never use our bodies or hearts as foul tools of sin.

[And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.] (Gen. 2:7)

This "living being," spirit, is God's entity and His life, which only He possesses and only He can impart. [The Lord God...] formed and made [...man of the dust of the ground...], held his loving son Adam who bore a striking resemblance to Him in His arms, embraced him, and pressing His lips against Adam's, [breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being.] In other words, Genesis chapter 2, verse 7 means, "A god with a physical body was born."

All the tens of thousands of animals were merely created by a command from the lips of the Creator God. However, with man, it was different--his body came in direct contact with God's divine body. In other words, he was derived from God's body. The life man possesses is also different from the life animals possess; man possesses an immortal life derived from God's body. Therefore, it is a big mistake to think that the bodies of man and animals are same just because both have physical structures composing of blood, flesh, and bones. The bodies of animals are flesh; they were not derived from God's divine body. Only man touched God's body. Thus, man possesses a noble divine body that was derived from God's own body. The life man possesses is also different from the one cows, pigs, and dogs possess, since animals were created merely by a command from the lips of God. The life man possesses is God's noble and immortal life, derived from His body. Since both our flesh and life were brought forth from His body as His offshoot, we are His real children. If God had not begotten us with His own body, we could not have been His real children, nor could we have even dared calling Him [our Father in heaven....] (Mat. 6:9) Moreover, He would not have even said, "[You are My Son, today I have begotten You.]" (Psa. 2:7)

Let me prove this with ever more solid facts. Before the mother cow delivers its calf, it merely touches a small part of its mother's womb that is tens of centimeters long. The calf only touches a small part of its mother's body, the wall of her uterus. The delivery does not cause the mother's intestine or kidney to become separated and then discharged out of her body. Her physical structure retains its original form; the calf only touches a small part of its mother's body, her uterus, before birth. Even the offspring (eggs) of birds merely touch the wall of their mother's ovary before she lays them. Just because the eggs are laid does not mean that a part of their mother's physical structure is injured; her physical structure retains its original form. Her offspring merely touch a part of their mother's body before the mother lays her eggs. It is the same for human beings. A child is born after touching the wall of the mother's uterus, which is tens of centimeters long, for ten months. What we should bear in mind here is that whether they are calves, the offspring of a bird, or human babies, if they have "touched a part of the mother's body"--whether it is the uterus, the stomach, or the ovary--before they are born, they are real offspring, offshoots.

We are God's real children, His offshoots--man touched with a part of His body before being begotten in the beginning (Gen. 2:7). While calves, the offspring of a bird, or human babies touch only one part of their mother's body before being born, we came in contact with incomparably many parts of God's divine body. Therefore, we are His most authentic offshoots. Human beings are His perfect offshoots who originate from the body of God. We are His real children and He is our real Father who has personally begotten us through His own body. [Do not call anyone on earth your father, for...] only One originally begot you, your Father [...who is in heaven.] (Mat. 23:9) That is why in the Bible it is written that we are the [offspring] of [God, who made the world and everything in it...Lord of heaven and earth.] (Acts 17:24, 28) This testifies that He has begotten us. He says, "Since you have been begotten by God, Lord of heaven and earth, you are His real children. ['Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect (lives a holy life)'] (Mat. 5:48) so that you may live together with Daddy enjoying immortal, eternal, life in My kingdom, the happy new world."

Blasphemy That Can Never Be Forgiven

Satan, the god of this world, has dug three kinds of pits on this earth and killed all mankind by making sure none of God's children can escape out of them. What are the three pitfalls?

First, he uses atheists to make a trap called atheism. They claim, "There is no God, no Creator. This world and man came into existence spontaneously, and man evolved out of a small organism (an amoeba) or an animal (a monkey). Therefore man is also an animal (beast) that lives for some time and then dies, just like all the other animals." In order to kill everyone with this trap, Satan uses all the educational institutions in the world to spread this false theory of evolution.

If evolutionism is an indisputable fact, we should have heard on the radio or seen on television often, or even occasionally during the thousands of years of mankind's existence, headlines about an amoeba or a monkey that became a human being. However, thousands of years and generation after generation pass and still monkeys give birth to only monkeys. They have never given birth to or even metamorphosed into human beings in the least bit. For generations, human beings also have been giving birth to human beings only. We have never heard of a human being giving birth to or metamorphosing into a monkey. Even by just looking at that one fact, we can see that evolutionism is an absurd, groundless theory, and nothing but a childish, poor sophistry created by the demons in this world to defy God.

These days, so-called scientists have stood up once again to newly publish that a mouse is the progenitor of the human race. They wrote, "About 99 percent of genes in humans have counterparts in the mouse.... Mice, humans, and many other animals descended from a common ancestor about the size of a small rat from 75 to 125 million years ago." When I read that, I was so astonished that I was left speechless. They had previously insisted that their father is a monkey, since our skull is similar to that of a monkey. Now, they were insisting all over again that a mouse that crawls on the ground, whose skull, heart, or appearance does not even resemble ours, is their father. I cannot understand why they have so many fathers. Anyhow, in a while, there will not be one abominable baby monkey or filthy mouse in the new world. It will only be our heavenly Father's real children, heavenly princes and princesses, who live forever, enjoying everlasting happiness and eternal life in the kingdom of their Father.

The second trap is an atheistic trap set up by theists. Satan has dug this pit through false theologians who claim to be servants of God. They exclaim, "God did exist, but He grew old and passed away." Therefore, according to them, we should regard religion as a way to cultivate our minds, and later die.

If God who created the universe and runs it passed away as they assert, then just as an aircraft drops from the sky and crashes into pieces if its pilot dies in battle or for some other reason, this universe would not have been able to exist until now. The innumerous stars would have already crashed into each other, been destroyed, and disappear without a trace. This theory is likewise childish sophistry created by the demons in this world to blasphemy God. We will never hear such demonic statements in the new world.

The third trap is an atheistic trap set up by creationists. Satan has dug this pit through theologians who supposedly observe the memorial day of creation. They claim, "God created man in the same way He created the animals."”This trap of false theology denies the real-Father-and-son relationship that God begot man. This is the most evil sin among all the three traps and is a blasphemy that can never be forgiven.

If God created man in the same way He created the cow, pig, or dog as they claim, then God also has to be the Father of the cow, pig, and dog. If He created them in the same way, why should He only be the Father of the human race? He ought to be the Father of the cow, pig, and dog. Therefore, those who claim that God created man in the same way He created the cows, pigs, and dogs are denying the real Father and son relationship and uttering an eternally unforgivable blasphemy against God by reducing the lofty and holy God to the Father of cows, pigs, and dogs. I hope you will realize this fact and be careful not to join those who commit the sin of uttering such blasphemy against God. I hope you accept Real Father, heavenly Real Daddy, as your personal Father and become His real children who live happily in His house together with Him eternally.

Once again, though cows, pigs, dogs, and humans all breathe, you should never treat the life each possess as being the same. God created cows, pigs and dogs by the words from His lips. Their life is worthless and vain, one that will vanish like the wind. However, our flesh and souls are from God; the life we possess is an eternal life, the immortal life that has been in our heavenly Daddy's body since eternal ages ago--God's holy life that entered the body of man through His lips. That is why Real Daddy personally came to us and confirmed our identity by saying, ["You are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High (the great King of the universe)."] (Psa. 82:6)

We should shout out loudly and sing about how noble we are as God's real sons and daughters. You do not know how many places there are in the Bible where God has said,“"My son."”I hope you will never forget this. This is what qualifies us to be heirs to the immortal, new world and what gives us the authority to live justifiably with our heavenly Father in one house as His real children. I hope you will be grateful for this fact and as God's real children, become His most favored heavenly princes and princesses who enjoy eternal life, liberty, and happiness.

The heavens and earth, the ocean and creation, and all the inhabitants in the entire universe stand up to joyfully dance at such happy news. Yet, many times I faced opposition and obstruction while spreading this joyful news that reunites the dispersed members of our universal family. Let me tell you about two interesting incidents.

I was once invited to speak in Gangwon Province. One day during the seminar, fourteen pastors and elders from a certain Sabbath-observing church barged in. I was in the lecture hall at that time. As soon as they sat down, they called for me, the speaker, to come into the room. There was no way this noble real son of God would have gone just because they were calling for me. I first asked Real Daddy what to do. When I asked, "Daddy, should I go, or not?" He gave me the words, ["Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.] (Exo. 4:12) [Have I not sent you? Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat as one man,"] (Judg. 6:14, 16) and I proceeded to the room immediately.

They had even called for the couple who owned the house we were using, and so there were sixteen people crowded in the room. After I opened the door and entered the room, they asked me to sit in the center of the room. What the pastors among them said were so base there was no way I could associate with them, and so I kept silent. Then, the most knowledgeable among them said, "Then, why don't you talk with me."

"Go ahead."

"Teacher Park, are you claiming that God begot man through His womb?"

"If not, did God create man in the same way He created the cows, pigs, or dogs?"

"Of course, how else?"

I replied, "Then, God should also be the Father of cows, pigs, and dogs. If God created man in the same way He created the cows, pigs, and dogs, then why should He only be the Father of the human race? Should He not be the Father of cows and the Father of pigs and dogs, as well? This is an eternally unforgivable blasphemy against God, reducing the holy God to the Father of cows, pigs, and dogs." This one line quieted the fourteen pastors and elders as if their mouths had been locked. The elated look they had a while ago when they first came disappeared, and in the end they all ran away dispirited. Just like our Father's words, I defeated them as one man.

On another occasion, at a seminar I was holding in Seoul, a pastor whose nickname was the "Walking Bible" criticized me saying, "The Bible says that God adopted us. Where does it say He begot us?" There is a verse in the Bible that says we¡"received the Spirit of adoption." (Rom. 8:15) What does this mean?

God once commanded His beautiful, good, and obedient son Hosea, "Do not marry a pure virgin. Marry that filthy harlot, Gomer."”He even obeyed those words. Hosea, a good husband, brought the harlot home and told her, "I will only love you. Bury your past only love me from now on." She was good for several months, and her husband loved her. Soon afterwards, she returned to her procurer and became a harlot again. Then, Hosea took sacks of barley and money with him to implore her procurer to sell her back to him. Because she had already handed herself over to her procurer, Hosea had to pay him sacks of barley in order to buy her back even though she was clearly his wife.

In the same way, though our Real Father originally begot us, we were turned over to Satan the devil after we sinned, so our Father had to buy us back with the atoning blood of His Son. It is in that sense that we were adopted. As the facts plainly reveal, it was not the demon or an animal that gave birth to God's real children. We are God's real sons and daughters whom our heavenly Father personally begot from His body from the very beginning. Moreover, the word "adoption"¡in the book of Romans implies "a child that God has begotten and raised." He is saying, [For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption (real children raised by Real Daddy) by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."] (Rom. 8:15)

Even though the Bible uses the word "create" for man and beast, the connotation is completely different for each. For animals, create means, "make," but for man, it means, "delivered, gave birth to." Just as we say a baby is formed in the mother's womb, the word formed connotes "created." When I spoke about God's "womb," I was not stating that God, who is merely spirit and has no physical body, has a womb as human beings do. I used the word womb to express the method and process by which God, who is spirit, gave birth to us. In other words, the ovary in a bird is its womb, the reproductive organ in a cow is its womb, the uterus in a woman is her womb, and the process by which God begot us is His womb.

That is why our heavenly Father even today says to us, ["You are My Son, today I have begotten You."] (Psa. 2:7)

He does not say, "You are My monkey," "You are My pig," or "You are My puppy." He clearly says, ["You are My Son, today I have begotten You."] (Psa. 2:7) Those who accept these unmistakable words to be a fact after reading them will be born again at this very moment as God's real sons and daughters through the womb of Jehovah, the Lord of hosts. At the same time, they will become heirs to this world and to the new world. They will also receive the authority that God granted in the beginning-- [Let Us make (beget) man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion...over all the earth, and over every creeping thing....] (Gen. 2:26, 28) His real children would live as heirs who conquer and have dominion over this earth and the universe. Until now, Satan, the god of this world, and his mediums deceived us and dragged us around as his servants, his monkeys. Now that we have regained our identity and rights as God's real children, we will rule the entire world and the universe as majestic owners and kings of all the nations.

No Matter How We Look at It, He Is Without a Doubt Our Real Father

Whether we debate over it or investigate into the relationship between our heavenly Father and us by tracing back the family line of the human race, He is our real Father whom we are related to by blood. God gave birth to man (Adam), and man (Mary) gave birth to God, Jesus. Let me ask you a question. Which pet are you closest with and do you love the most in your house? The majority of you will answer a puppy (dog). That is completely true. People love dogs the most. They eat the leftovers from our table and live under the same roof as us. However, just because dogs are our "best friends," is it possible for a human being to have a relationship with a dog and give birth to puppy and for a dog to give birth to a child? You may think this is a very insulting and humiliating question. However, if that is the case, how can the lofty and holy God and lowly man form an inseparable relationship? How can God give birth to a human being (Adam) and a human being (Mary) give birth to God (Jesus)? The plain fact is that both God and man belong to the same heavenly clan; that is why there is such a relationship. It is because we are all royalty of heaven (1 Pet. 2:9) that we have such an inseparable relationship.

[To the saints who are on the earth, "They are...My (sons)...in whom (are) all my delight."] (Psa. 16:3, 2:7) [I said, "You are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High. But why will you...die like men (offspring of the monkey), and fall like one of the princes"]? ["You are My Son, today I have begotten You."] (Psa. 82:6, 2:7)

Therefore, by looking at our genealogy--the fact that God personally begot us, inquiring into our relation by blood, or looking at the fact that we bear a striking resemblance to God, we are undoubtedly heavenly Real Father's beloved real children, princes and princesses of the heavenly King based on all these clear facts. Oh, what a glorious identity and body we have! Therefore, if the people living on this earth believe these words and receive Real Daddy as their personal Daddy, not only will they live with Him in the same house eternally, but they will also become immortal Gods, happy universal prince and princess Gods.

Definite Answers to Contradictions

Quoting Genesis chapter 2, verse 7, [The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground,]¡you (Suk Sun) claim that only man was personally formed with God's body, but in Genesis chapter 1, verse 19, it is written, [Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air....] God did not only personally form man, but also animals. Therefore, your claim is wrong.

Genesis chapter 2, verse 19 does not say that God shaped the beasts and birds from the dirt with His own hands. It is rather stating that God commanded all the running animals and birds to be created from the dirt. This does not mean that He formed them personally. When did God dig up dirt and personally make the countless species of birds and animals? If God had created the cows, pigs, dogs, and birds in the same way He made man, should it have not said that as He breathed into the nostrils of the dog or pig they became [living beings]¹(Gen. 2:7)? However, that makes absolutely no sense. God used His body to personally form only His human children on earth and by placing His lips on theirs, breathed into them the immortal life that was within Him. Once again, Genesis chapter 2, verse 19 states that God commanded every beast of the field and every bird of the air to be created from the dirt.

Quoting Psalms chapter 2, verse 7, [You are My Son, today I have begotten You,]¡you claim that God has personally begotten man.¹However, Psalms chapter 2, verse 7 is not referring to man but to Jesus, as seen in Acts chapter 13, verse 33. He was never referring to us. Therefore, your claim is mistaken.

Of course, Psalms chapter 2, verse 7 was referring to Jesus, as written in Acts chapter 13, verse 33. I am neither denying it nor ignorant of that fact. Psalms chapter 2, verse 7 refers to Jesus and at the same time, us as well. If we merely cite Acts chapter 13, verse 33 and say that Psalms chapter 2, verse 7 does not apply to us, then we should all discard the Bible. It is useless since God spoke the words recorded in the Bible only to Moses, Isaiah, Daniel, Jesus, and David, and not to us. Of course, this is not true. Our Father spoke all the words in the Bible to each one of us through the lips of the apostles and prophets. If God spoke the words only to Jesus or David, He should have just told it to them and not given us the Bible. Why were they all recorded in the Bible and then given to each one of us? Our Daddy spoke all the words in the Bible to Jesus and the prophets, and at the same time, to each one of us, His children.

Those who still insist that Psalms chapter 2, verse 7 was spoken only to Jesus are complete liars. When did God beget Jesus? Mary gave birth to Jesus. Did they see God giving birth to Jesus?

From now on, let us never argue over something so unreasonable. Since we all have descended from the same Father and have become real brethren, let us not grieve our Father by fighting with one another. Let us live together in harmony, understanding, forgiving, and loving one another. Our heavenly Father, the real Father of mankind, spoke the words in Psalms chapter 2, verse 7 to Jesus and to all of us. Therefore, our Father did not use the singular form, speaking only to Jesus, but used the plural form, speaking to all His children. [I (God) said, "You are gods and all of you are the children of the Most High (God)."] ["I have begotten you (plural)."] (Psa. 82:6, 2:7) He used the words, "gods," "all of you,"¡and "children of the Most High." He clearly stated repeatedly that we are all His sons.

From now on, I hope you will call God, "Real Father," "Real Daddy," or "my Daddy." The demon, our false father, dragged around and intoxicated mankind with poisons, false doctrines, for thousands of years. He brainwashed us with the false education of this world, hardening our brains like concrete. In order to free ourselves quickly from that false idea, we should call God, "Real Daddy" or "Real Father." However, that does not mean that calling Him that will save us. Although it does not matter whether you call Him "Daddy" or "Father," I am advising you to call Him "Daddy" or¡"Real Daddy"--as the Bible has asked us to--so that you may quickly free yourself from Satan's (the god of this world) brainwashing that God made us just like the other animals.

My dear brothers and sisters! Let us not feebly pray, "God, our Father in heaven," or "God in heaven," in the same formal way we did when we did not know the¸[true God,] our Real Father. From now on, let us instead offer happy, powerful prayers befitting His real children, prayers that reach deep into His heart, by saying, "Our Father in heaven!" (Mat. 6:9), "My Father in heaven!" (Mat. 26:39), "My real Father in heaven!" (John 5:18), "My Daddy in heaven! (Gal. 4:6, Korean Common Translation Bible), or "My Real Daddy in heaven!" Let us never again pray to Him as if we are foster sons and foster daughters or stepsons and stepdaughters who call upon a fearful, estranged stepfather. I hope that from now on you will raise your shoulders and act like dignified real sons and real daughters of the living God, the great King of the universe. If even the real sons and daughters of the kings and Presidents of this world behave with dignity and enjoy grand privileges, how much more should we, as royal princes and princesses, children of our heavenly Father who is the great King of the universe, the King of kings and Lord of lords!

Therefore, the fact that our Father, the only true God, is "our real Father who has begotten and raised us" has been clearly brought to light. However, if there are any brethren who are still ashamed of this fact in front of people and the world, please listen to God's words-- [I say to you, whoever who confesses Me before men...(I) also will confess before the angels of God. But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.] (Luke 12:8, 9)

Long ago in a rural community, a certain father, deploring his life as a farmer, decided, "I must provide my son with a college education so that at least he will have an easy life." It may be easy to pay for your son's college tuition if you are running a business in the city or working for the government, but it is very difficult when you are a rice farmer. In order to send his son to college, this father lived on such a tight budget that he did not have enough money for his own food or clothing. In the end, through his father's sacrifice and service, this son was able to graduate from college and work at the county office.

One day during summer, the county chief visited his house. While the county chief was having a drink with this son in the living room, his father walked in. He looked shabby, with mud all over his face and his clothes since he had been working in the rice paddy that day. "Who is that man?" the county chief asked. This son thought, "I've graduated from college. How embarrassing it will be to tell him he is my father." Although he felt uneasy, he replied, "He is our farmhand." His father had sacrificed so much for him out of love, and now this son had called him a farmhand (servant, slave).

Upon returning to his office, the county chief found out the truth and called the son to his office. After yelling, "You rascal! How on earth can your father, who went through so much to raise you, be a farmhand?" he fired him immediately. We should not be ungrateful children, like that son, but be filial sons and daughters who openly shout aloud, "God is my real Father," to the entire world. Since we know that no matter how we look at it God is our real Father who begot us and restored our power as His real children, we should cry out joyfully. We should openly boast, "He is my real Father who has begotten me and loves me the most!" This is very happy news, the greatest news in the universe. The whole world and the entire universe should stand up, dance in joy, and sing about it for eternity. I hope you will not forget that eternal life¡is given only to those children who [know] and rejoice over the fact that the [only true God] is their real Father. (John 17:3)

Even in this world, there are fathers with adopted sons and daughters and/or stepsons and stepdaughters. If you visit an orphanage, there are hundreds of children, the director's "sons" and "daughters." They all call him (her), "father (mother)." However, we know very well that not all of them will carry on the family name, possess the heirship, and inherit the estate--only his (her) real sons and daughters whom he (she) has personally begotten. [Nevertheless, what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the (real) son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but (real children) of the free."]¡(Gal. 4:30, 31)

"'And a slave does not abide in the (heavenly Father's) house forever, but a (real) son abides forever.'" (John 8:35) A slave will never receive salvation. We should be thankful we did not become slaves. Those who mistakenly thought they were slaves should take off their yoke of bondage permanently and live as His dignified real sons and daughters, enjoying the rights and liberty of heavenly princes and princesses. A slave neither receives an inheritance nor possesses the right to live with the father. Then, why did the Bible call both Apostle Paul and Jesus a servant? Though they were called servants, it did not mean that they were a servant or a slave as people commonly think. Rather, it meant, "a man with a mission," "a son who runs an errand."

In the Bible, a "servant" is not someone who is "a slave of God," but "someone who runs an errand, a person with a mission," in other words, a son who has been entrusted with a mission from His Father. We should become sons and not slaves.

A long time ago, communist spies from North Korea hijacked a Korean Airlines jetliner to the North. After hijacking the jetliner, they took away all the passengers' personal belongings and everything that was of value, and later only released the passengers. South Korea was glad just to have the passengers released. Their families were so happy to see them that they ran over to them, hugged them, and comforted them. However, there was a reporter, a handsome young man, who stood staring at his father as if he did not recognize him. No matter how much his father pleaded with him, "Son, please say, 'Father,' just once," he would not. Even though His mother also begged of him, "My son, I'm your mother. Please say, 'Mother,'" He would not reply at all. The communists had either tortured him with electricity or struck him on the head with something. Either way, he had returned completely deranged. Undoubtedly he was their son, but his mind had not been returned with him.

Our heavenly Father too has redeemed our beautiful faces and bodies in this hour. Yet, how distressed He would be if we did not return to Him in our hearts and call Him, "Real Daddy"! Let us joyfully go out to our real Father whom we have met for the first time in thousands of years and call Him "Daddy," and say, "Daddy, I'm here."”(John 5:18, Gal. 4:6, Korean Common Translation Bible) Our Father does not want money, worship, or anything else from us. Just hearing us calling Him, "Real Daddy!" in our hearts will suffice. Then, He will say, "Yes, I'm your real Father who begot you," and embrace us tightly. He will be so happy He will not know what to do.

In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus said, "Our Father in heaven...." Before Jesus came to this earth two thousand years ago, no one in the world had ever offered such a prayer. The Jews, the rabbis, and the priests in Jerusalem prayed in formality, "High and lofty God," or "Almighty God." However, Jesus came and taught His disciples, "Do not pray like that. Instead, pray, 'Our Father in heaven,' or 'My Father.'" For four thousand years, God had become weary of those formal and abominable prayers. When His real children prayed, "Our Father," it is written that it sounded like music to His ears. Though such a large order as the Jews called out day and night, there was no answer to their prayers. However, when Jesus' small group prayed in the upper room, God answered them immediately because they prayed in a way that pleased Him. That was how they were able to receive the amazing, great blessing of the Holy Spirit descending on the Pentecost. Even when we say, "Our Father," it sounds like music to His ears; if His last children call Him "Real Daddy," it will probably sound like a canon to Him. Real Daddy will immediately embrace His youngest children and say, "Yes, ['You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased. You are My Son, today I have begotten you.']" (Luke 3:22, Psa. 2:7) My beloved brothers and sisters, I hope all of you will be able to experience this joyful, touching reunion.

[Therefore, do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.... For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry.] (Heb. 10:35, 37) In just a while, we will hear the most joyful and blessed news from heaven-- [Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom (new world) prepared for you from the foundation of the world.] (Mat. 25:34) I sincerely hope that on that day, we will all meet each other happily as real brothers and sisters, real sons and daughters of our Father, happy heavenly princes and princesses who enjoy immortal life in our Father's Kingdom, the new world for eternity.

Prayer

My real Father who has begotten me and raised me,

[Doubtless, You are our Father. Though Abraham (long ago) was ignorant of us, and (present-day) Israel does not acknowledge us. You, O Lord, are our (real) Father....] (Isa. 63:16)

Until now, I have wandered for so long without knowing that the great God is my real Father. I endured so much thinking that my father, my ancestor, was a monkey. I also wandered thinking that I was just a worthless handicraft the fearful God, the almighty God who rules the universe, made out of dirt--a worthless human-animal that had been created in the same way the cows, pigs and dogs were. Now that I have discovered that I was born a royal prince (princess) by the King of the universe, I cannot express how happy and grateful I am.

I render eternal gratitude and praise to my real Daddy and to Your Son, the Intercessor (Matchmaker) who helped me find You.

Real Daddy! Even if I were to die right now, I would have no regrets because I have found You.

Father! My Father! I will never leave Your bosom again so please never let go of me; just embrace me tightly. You do not know how much I wandered after leaving Your bosom, how much I regretted in tears. Oh, my loving Daddy! Please hold my hands tightly and do not let go until I reach Your eternal home. I render eternal gratitude, praise, and worship to my Lord, the Comforter, who is here with me, and to my real Daddy who loves me the most.

You Are My Son

[You are My son,] (Psa. 2:7).

Since [You are My son,] just as I am God, you are also a God.

Since [You are My son,] just as I am the great King of the universe, you are also the king of the universe.

Since [You are My son,] My glory is your glory, and your glory is My glory.

Since [You are My son,] My disgrace is your disgrace, and your disgrace is My disgrace.

Since [You are My son,] My enemy is your enemy, and your enemy is My enemy.

Since [You are My son,] My life and your life are the same.

Since [You are My son,] you will enjoy your Father's glory and power.

Since [You are My son,] you will sit on the throne with your Father.

Since [You are My son,] there is no one who can disgrace you or put you shame.

Since [You are My son,] there is no one who can oppose you or even dare to defeat you.

Since [You are My son,] as an eternal victor, you alone will receive honor and glory,

And you will become the absolute monarch of heaven and earth,

To reign over all the nations with Me.

Since [You are My son,] you will reign

Over all the nations of the universe as King Regent

While sitting with Me on the eternally glorious and exceedingly lofty throne,

Receiving admiration from all hosts of the universe.

Since [You are My son,] My precious son, My son of promise,

All My joy, pride, and happiness are in you.

Since [You are My son,] you shall live a holy life in this world

With the pride of the king of the universe,

As the king of all nations and lord of the nations,

As the heavenly king of the new world.

Diet Of The Saints

2012-12-19T07:22:00.000-08:00

By Teacher Suksun

Acidic blood and Alkaline Blood

Human blood may be classified as being either acidic or alkaline. People who have acidic blood cannot control their temper. Dragged around as slaves of their wicked temper, they sin unintentionally, and afterwards regret what they have done. Even though they may decide never to do it again, when placed under the same circumstances, they make the same mistake without even knowing it. At times, they fight with other people, and even after they murder people, their resolution is only temporary. Because they cannot control their temper, it is difficult to predict when and how they will cause trouble. In the end, they cannot even trust themselves. However, those who have alkaline blood have the ability to control their temper and may not commit an unintentional sin.

People who have acidic blood have difficulty recovering from fatigue; it may last for a week or even a month. However, people who have alkaline blood can relieve all their fatigue with just one good night of rest, and they are filled with vitality the next morning. In addition, when they run, those who have acidic blood become exhausted quickly because they have little endurance, while those who have alkaline blood can run the full distance and win since they have endurance. Therefore, although people who have acidic blood gain weight, they cannot run for extended periods. When there is an epidemic, they are infected first because their bodies unable to ward it off. On the other hand, alkaline blood has the same qualities as an alkaline solution and so after a bedbug or a mosquito carrying a contagious disease bites someone who has alkaline blood, it either dies or goes away immediately. Since the blood destroys all the germs that have entered the body, the person cannot become infected with that contagious disease.

Acidic Foods and Alkaline Foods

Our blood can be either acidic or alkaline depending on what foods we eat. When we eat acidic foods, our blood becomes acidic and when we eat alkaline foods, our blood becomes alkaline. Let us examine what foods make our blood acidic and what foods make our blood alkaline.

The foods that make our blood acidic are white rice, meat, white flour, peeled fruits, cooked vegetables, liquor, tobacco, sugar, chemical seasonings, soft drinks, sour kimchi, and animal oils. A lack of oxygen, hatred, envy, jealousy, discontent, and dissatisfaction also make our blood acidic and lead us to a life of misery. (Kimchi is a popular, spicy, Korean side dish made of pickled cabbages and other vegetables.)

The foods that make our blood alkaline are fresh, unpeeled fruits, fresh vegetables, brown rice, foods made of whole-wheat flour, nuts, and vegetable oils. In addition, people who consume fresh air and water and live a life filled with love, joy, peace and constant gratitude will have alkaline blood. Saints who will be riding the clouds to the new world will practice this diet.

Brown rice is good for your health because the germ is intact. Not all rice is the same. Brown rice sprouts when soaked in water, while polished white rice decays.

Not only does white rice make your blood acidic, it is what cancer feeds on. However, brown rice is living; it makes your blood alkaline. It can also cure cancer because it is an anticancer food. Because brown rice cures cancer while white rice induces it, we should eat brown rice. Long ago, cancer was not as widespread as it is now because the skin of the rice was only slightly removed when it was husked and the rice would be eaten with its germ left intact.

An analysis of the nutrients in a bowl of brown rice shows us that it is very nutritious. It is equal to approximately one gallon (3.8 liters) of milk, twenty eggs, or fifty sheets of dried laver. In addition, the husks of brown rice contain the best fat. Because it is completely soluble in water, it is invisible when dissolved in water. Therefore, when it enters our blood vessels it circulates throughout our body well and provides us with energy.

These days, due to the modernization of civilization, we strip the husks from our rice and feed them to cows and pigs. Cows and pigs do not have cancer, and even if you do not purchase medicine from drug stores for them, they grow fat and live healthy lives. However, by eating polished white rice, humans have become constitutionally sick. If a family that consumes ten sacks of white rice per year were to eat brown rice, they would consume less than seven sacks of brown rice, which is much more economical. Moreover, eating just one bowl of brown rice is beneficial to us and fills us with strength, while eating a whole sack of white rice is rather harmful.

The same is true for fruits. These days, people peel fruits such as apples or pears that have been sprayed with large amounts of agricultural chemicals before eating them. However, we should not peel our fruits when we eat them. Peeled apples that are exposed to the air oxidize very quickly and start to decay. On the other hand, apples that have not been peeled remain the same even if they are stored for several months or a year. Fruit peels contain many nutrients as well as many remedies and antidotes.

Yet, people feed the peels to livestock while man suffers from numerous maladies that stem from eating peeled fruits-- fruits that are devoid of remedies, nutrients, or antidotes. These days, some people claim that fruits must be peeled before they are eaten because of the high usage of agricultural chemicals. This sounds plausible. However, let us say that only 50% of the agricultural chemicals from peeled fruits enter our body, while 100% of the chemicals from fruits that have not been peeled enter our body. Even though only 50% of the chemicals from the peeled fruits enter our body, they cannot be properly discharged from our body and accumulate within us. On the other hand, though 100% of the chemicals from the fruits that have not been peeled enter our body, all of the chemicals are discharged from our body, and we are supplied with nutrients. For that reason, we should eat fruits that have not been peeled the more they have been sprayed with chemicals. Among all the fruits, the skin of pears contains a strong antidote (counteragent). If you feed a person who has accidentally drunk agricultural chemicals juice pressed from pears that have not been peeled, he will be detoxified and recover in no time. It is also recommendable to take charcoal powder at the same time. A dog dying after eating rat poison once survived after being detoxified with juice pressed from pears that were not peeled. Therefore, if a person becomes intoxicated while spraying agricultural chemicals, it is best to feed him pear juice and charcoal. God has given us all these foods as remedies. Our heavenly Father never handed Adam and Eve a knife in the paradise of Eden saying, "Peel the fruits before you eat them." We will be returning to Eden soon and so we should return to our original life in Eden.

The same is true for vegetables. When spinach is cooked, it becomes harmful and even causes kidney stones. However, if we eat it raw, it contains living enzymes that are very beneficial to our body. It is better to eat vegetables raw and not cook them as much as possible.

Water, Sunlight, and Oxygen

The same is true for water. Boiled water is "dead" water. If we were to water a flower garden frequently with boiled water, all the flowers would die. Experts on television say, "These days, you should boil tap water before you drink it." However, boiling tap water will make it "dead" water. When your tap water smells and it does not seem very clean, immerse a lump of charcoal in it for several hours or overnight, and it will be the best water. That is how you can drink it.

It is better to have breakfast early and to leave about four or five hours between your meals. It is good to drink a bowl of water up to 1 quart (0.9 liter) or more of water before breakfast. Your body can absorb a bowl of water in about ten minutes. Drinking fresh water at body temperature, thirty minutes before mealtime, is good for the body. Water cleanses your blood and all the tissues and organs in your body. This will also induce the abundant secretion of saliva, stimulating appetite and promoting digestion to make you healthy.

There is an old saying, "The more water you drink, the more blessings you will receive." In other words, the amount of blessings you receive depends on how much water you drink. The great blessing you receive is the blessing of being healthy. However, when we refuse to drink water before our meals, the "sewers" or "drains" within our body are not cleaned out properly, and our body becomes diseased. When we do not drink water, we become constipated; constipation is known to be the cause of all illnesses.

At first, your body may not be used to drinking water and there may be adverse reactions. Gradually increase the amount from 1/2 cup to 1 cup, until you are accustomed to drinking water. Since it is not recommendable to drink extremely cold water during winter, you can fill a glass bottle with water and let it sit overnight at room temperature before drinking it the next morning. It is also better to warm it up a little instead of boiling it. Then, your blood will become cleansed and circulate well, filling you with vitality. Water cleanses the entire body and when it becomes mealtime, your mouth will secrete saliva. You should digest your food in your mouth, and not in your stomach.

Though many people know how to operate other types of machines, they do not know how to operate their bodies. They know very well where to lubricate and where to add water. Yet, when it comes to the body, they do not know where to add to water or where to lubricate, or even what kind of oil to use.

You can drink water around three to four hours after breakfast, or even later for people with weak stomachs, after digesting everything and your stomach is empty. This will aid your digestion at lunchtime by inducing the secretion of saliva. However, if you refuse to drink water, the mouth will not secrete saliva. You will have indigestion because of a lack of saliva and because you will be drinking water with your meal.

Try to receive lots of sunlight and consume large amounts of water and oxygen. They are the best gifts of life our heavenly Father gave to us. Sunlight in the cities cannot be a proper remedy, since a layer of pollution blocks it off. Not only is city tap water unclean, chemicals are added, making it unfit for drinking. It is nevertheless better to drink the water without boiling it. In addition, because the air in the cities is impure and polluted, it is not very good for you.

As I mentioned earlier, a saint (sage) is someone who lives with God in the mountains <神 (God) + 人 (person) + 山 (mountain) = 神仙 (divine sage)>. Someone who is a saint should live like one. We should live in the surroundings of a saint, eat the diet of a saint, and live the life of a saint in order to enter the kingdom of saints, the new world.

Overeating and Snacking between Meals

Overeating is worse than eating meats. Because our stomach and brain are linked directly to each other, our brain is clear when our stomach is unclogged, and our brain is unclear and when our stomach is clogged. Therefore, a glutton is hopeless. In order to free us from such a bad habit, the Savior of mankind had to fast for six weeks (forty days) to pay the price for mankind's bad habits of overeating and heavy drinking. An old proverb teaches, "If your child is lovely, do not spare the rod. If your child is loathsome, feed him more." It means that children who eat too much will fall to ruins. Those who overeat will never understand the truth of heaven. Since their brains are clogged, they will merely yawn in their seats without being able to understand a thing. Those who desire to understand the truth should strictly avoid overeating. However, when engaging in physical labor, you should eat enough to work while avoiding overeating at the same time.

Self-indulgence of the appetite (overeating) does not strengthen the body, but rather weakens it and causes feeblemindedness, forgetfulness, amnesia, and loss of memory. It also fatigues the tissues of the body. It calls an excess amount of blood to the stomach, causing the limbs--the hands and feet--to chill quickly. If we tax our stomach with an excessive amount of food to digest, it will become fatigued and we will feel hungry. Some mistakenly think that they are hungry, as if their stomach has digested everything. Many do not know that the stomach is crying out, "Please let me rest. Please spare me!" and mistakenly interpret the feeling to be a sign of malnutrition, a demand for more food. Instead of allowing the stomach to rest, they again burden the stomach with new food. Repeating this will give rise to serious illnesses and ultimately lead to death. A glutton (overeater) can never become a saint.

You can see how terrible overeating is by looking at a puppy. When a puppy overeats, its front legs warp. It will be unable to run properly and will live deformed for the rest of its life. That is how harmful overeating is. It brings fatal consequences to our body. Since our stomach and brain are linked to each other, we should never be so foolish as to clog our brain by overeating. On the other hand, we should not eat too little. People who farm supposedly take five meals a day; that is being intemperate. If your work involves physical labor, you should have no problem digesting three full meals. Eating too little will result in a lack of energy. Therefore, we should eat three full meals. Please be sure to chew your food sufficiently.

Snacking between Meals

We should never snack between meals. Snacking between meals is like digging your grave with your own hands. No matter how strong a man may be, he will soon collapse if he is made to work day and night without any sleep. Likewise, if our stomach is not given rest, it will soon become exhausted and break down.

Carefully observe regulated dietary habits, making sure not to eat a single grain or morsel of fruit between meals. Once food enters our stomach, it needs three to four laborious hours to digest the food. Afterwards, the stomach needs thirty minutes to an hour of rest in order to strengthen itself so that it can digest the next meal. It is when the stomach has become exhausted and is about to rest after laboring to digest large quantities of food that many snack on a piece of bread or minced meat. For example, a rice mill has to run all its rice-polishing machines whether it polishes one bowl or one bushel of rice. In the same way, the stomach needs the same amount of labor to digest a grain of rice or a piece of fruit.

Those who overcome their appetite can overcome the devil, the god of this world, while he will overcome those who cannot overcome their diet. Man fell out of his inability to overcome appetite and, as a result, the god of this world defeated him.

Many eat snacks after breakfast, then after lunch, again after dinner, and while watching television until midnight. The food forces the stomach to continuously dispose of it until the stomach finally cannot push out any more. Then, it begins to decay, and when that person burps, he releases a putrid smell. Moreover, if the person continues to eat, the stomach will suffer from prolapse and later gastroptosis, the ultimate cause of stomach cancer. That is why you are digging your grave with your own hands when you overeat and eat between meals.

Those who are suffering from gastroptosis should fast for several days. Then, all the food that has accumulated will exit out of the stomach, and the prolapsed stomach will be restored to its original position. After fasting, they should remedy their stomach by starting with (rice) porridge. Otherwise, their stomach will have to be removed, eventually placing their life in danger. Therefore, breakfast should be taken early, and a sufficient amount should be eaten deliciously. Because our digestion is good in the morning, we should eat enough, but at the same time not overeat. In addition, we should take nothing except water or juice until lunchtime. Dinner should be taken early and consist of light, simple foods that can be easily digested. Our stomach should be completely empty when we sleep at night. Then we will be able to sleep soundly and get up the next morning filled with strength and vigor.

Those who eat a heavy dinner or eat late at night may snore while they sleep. This is because their stomach has to work all night long in order to digest the food, and they cannot sleep soundly. Their fatigue is not relieved, and so when they get up the next morning, they feel worn out and exhausted. They have no appetite and lose all interest in work. However, those who sleep on an empty stomach after having a light, early supper of just fruits for supper will be full of life and vigor the next morning. They will feel refreshed and have a good appetite at breakfast. Such people have happiness and victory guaranteed for them that day.

Sleep

We should go to bed no later than 9 p.m. This is because the nerves in our brain sleep from 9 p.m. to midnight and wake up at 1 a.m. Since our nerves are already awake, even if we sleep at dawn, we merely snore, and still feel tired when we wake up. That is why we should go to bed early in the evening in order to sleep soundly and be healthy. Those who watch TV until midnight and then go to sleep at dawn wake up weary and exhausted, and they have no interest to work.

A certain company compared a team that worked throughout the early evening hours with a team that worked during the dawn hours. The team that went to sleep early in the evening and woke up at dawn the next day to work became more and more healthy, while the team that worked throughout the early evening hours and went to sleep at dawn became more and more pallid as the days went on. There is a true, old saying that those who go to bed early in the evening will become rich.

We must refrain from eating late-night snacks. The living habits of people these days include snacking late at night until their stomachs are full. Just as it says in the Bible that a rich man cannot sleep if his stomach is full, we cannot sleep on a full stomach. A person may be able to sleep even though his stomach is full, but his stomach has to work, and so it reproaches the nose, "How can you sleep when the rest of us are working?" Upset, it works and at the same time complains all night long. When the person gets up the next morning, the stomach is so angry that it refuses to accept any food he tries to put in it. That is why many people go to work after drinking just a cup of coffee or a glass of milk. Not only do those who have skipped their breakfast like that lose interest in working, they get irritated easily. Therefore, we should go to sleep on an empty stomach and our nose, the nerves in our brain, and stomach should all sleep at the same time.

These days, Koreans also have a full dinner and skip breakfast. In a certain western country, traffic accidents occur the most during the morning hours. This is because the stomach and brain have become disordered from working all night long. You become so edgy the next morning you are liable to quarrel with your wife as soon as you get up. Since you cannot control your stomach, your mind and brain become disordered. However, when you go to sleep on an empty stomach and get up after a sound sleep, you feel refreshed in the morning and new vigor gushes from within you.

Therefore, we should abandon the habit of staying up late at night. The busier we are, the earlier we should go to sleep. When we are busy, we should sleep at 9 p.m. and when we are even busier, we should sleep at 8 p.m., and then wake up at midnight, or at 1 a.m. The busier we are, the earlier we should sleep so that we can do much work at dawn. Some may say that it is impossible to sleep early when we are busy. However, we should go to bed early because we are busy. Those who sleep early accomplish much while those who sleep late get little work done. Students who sleep early in the evening, when the nerves in their brain are asleep, and get up at dawn study more efficiently. What would normally take three to five hours of studying they accomplish in just one or two hours at dawn. Therefore, we should drink lots of fresh water and get enough sleep. When we sleep soundly on an empty stomach, we wake up refreshed with new strength gushing from within us.

Foods We Should Refrain from for Our Health

Milk used to be beneficial to us--it strengthened our teeth and bones. However, now it weakens them. Originally, milk strengthened our teeth and bones, and remedied gastrointestinal disorders and lung diseases. When we drink the milk sold in the market these days, our teeth fall out and our bones become weak. At one time, milk was a calcium supplement. These days there is the possibility that it removes the calcium in our body. So many diseases are prevalent among cows that, in order to combat them, medicines are mixed into their feed. Not only that, cows are continuously injected with drugs and antibiotics. Milk, therefore, contains large quantities of antibiotics and toxic substances, making it very detrimental to those who drink it. In a certain country where its citizens drank large volumes of milk, young men and women were in need of dentures because their teeth were becoming weak and falling out.

I once had the opportunity to travel with a man who was raising many dairy cows. When I told that dairy farm owner I did not drink milk, he replied that he did not either. He said that dairy cows sometime contract mastitis and secrete pus when they are milked, and so not only do they always need to be injected with antibiotics, the antibiotics are mixed into their feed. He said that in many cases, even if the cow becomes sick, they just sell the milk after straining and boiling it. That was why he did not drink milk either. I told him that I instead drink milk from goats fed with grass from the unpolluted mountains, and he praised me for doing so.

Though we should not drink the milk sold in the markets, if some of you would still like to drink milk for the sake of your family's health, I would like to recommend that you raise your own dairy cows or goats. If you feed them wild grass and grains, you will be drinking the best milk. Such milk not only strengthens your teeth and bones, but also contains remedies to cure gastrointestinal disorders and also many peptics to aid your digestion.

The president of a soy sauce company does not eat the soy sauce his company makes, and instead eats homemade soy sauce. The president of a seasoning company does not eat the seasoning his company makes; even the employees of that company choose to marry women who either do not use such seasoning at all or eat a small amount of it. This is because they all know how harmful seasoning is. There were many cases of palsy and paralysis among young people in Japan and no one knew why. Doctors later discovered that artificial seasoning was the main cause. Seasoning is so detrimental that when its raw ingredients are stored in a new steel drum, they puncture a hole.

In the past, everyone enjoyed food without adding seasoning to it. Now people say they cannot eat unseasoned food because it does not taste good. This is because the seasoning has paralyzed their taste buds so that they cannot taste anything. When seasoning was first sold in Korea, one small bag would last an entire month. These days, however, people add at least one tablespoon of seasoning to everything they cook. Their taste buds have become so paralyzed that they have to first add seasoning to their food before eating it. Once you stop using seasoning, your taste buds will be newly revived after some time, and you should be able to eat everything deliciously without adding any seasoning.

Salt is a "silent killer." Salt is an essential food that forms the blood in our body. Though the daily amount needed per person is approximately two to four grams, people these days eat tens of times more salt than they should. This results in high blood pressure, fainting, and sudden death.

In a certain country where people consume salt excessively, fainting is the cause of half the deaths in the country while 25% of the population suffers from high blood pressure. Though salt is beneficial to our body, due to its overuse, it is now called the "silent killer."

Sugar should also be used moderately. Using too much sugar may be even more harmful than consuming meat. People say that sugar is a thief of calcium since it removes even the calcium that is in our body. If we eat excessive amounts of sugar, our bones become weak and our teeth decay, which means our bones are also melting away. In severe cases, our bones may be completely damaged.

Not only that, sugar also hinders the tissues in our body from working properly, has a direct effect upon the brain, and at the same time, is detrimental to our stomach's functions. In its fermented state, sugar clouds our brain and makes us peevish. There was an incident in a hospital in America where a nurse murdered several babies by slashing them with a knife and breaking their bones during a violent fit. An investigation into the case revealed that the nurse scooped sugar into her mouth as if she was eating cereal. Sugar, like liquor, destroys us. Any person or family that consumes excessive amounts of sugar will become very peevish, and thus it will be almost impossible for such a person or family to be happy.

The same is true for eggs. These days, diseases among chickens have become so widespread at poultry farms that they mix antibiotics and drugs consisting of mercury in their feed. Thus, the eggs contain large amounts of poison and mercury. They even feed chickens chemical drugs and confine them in cages for the sole purpose of having them lay eggs, and after a while, they become useless chickens.

Eating such eggs may cause mental derangement and in severe cases, cause insanity. It is better not to eat such eggs. If you would like to eat eggs, you should move to the countryside and raise your own chickens. Eating the eggs of chickens that have been fed grains and are allowed to feed freely on the grass in the fields is very healthy for your body. If you boil such eggs, you will see that the yolk is very yellow and the eggs are very tasty. Eggs from a poultry farm may be larger, but the yolk is whitish and thin, and they are not very tasty. These days, poultry farms supposedly feed chickens artificial coloring to make the yolk of the eggs they sell more yellow than the yolk of natural eggs.

Liquor makes our blood acidic. The number of people who have died from drinking is said to be far greater than the total number of those who died from both World Wars. There are many instances where even young people have died from alcoholism. Their faces turn black, and their stomachs, kidneys, and livers are completely ruined before they die. People normally drink strong liquors such as Soju,* or whiskey. However, if you were to put a match to them, they would become inflamed. If something that strong enters our soft stomach, how irritating it must be! Moreover, we cannot tell how many crimes and accidents were caused by liquor and how many families were ruined. Not only does it drive people insane, liquor also steals our vitality. That is how it not only destroys us but also our families. Each person has approximately 15 billion brain cells, and a countless number of them die each time we have a drink. Unfortunately, there is no way to revive dead brain cells. (**Soju* is a clear, distilled, rice liquor of Korea.)

Tobacco is also extremely harmful to us. Even from a financial standpoint, our nation's wealth is disappearing into the sky with the smoke. Around thirty years ago, there was a report that people spent approximately USD$66 million annually on cigarettes in our country. We cannot imagine how high the figure is now.

Smoking gives rise to different kinds of diseases in our respiratory organs and every other organ in our body; its consequences are much more fatal than drinking. When people stop smoking, they immediately begin to gain weight and their complexion becomes bright. However, when they start smoking again, they begin to immediately lose weight. Tobacco is especially fatal to our bronchus and lungs, and can cause of cancer. Most people blindly follow others into smoking for the first time, thinking it looks good, not because it tastes good or because they really want to smoke. However, once they become addicted to smoking, they cannot set themselves free from it for the rest of their lives. They are dragged around by it until they become diseased and die painfully, leaving their families behind.

Kimchi

, Red Pepper Powder>

There are times when we eat kimchi even though it has turned a little sour, but we should throw it away without regret once it becomes sour. Sour kimchi is the same as liquor and it makes our blood acidic.

Next, let me mention red pepper powder. It is all right now since rubber gloves are available, but long ago, mothers could not sleep after making kimchi for winter use. They would spend all night trying to cool their burning hands with their breath. If hot red pepper powder makes even the thick skin on our hands burn and smart, what will happen after it is swallowed and enters our soft stomach? Not only will it bore into our stomach and ruin it like alcohol, it will also later taint our blood. Red pepper paste made from hot red pepper powder is only good as a medicine for dysentery diarrhea. Dysentery diarrhea may be cured by drinking charcoal powder dissolved in water or by eating boiled cranesbill, a wild herb that can be found on riverbanks. If you have tried everything and nothing seems to work, you can try eating several pieces of raw garlic mixed with one tablespoon of red pepper paste with your meal. You will see immediate results. There is no other use for hot red pepper paste than that. If you would like to eat peppers, you can grow mild peppers that are somewhat sweet when they have ripened red. They are nutritious and good for your health.

There is nothing beneficial about drinking coffee. When we drink coffee, our skin turns pale and loses its elasticity; the functions of our brain are weakened; our nervous system is destroyed. Drinking coffee may keep us awake. However, this is not because we simply cannot fall asleep--it is the beginning of insomnia, the very beginning of our nervous system's destruction. Coffee stimulates our mind and body, and so we feel energetic and it seems as if we are working more efficiently after we drink it. However, a little while later, we feel weak and we lose stamina. Just as alcohol is stimulating at first, only to make you feel worn out later, we become exhausted. What follows is total exhaustion, headaches, nervous prostration, and later, tremor of the hands and many other irrecoverable diseases.

In addition, beverages like soda pop, cola, and Bacchus* are not good for us. It is better to buy fruits and drink fresh squeezed juice. Water is the best beverage. (*a Korean beverage)

The Harmful Effects of Meat

The saints of the past were pure vegetarians. Far from eating fish and meat, they loved and protected the animals, and they befriended them. Capillaries stretch throughout our entire body like cobwebs. Their overall length could run the circumference of the earth many times over. When we eat meat, such as beef, pork, dog meat, or chicken, the animal fat enters our body and not only does it make our blood acidic, it becomes deposited along the walls of our capillaries and eventually hinders the blood from flowing through them. The results are arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure, and even sudden death. Moreover, there is a possibility of contracting various diseases, such as tumors, lung disease, syphilis, and leprosy. A meat diet also arouses the lower passions, animalizing man so that he cannot control his passion.

Though many people these days die of cancer, there was a time in our country when we did not even know what it was. Cancer is a western disease, and statistics show that in many countries, hundreds of thousands of people die of cancer each year. Yet, people do not seem to know the basic cause of cancer. Cancer is the result of eating too much meat. Cancerous germs feed on meat; it is their food. If we simply abstain from a meat diet and return to the pure diet of Eden, it is almost impossible to get cancer, and even those who already have cancer can be cured easily.

Very few animals in the time of Noah or Jesus were diseased. The animals in Noah's time were clean, but these days, all the chickens, cows, and pigs have become diseased. When we eat such meat, we are also eating their diseases and eventually we contract them too.

Cows are not meat-eaters. They only feed on grass and vegetables and yet they grow fat. They are not only free from disease, but also very strong. In order to be free from disease and strong as well, we ourselves need to eat fruits and vegetables. However, since we eat the meat of a diseased cow, we contract the same diseases the cow suffered from. Moreover, these days, cows are fed and injected hormones to fatten them, and they gain weight within a few months. Those who buy and eat such beef will likewise gain weight, and their bones will become so weak they will not be able to sustain the additional weight. Such people have only become fat. If they fall down, their bones will break easily, and they will eventually collapse since their blood vessels are becoming clogged. Modern medicine without an understanding of the law of nature is useless. People deceive themselves; in the end, they will face destruction.

I used to visit a certain leper colony quite often. When I asked the patients how they contracted leprosy, they replied that all they knew was that after scratching their skin, boils formed on their bodies, and in turn they became lepers. Modern medicine also does not know the cause of leprosy. Leprosy is the result of eating pork. Nevertheless, these days, people on TV recommend that food made of minced pork is an excellent snack for children. In addition, when cancer patients visit hospital, physicians advise them to eat plenty of meat to take in a sufficient amount of nutrition.

The director of a certain hospital contracted a disease that made his bones very frail. His bones would crack even if he would just bump into something while walking. No medicine in this world could heal his disease. However, he was healed of his incurable disease after attending my seminar and listening to my lectures. Man must live according to heaven's rationality. Apart from it, both medicine and theology are unreasonable. If cancer patients would only abstain from a meat diet and return to the pure diet of Eden, they can be cured easily.

Many cases of cancer appear in western countries and in countries where the citizens consume large quantities of meat. The reason why there are so many cancer cases in our country also these days is that our citizens have become wealthy and are eating a great deal of meat. Cancer is an incurable disease and once a person has been operated on, it is that much more difficult to treat him/her with natural methods. Moreover, it is very difficult to use natural methods to treat those who have already received chemotherapy, and so they are more than likely to fail. No matter how advanced modern medicine may be, everyone is afraid of cancer. In more severe cases, some doctors even give up on their patients and simply tell them to go home, eat whatever they would like to, and just take it easy.

Cancer is a fatal disease. However, if we only eat the natural foods heaven originally told us to eat, we can fight against cancer and sufficiently overcome it.

These days, the world has abandoned the food God prepared for us in the beginning, and by eating "new" food man has prepared, doctors and patients alike are dying. Modern medicine is neither aware of that fact nor even tries to know about it. Doctors spend their entire life merely researching temporary measures. They do not even try to direct their attention to that easy, fundamental treatment.

There is a saying, "Pork is worth the price you have paid only when it is eaten well." Some germs in pork do not die, no matter how much they are boiled or cooked. They rather thrive in the warmer temperature. Once those germs enter our body, they start multiplying very rapidly, as if to say, "Now we're in charge." That is how we develop cancer, syphilis, and leprosy. Therefore, by eating pork we are not just "taking one and losing a hundred," but "taking none and losing ten thousand." We gain nothing from it.

In the Bible, there is an account of Jesus eating fish two thousand years ago. However, all the rivers and oceans have become polluted and poisoned these days. Therefore, even fish is unsuitable for our consumption because our body becomes diseased when we eat it. Moreover, some fish that may have been caught in clear, clean water may have already been poisoned from some other remote, polluted water; some people die immediately of food poisoning after eating such fish. In these last days, fish is also totally unfit for consumption by the saints of the new world.

All the oceans in the world are now polluted, and so the time has come to refrain from eating fish also. You may think you will suffer from malnutrition if you abstain from meat and fish. Rather, those people who eat meat and fish may lack the nutrients they need since their blood vessels become clogged; they only become fat and diseased. You will not suffer from malnutrition just because you stop eating meat.

Then why did God allow His children to eat meat during the time of the Old Testament? Beginning from the Garden of Eden up until Noah's flood, God never once told His children to eat meat. However, when all the fruits and vegetables were destroyed by the Flood and there was nothing left to eat, God allowed Noah and his family to temporarily eat meat instead of vegetables. Even then, He had them eat the meat of only select, clean animals and not the meat of unclean ones. In addition, after the Flood, God fed Moses and the two million Israelites he was leading manna, not meat. It was only because they complained and clamored for what they were accustomed to eating in Egypt that He allowed them meat against His own will. Eating meat was never God's plan. While raising our own children, there are times when they cry for something we know is harmful to them, and when we cannot bear it any longer we give it to them even though we do not feel like it. It was the same for our heavenly Father.

In the wilderness, the Israelites complained and cried for meat so much that Moses could not bear it any longer. The reason why God did not allow them to eat meat even until Moses could no longer bear it was because He knew how unsuitable and harmful such food would for them. Moses appealed to God, ["For they weep all over me, saying, 'Give us meat, that we may eat....' Please kill me...and do not let me see my wretchedness."] (Numbers 11:13-15) So God replied, "I will give them meat [but for a whole month, until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have despised the Lord who is among you, and have wept before Him, saying, 'Why did we ever come up out of Egypt?']" (Numbers 11:20) God poured clouds of quails down upon them. As for those who coveted meat, [...while the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the wrath of the Lord was aroused against the people, and the Lord struck the people with a very great plague.... There they buried the people who had yielded to craving.] (Num. 11:33, 34)

Therefore, countless numbers of Israelites died while they coveted meat and those who survived became diseased from eating it. Meat is a food that God has prohibited; it makes us ill. [He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul] and body. (Psa. 106:15)

Those who eat meat can never become saints. Though this may sound extreme, those who eat meat can never enter the new world. This is because we enter the new world through our characters and people who eat meat will never be regenerated, nor will theirs hearts or characters ever be transformed--even if they fast and pray all night to God asking Him to regenerate and sanctify them. When we eat meat, our blood becomes tainted, and accordingly our character becomes wicked.

Therefore, religionists who eat meat can never be transformed, no matter how much they may pray to be. Not a single verse in the sixty-six books of the Bible tells us to eat dog meat or pork. Far from telling us to eat the meat of unclean animals such as dogs or pigs when they die, it is written in the Bible that God has told us not to even touch their carcasses. He called those who touched their carcasses unclean and told them not to enter the holy camp until they had purified themselves.

[Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him.] (1 Cor. 3:16, 17)

["Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves, to go to the gardens after an idol in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination...shall be consumed together," says the Lord.] (Isa. 66:17) [Who sit among graves, and spend the night in secret places; who eat swine's flesh, and the broth of unclean meat is in their pots; who say, 'Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am holier than you!' These are smoke in My nostrils, a fire that burns all the day.] (Isa. 65:4, 5, NASB)

[Who sit among the graves] refers to this earth; privately go to the [secret places; who eat swine's flesh, and the broth of unclean meat is in their pots;] and while eating pork and the broth of dog meat, they say, "['Keep to yourself...] I am a holy servant of God. [Do not come near me, for I am holier than you!']"”God has said that such people who pretend to be righteous are [smoke in (His) nostrils, a fire that burns all the day.] In other words, they will be destroyed by His wrath.

Those who eat meat cannot become saints; those who eat meat cannot enter the new world. In the new world, there is no such thing as butchering an animal and eating its meat. Those who will live in the new world as saints must first become saints on this earth. Moreover, those who eat meat may become so violent that they cannot live together with the saints in the new world.

Let me show you a practical object lesson. If you look at carnivorous animals such as cats, tigers, lions, wolves, hawks, and eagles, you can see that they are very brutal. They tear their prey apart and kill it even when they do not eat it. From small cats to large lions, and even beautiful birds, all carnivorous animals have violent and brutal characters. On the other hand, herbivorous animals--from small sparrows to large elephants--that feed on the same food as the saints such as sheep, deer, cows, elephants, sparrows, orioles, and doves have nice characters. They are all docile and good-natured.

A westerner once experimented with a very ferocious dog. It was so scary that no one could approach it or even enter the house it was staying. He brought the dog home and did not feed it any meat. He put the dog on a strict vegetarian diet for several months, feeding it boiled beans. Little by little, the dog became docile; later it behaved so well that it followed people around without attacking them. Later, he fed the dog meat and bones once again. The dog soon became scary and ferocious; it would snarl at people and attack them. His experiment was precise, and his results were correct. The food we eat forms our blood, and our character and disposition are dependent on the type of blood formed. Tigers and lions were as gentle as sheep when they fed on grass in the Garden of Eden. It has been said that the lions and deer lay together and the sheep and wolves played together. However, the world is different now. Ever since tigers and lions started preying on other animals on this cursed earth, lions and sheep do not play together in one place; sheep are so scared of lions that they do not even look at them.

If man and beast would like to possess the beautiful character they once possessed in the Garden of Eden they should return to our diet in the Garden of Eden. Even if God took habitual meat-eaters, like the carnivores, back to the Garden of Eden, they would not be able to resist their craving for meat.

In order to live beautifully with all the other animals in paradise, we need to return to the pure diet of old Eden starting from this world. Eating meat is the dreadful act of eating another's corpse. Such ferocious animals or horrible people will not exist in the new world we will enter and live in. In order to live there, and in order to become holy, good people, we should eat only clean foods and possess a good heart and character starting from here on this earth.

Look at the blood that is stored in the blood banks. The blood that is from meat-eaters is dark, thick, and heavy, while the blood from vegetarians is clear, pure, and light. That is why the blood from vegetarians is very precious and in demand. Because our blood is our life, we should make our blood clean and free of disease.

Even in the past, when animals had very few diseases, meat was very detrimental to our health. Then, with all the serious diseases in livestock these days, how detrimental it must be to our body! It is like paying a high price to buy and consume miserable diseases. When people eat meat, they immediately feel stronger, and when they stop eating meat, they feel like they are losing energy. Many insist that this proves we need to eat meat.

However, there is a reason why that happens. Meat is stimulating; it causes pyrexia of the blood and excites our nerves. Its symptoms can be likened to a drunken man who feels strong under the stimulating influence of the alcohol, but is left completely exhausted when its influence wears out. When you quit eating meat, you may feel weak and dizzy. But if you can get through that certain period, you will be tens of times more energetic and healthier from then on. This is something all of you will happily experience. You will come to confess that God's benevolent plan of forbidding meat is love after all, and deeply appreciate it.

I also ate a great deal of meat when I was young. My health was very poor back then--I suffered from many diseases. In order to grow stronger, I ate as much meat as I could. However, I would feel stronger only when I ate meat; I became increasingly unhealthy, and later, I became a young invalid who could not even walk. That was when I realized through the Bible that Heaven did not give us meat as our food, and that meat was the cause of my diseases and feebleness. More than forty years have passed since I gave up eating meat. I am now so much healthier and stronger than I was when I was in my twenties. My work is quite difficult, something not anyone can do--I stand in front of an audience for ten hours a day, giving lectures all by myself from 4:30 a.m. until 8 or 9 p.m. every day, for ten days without even a break. I have done this more than 100 times, and yet, I still have strength and health to spare. Not only was it all possible with power from Heaven, I was also blessed with health from obeying the diet of the saints Heaven has gave to us.

Avoid the Extremes of Diet Reform

Although it is important to resolutely abstain from all the foods that are harmful to our body, what is more important is that when you start living on vegetarian diet, you should get enough nutrition, even more than you received when you ate meat. Vegetarians must be careful to get enough fat and calcium; therefore, laver, sea lettuce, brown seaweed, and kelp are all very good sources of calcium. We should not suffer from malnutrition because we are not eating meat. With the money we normally spend on meat and fish, we can buy peanuts, sesame seeds, perilla seeds, walnuts, and pine nuts, etc., and we can get more than enough nutrition from eating such nuts. We should not roast sesame seeds and perilla seeds too long. Even vegetable oil congeals when used too long for roasting or frying. It hardens on the walls of our blood vessels and hinders the flow of blood, causing arteriosclerosis. As much as possible, it is better to eat them raw; but if you would like to roast them, roast them lightly. If we simply eat the foods heaven has given us, we should not have to worry about falling ill. In addition, vegetables grown with fertilizers have different nutritional values than vegetables grown without them. Therefore, it is not enough to merely explain this from a nutritional standpoint.

A benefit of living in the countryside is that you can carry a hoe to the mountains and "shop" for all different kinds of wild roots, herbs, and greens before lunch. It is so nice to see the table full of what you have brought from the mountains; it is far better than the ginseng now sold in markets. These days, they must spray the leaves of the ginseng with layer after layer of agricultural chemicals to the point they become white, and so many do not call it ginseng but instead "poisonous ginseng." However, bellflower roots, Codonopis lanceolata, and other small rooted grass are very similar to wild ginseng. Because heaven has grown them, they are very fresh. In addition, all the seasonal fruits like persimmons, chestnuts, pears, peaches, strawberries, grapes, apricots, oranges, as well as "vege-fruits" such as watermelons, melons (like honeydew and cantaloupe), cucumber, and tomatoes are so delicious and fresh that when we eat them, our blood becomes clean and our complexion looks healthy. We can look beautiful without applying any make-up.

When eating fruits and vegetables, we should make a clear distinction between them. Otherwise, the wrong combination of eating fruits with vegetables will make our head feel heavy and we cannot be perfectly healthy. When planning our menu, we should either eat bread with fruits or rice with vegetables, or else have vegetables in the morning, something else for lunch, and fruits for supper, so that our menus do not overlap. In addition, "vege-fruits" like melons, watermelons, cucumber, and tomatoes can be considered neutral and may be eaten with either vegetables or fruits.

Our nutrition should be well balanced, and our menu simple, with just two, or three to four, dishes. If we eat five to six different dishes or too much all at once, our brain becomes confused. The simpler our foods are, the clearer our head will be. Those who eat too many different kinds of food at once in order to balance their nutrition will confuse their brain. If we eat three to four different dishes for breakfast, other kinds of food at lunch, and then something else for supper, even if we just eat three different kinds of food three meals a day, our nutrition is well-balanced since we are eating nine different kinds of food. When invited over to someone else's house, it is better to eat just a few of the dishes that have been prepared. Our mind becomes confused when we take in too many different kinds of food at the same time. This is why people are so complicated these days. Because the truth is simple, only those who are simple-minded understand it.

Taking a stroll after your meal is the best digestive. In addition, do some light work. Going into the mountains and fields and engaging in moderate labor is the first blessing of health. Work not only keeps us physically healthy, but also spiritually and mentally healthy. Those who confine themselves to reading books and doing research in a room without any physical labor will soon upset their physical, spiritual, mental, and character equilibrium. We should eat a well-balanced diet, sleep well, and work diligently. This is the life of a saint. Heaven dislikes lazy people the most. Even God runs the sun, the earth, the moon, and all the galaxies every day, and earnestly looks after all His creatures and each one of His children. Let us also try to work faithfully.

[Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before unknown men.] (Prov. 22:29)

The Natural Diet of the New World

In conclusion, let me end this chapter by introducing the perfect diet that the saints who will live as immortal Gods in the new world have to practice. There are four kinds of diets.

The first is a meat diet--a (mixed) diet consisting of meat and vegetables, without being particular to one or the other.

The second is a vegetarian diet--…a diet consisting of cooked foods and vegetables.

The third is a raw diet--a diet consisting of raw grains and vegetables eaten uncooked, without regards to pollution (fertilizers, agricultural chemicals).

The fourth is a natural diet--a diet consisting of natural, organic, unpolluted (no fertilizers, no agricultural chemicals) grains, vegetables, and fruits grown by heaven and eaten raw.

The latter was man's original diet in the paradise, in the beginning before the fall. Those who are restored to the way it was in the beginning of this earth and live according to the diet back then and who restore the truth and love of the beginning and live accordingly will inevitably be restored as original, immortal saints and go to the new world as its heirs. This is the obedience--objective--Heaven ultimately requests of the youngest children of this earth. Let me end this chapter with the wholehearted hope that all our brethren on the earth, regardless of the country, engage in natural farming so that we can all become immortal saints and live together as heirs to the new world by restoring the natural diet, love, and the truth.

Appetite

Gluttony, the lethal demon, kills people, destroys families,

And drags the world to its grave.

From Grandfather and Grandmother to son and daughter-in-law,

Grandson and granddaughter,

From generation to generation, to one's remotest descendants

All are killed at once and buried by this lethal demon.

The main weapons of this lethal demon, gluttony,

Are eating between meals, overeating, and late-night snacking.

This lethal demon's main slogan is,

"Man was born to eat."

He says, "Eat, everyone. If you don't, you will die.

Eat, eat, you must eat to live."

Therefore, the entire world eats, eats,

Eats, and then eats again.

They eat breakfast and then a snack; they eat lunch and then a snack;

They eat dinner and then a snack.

They also eat in the middle of the night, then at dawn, and again during the day, eating and eating continuously.

First, their stomach becomes ruined,

Then their brain becomes clogged,

Their internal organs become ruined,

And their whole body becomes weak and diseased.

When their body becomes diseased, this lethal demon presses them again,

Exclaiming that malnutrition is the cause, so they must eat.

It insists that they must take medication, and eat meat and rice continuously.

And by repeating this again and again,

No one is able to survive.

People continue to die and die, everyone dies,

Grandfather, Grandmother, Mother, Father, and even the baby,

All die.

Whoever expels this lethal demon with a good scolding

And drives out

All the eating between meals, overeating, late-night snacking, and gorging…

Is a hero, a victor,

And a saint worthy to enter eternal, immortal life.

The Hope Of Humanity

2012-12-19T07:09:00.000-08:00

By Teacher Suksun

Child Education--The Hope of Humanity

No work is more important than the work of educating children. Parents are the early instructors who determine the future of the children in this world, for the fate of all children rests upon how their parents educate them. Their fate is ultimately the fate of all mankind. Therefore, the fate of all mankind rests upon the education of our children. The parents' role in the education of their young children is inexpressibly important. If parents virtuously educate the children under their care before sending them out into the world, they will be a good influence and beautify this world. However, when parents improperly educate their children, they go out into the world with their wicked influence and, consequently, make the world wicked.

Because the education that children receive at home determines the fate of the whole world, it is far more important than any scholastic education. If the parents of this world had educated their children well, this world would not have been so quickly destroyed by sin. Oh, we parents must quickly come to an understanding of the importance of child education and reflect upon what we have done! We must not become parents who make the irrevocable error of disorderly entrusting our children's education to others.

Let me first explain how to educate your children properly.

Do not consider educating your children to be a difficult task. We may succeed easily if we simply educate our children according to how our heavenly Father loved us, how lenient He was in forgiving us, and how at times He reprimanded us while educating us.

Begin with Prenatal Education

Some say that the education that a child receives up until the third year of age affects half the child's lifetime while the education received from the fourth to the seventh year of age affects the remainder of the child's life. Others claim that any time afterward to be a lost opportunity. It has been said that an infant is implanted with the mother's character starting from the third month of the pregnancy. Though I am not sure whether it is from the third month or even before then, the fact remains that the infant is implanted with his mother's character when in her womb. If an expectant mother is good and kind-hearted, her child will also be kind-hearted. However, if the expectant mother is deceitful and lewd, her child will also be born with the same deceitful and lewd heart; as the child matures, he will live resembling the negative aspects of his mother's character.

It is a pity such children can often be found in this world. Of course, there are instances where the parents are good and kind, yet their child does not resemble them at all, and is born with a wicked heart. However, in most cases, the characteristics of one's ancestors can be seen in their grandchildren--true to the cardinal principle that one reaps what he has sown.

Therefore, expectant mothers should follow the example of Mencius's mother, Shin Sahim Dong, and the mothers of Moses, Samuel, and Jesus in the Bible. They should prenatally rear their children with an untainted heart and pure thoughts, with beautiful songs and poems, and prayer and the words of the truth.

Teach Them Unconditional Obedience

Once born, the mother should breast-feed her child and not feed him cow's milk. Though the child may be physically healthy if he is fed cow's milk, he may not fully resemble the intelligence of a human being. Instead, his intelligence may possibly be reduced to that of a cow. The mother should pray while breast-feeding her child. She should never breast-feed when she is angry from arguing with someone or when she is having family trouble. Such breast milk will be poison to the child. It will be better not to feed him at all, since it will only be both physically and spiritually detrimental to the child. In severe cases, the baby may suffer from diarrhea, and even stomachaches.

When the child has grown up somewhat, at the time when he cannot differentiate between what is right or wrong and what is good or bad, the child should be taught unconditional obedience. For example, if you were to scold your child after he runs around yelling in a place of reverence, he would not understand why he is being scolded because he is too young. You should take him outside and spank him a few times, then tell him to kneel down and stay still, thereby teaching him unconditional obedience. When your child is young, teach him piety--how to fear and respect heaven. Then he will become a noble child like Samuel and not like the sons of Eli.

Respect Your Child's Personality

When your child has grown to be five, six years old and until he is around ten, you should never angrily yell at or scold your child immediately when he has done something wrong and needs to be punished. No matter how terrible the wrong may be, approach your child, and in the same quiet manner you usually speak in, ask your child whether what he has done is right or wrong. If you instead grow angry, yell at your child, and give him the rod, then your child will only plead for forgiveness out of fear of your angry expression and the rod, without knowing why he is being punished. Even after being given the rod, he will not know what he did wrong or how terrible his deed was, but only be instilled with fear and resentment towards his parents.

Therefore, when your child is at fault, the best method is to calmly call the child to a quiet room where no guests or neighbors are present. You should not humiliate your children in front of neighbors or guests. Never forget that when your children stand before God, they, like any other adult, will also be qualified to wear a crown as a child of God, and prize them. Parents should never disregard or injure the personality of their child just because he is theirs. Remember that the child is not your son (daughter), but God's, and always respect his (her) personality.

After calling the naughty child into a quiet room away from relatives or guests, quietly and calmly say, "John, please kneel down right here." Then, leave the child alone for twenty to thirty minutes and go about your business. Your child will spend that time reflecting on his wrongdoing repeatedly; he will deeply regret what he has done. After giving your child such a time, return to the room and quietly ask, "John, was what you did right or wrong?"

"It was wrong," he will answer in a quiet, regretful manner.

"How wrong?"

"Very."

"Then, do you think you should or should not be punished?"

He will say, "I should..." ready to burst into tears. (Or he may answer, "Please forgive me just this once.")

At this time, just as our heavenly Father leniently forgave you for your wrongs, you should also forgive your remorseful child.

"I will forgive you this time, but you must not do such a thing again, understand? Do you promise?"”

"Yes," he answers, smiling immediately.

If the mother leniently forgives her child even though he deserves to be punished, the child will follow and obey her out of sincere respect and a grateful love for her. From then on, he will not commit such a wrongdoing again. However there are some special cases where the child will repeat the same wrongdoing. When this happens, the mother should not lose her temper and yell angrily, scold the child, and give him the rod because it is his second time. Even if the child repeats his wrongdoing, the mother should use the very same method she used the first time--speaking in the same quiet and calm manner. It would be even better to speak in a quieter tone than you normally would.

"John, please go to your room and kneel down." After commanding him to do so, if he spent thirty minutes in his room last time, give him one hour this time to reflect upon his deed. After an hour has passed, approach your child in the same calm manner and ask, "What did you promise me last time?"

"That I wouldn't do it again," he answers with an anguished look.

"But why did you do it again?"

"...."

"What should we do? Do you think you should be punished this time?"

"...."

"Tell me, should or should you not be punished?"

He will say, "I should," or, "Please forgive me one more time," with tears falling from his eyes.

At this time, just as our heavenly Father has repeatedly forgiven you, you should also generously forgive your child a second time.

"John, I will forgive you one more time, but you really mustn't do it again."”Smiling, the child will look at his mother. The mother should then make another promise with him.

"If you do it again, what should we do then?”

"I must be punished then," the child will answer confidently. This is because he is sure he will never do it again.

"Then, promise me you will be given the rod if you do it a third time." (The rod is a Biblical method of education) [Prov. 13:24, 23:23, 14]

Determined never to do it again, he confidently says, "I promise," resolved to receive punishment the next time he does.

After praying hand in hand with your child, joyfully leave the room together. Now your child will obey you with sincere respect and love, more so than before. When this happens, most children become good sons who no longer disappoint their mother.

Punish Severely, Giving the Rod as Promised

In certain instances, the child may persist in doing wrong a third time even after he was admonished and forgiven out of love twice. If so, take the child to a room again and have him kneel down like the first and second time. But this time, leave him there three or four times longer than before so that he may reflect upon his wrongdoing. Then, approach him quietly and talk with him calmly.

When a child commits an offense three times, some parents lose their tempers, slap, punch, or kick their child. One thing parents should keep in mind is to never to resort to such an action. If a parent strikes the child with their hands or fists, then the child's heart will be instilled with a desire for revenge just as a boxer, burning with revenge, turns against his opponent after he has been hit. If the child is to be given the rod, then he should be struck with a rod on the calf, as it is written in the Bible. Then, the child will never nurture a desire for revenge. In addition, when the child has committed a wrong three times, or even ten times, a parent must never yell at her child angrily. She should speak to the child in the same tone of voice she always uses, or in an even more quiet and calm tone. Only then, the child will sincerely admit his wrong and conscientiously realize that he deserves to be punished for what he has done.

Quietly ask your child who is kneeling down in his room after his third offence, "John, how many times is it now?"”

"...."

"What did you promise me last time?

"...."

"What did we decide to do if you would do it a third time?"

"...."

"Why aren't you saying anything? Come on, tell me."

"That I would be punished," he quietly stammers.

"You know I don't lie. You know I always keep my promises, don't you?"

"Yes."

"Then, you must be punished as promised. Do you understand?"

After he agrees to be given the rod, have your child bring it himself. While raising three of my own children, when the need to give them the rod arose, though not often, I did not bring the rod myself. My children always brought it themselves. Once the child has brought the rod with his own hands, have him also voice out the number of times he should be given the rod. Just as our heavenly Father chastises us, we should also allow our children to decide for themselves how many times they will be given the rod.

After the child rolls up his pants, quietly ask him, "How many times?"

He may say, "Once," or perhaps,“"Three times." If it is too few considering his age, have him choose again. He may choose five or even ten times. At that time, depending on the child's age, decide upon how many times he is to be given the rod. Once it has been set, it must be carried out. Most mothers, out of love and pity for their child, strike gently as they meet the number of times decided. However, doing so only causes the child to become malicious and possibly wickeder. When you do give the rod, it should be done firmly and severely, to rid him of his wicked behavior once and for all. He should be struck to the extent that his legs are bruised and bleeding (according to the Biblical method of education). The child will stamp his feet in pain. Nevertheless, as promised, meet the number of times the child is to be given the rod. Afterwards, command him to kneel down once more, and if the child is crying, tell him to stop. If he does not stop crying, hit him one last time on the head or calf and he will stop immediately.

Cover With a Blanket

As you raise your children, you will discover that they all have different personalities. Some children may be corrected by being punished or by being given the rod; others turn pale in horror, beg for mercy out of fear, and wail until they are about to faint when they see the rod. Such children should not be given the rod; they may become ill from fright or become mentally deranged. However, if they are left alone and not punished, they may lose their temper and cry for a very long time. One way to correct such children is to cover them with a blanket.

Before covering the child with a blanket, the mother should tell her child, "I will take off the blanket when you stop crying." When covering the child with a blanket, make sure the child does not suffocate by slightly lifting the bottom part of the blanket. The rest of the blanket should be held down tightly. Though the child will cry even louder at first and make a struggle, do not let the child out. Instead, repeat to the child, "I will take off the blanket when you stop crying." It is more difficult for children with such a temperament to bear suffocation. Dying from the darkness and suffocation, the child will remember his mother's words. Because the child knows that his mother always keeps her promises, he knows that he must stop crying in order to be let out. With painstaking effort, he will force himself to stop crying. As soon as he stops crying, the mother should remove the blanket and pat the rear of her child who is covered with sweat, tears, and nose drippings. She should then praise him, saying, "Oh, little John has stopped crying. Good boy!" Doing this two or three times will correct his naughty habits completely, and he will become a well-behaved child.

Bind Them with an Overflowing Love

[For He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds, but His hand make whole.] (Job 5:18) [Moreover the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the Lord binds up the bruise of His people and heals the stroke of their wound.] (Isa. 30:26)

Whether after covering with a blanket or firmly giving the rod, just as our heavenly Daddy binds us up sevenfold overflowingly and comforts us with love after chastising us, we should also comfort our chastised children with love and bind them up overflowingly once their chastisement is over. After being scolded or given the rod, many children refuse to approach their parents and instead avoid them. That punishment has resulted in a complete failure, and if that is the case, you should not punish them in that manner at all. Such punishment is worse than not having punished at all--rather than reforming the child, it will push him onto a more dangerous, corrupted path. Children who have been chastised should like their parents even more afterwards, and immediately follow their mother and father with a love that is from the heart. Children who have received such a successful chastisement will turn out to be good people, and their families will be happy.

I will explain how children, after being chastised, may come to sincerely love and follow their parents more than before. The reason the child is told to kneel down after he has been punished for his wrong in so that the child who has stopped crying may be given some time to regain his composure. Once the child is composed and sitting quietly, the mother should ask him, "Did I punish you because I hate you and wanted to kill you? Or did I give you the rod because I love you and want you to become a good heavenly prince (princess) so that we can go to the new world together?"”

"Because you love me and want me to go to the new world with you."

"Have I loved you a lot or only a little until now?"”The child silently reflects upon the past. He honestly replies that his mother has loved him very much.

"You have loved me a lot," he replies. The mother should then hug her child tightly and after seating him on her lap, say, "Yes, I do love you dearly. Why must I give someone I love so much the rod? You may be able to fall asleep after being given the rod for your wrongdoing, but I cannot. Unable to sleep, I massage your swollen legs in tears while you are sleeping." "How painful it must be, all bruised like this!" she says as she strokes the bruised leg with her warm hands. Our heavenly Daddy said, ["How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? My heart churns within Me; My sympathy (love) is stirred."] (Hos. 11:8) Let us also not hide the love in our hearts we have for our children, but confess it to them. Though most parents love their children and ache out of love for them, instead of expressing it, they hide it. However, they should not. Not only should love be confessed between men and women or couples, but love should be expressed to your children also.

The child who is embraced in his mother's arms after being punished will realize his mother's love--how she had no choice but to give him the rod in order to take him to the new world. He will come to realize how much giving him the rod hurt his mother, so much that afterwards she massaged his legs in tears. He will forget the pain in his legs and instead feel sorry and thankful to his mother who cried and was unable to sleep because of him. His mother's love will lead him to shed tears of remorse and gratitude. At that time, the mother should lift her child onto her back and take a walk around the front yard or out on the street, saying, "Sweetheart, let's try never being punished again, okay? Why should I have to give the rod to such an adorable child like you? When you're such an adorable child, why must I? Let's try to never be punished again. Do you understand?" While repeatedly binding him up with an abundance of love and comfort, you are teaching your child about his mother's love and the limits of justice in the family. Let the child down afterwards. You will find your child following and obeying you sincerely out of love and respect, affectionately calling you, "Mother, Mother," more so than before his punishment. That kind of severity or punishment has been a complete success: your child has been delivered from his wicked sins and your family has become a happy, small heaven.

Parents Should Also Apologize To Their Children

When parents do something wrong in front of their children, they should apologize and ask for forgiveness, even if their child is only three years old. Most parents are usually strict and prompt in reprimanding their children but quietly pass over their own misconduct. Not only does that impair their character, it also disqualifies them as parents to admonish their own children. If parents have done something wrong in front of their children ten times, they should apologize and ask for forgiveness, ten times. For example, if a husband and wife quarrel in front of their children or break the family peace by yelling at each other, they should apologize to their children for what they have done wrong. The children will then follow the example of their parents and know how to honestly confess any wrongs they committed. Not only will they sincerely respect their parents, their family will also become a happy family where love and justice are enforced.

Once parents make a promise with their children, they should keep it no matter what. For example, if a parent has promised to buy something for his child, he must buy it, even if he has to borrow money from a neighbor. Only then will the child keep his promises with his parents as well. In addition, many parents, especially mothers, tell white lies to their children. For instance, before they leave for a friend's house or go to either the market or some other place, they leave their child behind, saying, "I'll be right back. Just wait a little while, okay?" even though they are planning to return home late in the afternoon or in the evening. The heartless mother then returns late in the evening. When a child has a festered sore on his skin that needs to be squeezed, some heartless mothers and fathers say, "Let's squeeze it. It won't hurt at all," and then squeeze it painfully with all their might. Moreover, others feed their child a very bitter medicine saying, "It isn't bitter at all." How great is the shock and how deep is the scar that remains in the angelic hearts of their naive children! Please think how deeply they are hurt when they find out that the only people they trusted and followed, their own parents, deceived and deluded them! Every parent should be smitten with remorse and repent of their past misconducts in front of their children and ask for their forgiveness.

Innocent children who grow up being deceived by their parents repeatedly will one day become adept in deception and delusion themselves. When they grow older, not only will they become skilled in deceiving their parents and neighbors, they may ultimately become notorious criminals in society. Then, their parents reproach them, saying, "I don't know who that kid resembles to have turned out like that!" This is unbelievable. Were they not the ones who left scars in the angelic hearts of their flawless, naive children from infancy until adulthood with their lies and deceptions? Now they blame their innocent child who has been pitifully imprisoned because of them.

Ah, how many children in this world have become victims of the wrongs of their ignorant parents? By no means should the readers of this book speak white lies as parents. If you already have, you should apologize to your children and ask for their forgiveness immediately. How can there be both malice and good intentions in a lie? Is not a lie simply a lie and the truth simply the truth? When a parent is going to the market or a friend's house knowing she will return late in the evening, she should plainly tell her waiting child that she would return late in the evening. When her child has a sore, she should say, "Sweetheart, it is better to hurt for a moment and have it heal quickly than to suffer for a long time. Try to bear with it even though it hurts. Do you understand?"”When she has to feed her child bitter medicine, she should say, "Sweetheart, even though it is bitter, it is better than being sick for a long time. Bear with it even though it is bitter and eat it, alright?" Let us raise our children in such an honest manner that our children may believe in us completely. Never forget that children are reflections of their parents. Let us try to make our home a happy family where our children can trust us and we can trust them.

Teach Children to Rely on God in Times of Distress

I raised my three children in a surrounding similar to that of the adolescent years of John the Baptist and Jesus--in a quiet area somewhat away from the world and from other neighborhoods. With plenty of sunlight and fresh air, surrounded by nature, we lived in a nice, new house I had built in rural Gyeongsang Province. Because they were not exposed to the world or other neighbors, they grew up not knowing what life was like in the world or in the city, or what sin or profanity was. Sometimes, people from the closest neighborhood would pass by our house and ask our children to use profanity.”My children would only stare at them innocently not knowing how.

We later moved to Ko-Heung, South Jeonla Province, to a newly established church that did not even have one adult among its congregation. Services were held in our house located in the middle of the village. One day, my ten-year old son raced into the house, as if he was being chased.

“"What's wrong, Sang-Chun?" I asked.”He only breathed heavily in fright, unable to speak for a while.

“"Sang-Chun, you can tell your dad at times like this. What's wrong?"

“"Jung-Sik tried to hit me."

Jung-Sik was the boy next door who was the same age as my son. Unlike Jung-Sik who was familiar with fighting, my son had grown up not knowing how to fight or even how to use profanity. Though Jung-Sik was shorter, my son was no match for him. Being chased home did not surprise me.

As a parent, what would you do if a smaller child chased your only son home? Would you rap him on the head and say, "You idiot! You were chased home because you couldn't stand up to a small kid like that? What's the point of eating a whole bowl of rice? You loser!" Or on the other hand, would you stand up for your son by running out and furiously yelling, "What brat is trying to hit my son?" at the boy who chased your innocent son home in order to hit him? Unfortunately, neither method will benefit your child. The first method will only make your son wicked and malicious. The second method will cause your child to blindly depend on his parents, always relying on you without a sense of independence.

This is what I did. I cheerfully and kindly told my son who had been chased home,“"Oh, really? Let us look in the Bible at Psalms chapter 50, verse 15 to see what God said. Look, He said, [Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.] At times like these, we should pray to God. Follow Daddy to church and let's pray to God."”After walking with my son hand in hand to church, we knelt together. I prayed, "Dear Jesus, Jung-Sik, the boy next door, chased after Sang-Chun to hit him for no reason. Please move the heart of that child; melt it so that he will not hit Sang-Chun, but instead become a nice friend who treats him kindly...Amen." In order to deal with the distress caused by Jung-Sik, my son and I offered a sincere prayer together, and left the church believing it would be answered. That evening, Sang-Chun returned home with a bright grin on his face. Upon seeing me, he said, "Daddy, you know how Jung-Sik chased after me this morning trying to hit me? Well, I went out just now, and he came up to me, put his hand on my shoulder and said, 'Hey Sang-Chun, let's be friends.'" He was happy to see that the prayer we had offered that morning at church had been answered.

This is how you can teach your children to go out to the living God and rely on Him at times of distress when they cannot deal with it themselves. Later, even after your child grows up, he will rely on God at times of distress like Moses and Daniel.

Be Your Child's Best Friend

As our heavenly Daddy was Abraham, Enoch, and Jesus' best friend, we should also be our children's best friends. There should not be any barriers between our children and us. You should become such a close friend that your children are not afraid to confide their secrets to you. They should be able to talk about them with you and ask for your help. For instance, when your children are dating, or when they have grown up and are dating someone they consider marrying, they should be able to discuss it with their mother and father. "Mom, would it be alright if I dated so-and-so?" Alternatively, "Dad, I'm planning to marry so-and-so. What do you think?" Parents should become so close with their children that they can discuss their problems openly with them. Then, they will not commit a vice behind their parents' backs or cause a mishap on their own. They will be able to prevent or resolve their problems by discussing them with their parents and reach the new world hand in hand with them.

While growing up, my children would bring me the letters they received, saying, "Father, I received this letter. Please see if it's alright to reply to it."”They could have replied to the letters written to them at their own discretion and secretly corresponded with them. I was so grateful to see them trusting me so much and discussing such matters with me. After reading through the letter, I would say, "She (He) seems to be a nice person. Try to associate with each other in a manner that will benefit both your faith."”In turn, they would reply, "Okay, Dad" and follow my suggestion. Ever since they were young, and to this day, I have never heard them say, "I don't want to," "I can't," or "Later," when I would have them run an errand or tell them to do something--whether it was at night or early at dawn, or on a cold, winter day. They would always answer, "Yes," and obey whatever I asked them to do.

I do not know if things will change in the future, but they are still the good, obedient children my wife and I are close with though all three have grown up and married. I hope that until the day we arrive in the new world, we will grow even closer. I thank our heavenly Father because I believe He will bind our family in love and bless us.

I hope that you will bring happiness to your families by becoming close friends with your children, even more so than my wife and I with our children. When our families become like that, the devil, our enemy, will not be able to invade our families. Such mighty families can instead topple Satan's fortresses of sin. Children should be able to respond immediately with a "Yes"”to each one of their parent's commands and obey with a sincere, willing heart while parents should become their children's best friends, encouraging one another--a small heaven overflowing with love.

There was a time when I took our children to my eldest brother's house in Choong-Cheong Province for a visit. We were living in Jeonla Province at the time and all three of them were under ten years of age, in their elementary school years. It was there that I happened to call my playing children to tell them to do something. They obeyed immediately, like soldiers heeding orders from an officer. My parents and brother called me aside and said, "Dear, it's not good to be so strict when raising children. They will grow up with a sense of inferiority and not even be able to speak in front of people. Don't be too strict with them."”It seemed as if my parents and brothers were worried that I was raising my children with a rod or club to make sure they would obey my every word, like soldiers in an army. I laughed inside.

Several years later, my mother visited our home in Jeonla Province. She saw my son hanging on my right arm and my other two younger daughters hanging on my left arm, yelling, "Dad, spin us around!"”(I was a children's playground, spinning them around and around.) Not only that, they climbed all over me, on my shoulders and back--so much that my mother watching from the living room exclaimed, "Children, you're killing your dad. Leave him alone." She was more concerned for her precious son than her grandchildren.

My mother realized that our children were not living under tyranny but under a heavenly government, and that I was not governing my family with a club but with love. It was then that all the misunderstandings were shed. Even though parents may be close friends and play with their children, once a command is given, it should be obeyed immediately. A family should be built on love, justice, and happiness. Our heavenly Father only desires that each family become a small heaven. When that is fulfilled, each small heaven will come together to form a larger heaven.

Children, Books, and Labor

Our children should only read the Bible and books written by sages who respect heaven. Many families have a set of world literature at home. Parents allow their children to read such books thinking they expand their children's dreams. That is a very grave mistake. If stories with violent knife-bearing scenes or lewd novels and magazines are likened to hard liquor, then so-called refined reading material such as world literature can be considered as wine, beer, or other types of mild liquor. When you read such literature, they seem at first to be somewhat refined books, but they gradually lead our children to forget the pleasures of God's holy, true words. They ultimately lead our children to disregard His truths--they instead become absorbed in the set of world literature. The next step will be to search for literature with stronger content, such as lewd novels and violent comic books. After our children have read them, they will practice in their lives what they have read. Led on a road of corruption, they will be doomed forever.

Therefore, the books we should be most cautious of are books that wear a mask of refinement, like that set of world literature. They are the first step that leads to the corruption and destruction of our children. We should firmly forbid our children from reading them. The god of this world mobilizes every mind under his influence to fabricate complete lies that seem to be true and publishes them under refined titles. In that way, he makes our innocent children believe such lies, become fascinated by them, and ultimately imitate them. The set of world literature is mostly filled with untruths, complete lies fabricated by its authors. What true fruits can be borne by a heart fed with falsehood? You must partake of the truth of heaven that is free of deceit in order to bear the fruits of a true heart. We should discard all those books of lies in our homes to firmly guard our families from the temptations of the god of this world.

Next, there are certain books we must shun more than a complete set of world literature. They are the religious books pouring out from corrupt religious circles. If such poisons of Babylon are purchased and mistakenly read as true religious books, one may be deceived by the scariest fallacy and become lost in wild fanaticism. We should therefore shun such false religious books and take special caution that our children do not read them.

The television is a one-eyed demon that drives not only our children but also the entire family into destruction. Television not only takes away our time to read and meditate upon God's word, it also estranges husbands from wives and parents from their children by not allowing them to hold tender conversations with each other and making them focus solely on it. A family that should be small heaven grows cold with disharmony and apathy; hearts are corrupted by the evil influences aired on it and the mind becomes lost in confusion. There is no opportunity to escape from it. We are drawn to it every day of our life, from morning until late night, eventually killing our entire family.

The computer is something more fearful than television. Computers are demons that are ten, hundred times more atrocious. Unless we educate our children thoroughly before they use them so that they will not becomes victims of the demon, they will all fall an easy prey to him. The ruthless enemy should not drag us around any longer. We should rescue our families by helping them to break free from the demon's powerful right-arm. In addition, we should teach them to read books on the computer, watch videos, or listen to cassettes that only contain the truth of heaven and are helpful to us, cautioning them against looking at anything else for even a moment.

Moreover, if you are raising your children at home, you should not allow them to just sit around reading books, no matter how helpful they are. They must be taught to research the truth of heaven and, at the same time, work physically in order to grow with a balanced body, mind, and character. Your fondness for your children should not allow them to idle their time away, thereby making them lazy children. No matter how young a child may be, give some work befitting him so that he can grow up to be a faithful and diligent child. Mother and father should take the children out to the fields. They can tell a very young child to pull out weeds from one furrow, a slightly older child three furrows, and an even older child five or ten furrows. With an amount they can handle, they may learn the joy of working. A son may chop wood with his father, or a daughter may help her mother in the kitchen. Whatever the job may be, teach them to do it faithfully and diligently.

In some families, the grown daughter does nothing but sit idly in her room browsing through magazines while her mother works until her back aches. Not only that, it is common for a grown daughter to keep company with her friends late at night and sleep over at a friend's house. In other families, the father works in the rice paddies drenched in sweat while his son sits at home playing a guitar and does nothing but demand an allowance. I cannot express how misled such families are.

All throughout history, God entrusted youth who were diligent and faithful in the small duties at home with a holy and glorious calling. Abraham, Enoch, Moses, Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, Joseph, David, and young Jesus were obedient to their parents from their youngest years and as youth, faithfully helped their parents with the household chores. If they had been unfaithful boys who only liked to idle their time away irresponsibly and did nothing at home while they were growing up, how could God have entrusted them with a great undertaking? That would not have been possible. If He had, such messengers would have marred their great undertaking with the same lack of responsibility and faithfulness they had at home. Therefore, in order for our children to receive the noble calling of this age for our countrymen and for mankind, they should not be allowed to idle their time lazily at home. Just like God's holy sons, they should grow up learning to work diligently when they are young. Then, heaven will joyfully acknowledge them, and not only call them for a noble work, but take them to the new world as it heirs. We should raise our children to be beautiful in the eyes of our heavenly Father.

For Children Who Have Left Their Parents and Fallen

Until now, I have explained how to raise and educate your young children. Let me conclude by explaining what to do for the children who have come of age, already left you, and gone wrong even before you knew about true child education. You cannot do much for children once they reach adulthood. You cannot take them aside and give them the rod, nor will they listen to what you tell them to do. At times like these, all we can do is turn to our heavenly Father, who has said, [With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.] (Mat. 19:26)

[Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the watches; pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord. Lift your hands toward Him for the life of your young children, who faint from hunger at the head of every street.] (Lam. 2:19)

“"Satan," the god of this world, "has obtained control of them. He has come right in past you, while you, who are as God to them, to guard them, were at ease, stupefied, and asleep. God has commanded you to bring them (children) up in the...nurture of the Lord. However, Satan has passed right in before you and has woven strong bands around them. And yet you sleep on."

When all creation sleeps silently [...in the night...], you should [arise...at the beginning of the watches] and [cry out] for the lives of your pitiful children who have left God and even you. You should pour out your desires for your children as you would [pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord.] [Lift your hands toward Him], God the Father of love, [for the life of your young children] whose souls are dying, [(fainting) from hunger], as they keep company with their evil friends and are dragged around by the god of this world to [the head of every street] (Lam. 2:19) in the wicked cities. Then, our Father who is omnipotent and full of love [shall give you the desires of your heart...Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.] (Ps. 37:4, 5)

We must borrow the almighty hands of our heavenly Father to deliver our loving children Satan has bound up tightly and drags around everywhere. Our vigorous prayers should never cease until our heavenly Father completely rescues our children with His hands. Supposedly, God surrenders to no one in the universe. However, He surrenders to someone who fully obeys His word, holds the Bible in the left hand opened to the passage where His promise is written, points to the verse with the right hand, and prays, "Dear Father, Did you not promise here, [Ask, and it will be given to you...for everyone who asks receives] (Matt. 7:7-11)? Father, I pray that You will return to me the life of my young child who is no longer with You or me. Dragged around by the wicked devil, his soul is dying, faint from hunger."”Though God is almighty and powerful, He cannot help but surrender to those children who obey Him beautifully, come to Him holding His promises, and say, "Didn't You promise here?" as they run into His arms with faith in His promises. He says, "I did. I did," and fulfills His promise abundantly, according to the request, the desire, of that child. Even though human beings are wicked, once they make a promise with their children they keep it. Then how much more so will our righteous, loving heavenly Father, who is eternally honest and does not lie, fulfill His promises. [God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?] (Num. 23:19) [Though it is only a man's covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it.] (Gal. 3:15) Then, how much more so will your Father in heaven fulfill what He has promised with His own lips? [Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.] (John 16:24)

When Saint Augustine was young, he was a prodigal son. During his years of dissipation, his mother prayed for his soul holding the Bible in her left hand and pointing to the promise of the heavenly Father with her right hand. It has been said that she offered her petitions in tears until the very hour she passed away. Even after her death, the benignant heavenly Father did not forget the lifelong prayer of that lovely, obedient daughter, but treasured it. Thirty years later, not only did He deliver Augustine, He made him into a saint rarely found in this world. When that beloved daughter embraces her son on the morning of resurrection, how much tears she will shed out of gratitude to our loving heavenly Father for fulfilling her desires overflowingly!

Like Augustine's mother, let us beautifully obey Him and, holding onto His promises, quickly go out to our heavenly Father in order to redeem our lost children. Let us also vigorously and earnestly ask as she did. If by chance our children do not return to us according to our prayers and expectations, know that it is His providence, the best answer He can give, and not complain in the least. After our sincere prayers, like Jesus, we should always pray, "Do all things not according to my will, but according to Yours, Father!"”Though our heavenly Father answers our prayers according to our desires, every now and then, His best answer is not to; we should not complain just because we do not understand why. (Isa. 55:8, 9)

When we arrive in the new world, the King will not ask, "How many people have you saved through your propagation?" but "Where are the children I have entrusted to you?" Even though Noah was an incompetent leader who did not save even one person during his 120 years of evangelism, God praised him to be [righteous.] (Gen. 6:9) That was because he guarded the lives of the three children under his charge well amidst a rebellious world. Like Noah, we should also carefully protect our children in this rebellious age so that on the day our Father asks such a question, we may answer immediately, "Here are the Your children You entrusted to me," and present them to Him.

Just because I lecture about child education does not mean I have succeeded completely. However, that does not mean I have failed either. I am presently striving to succeed in child education. The only time we can say we have succeeded is when we arrive in the new world with our children by our side. Child education is not an undertaking we can be certain about; it is not something we should despair over because we never know when our children will go wrong, or when and how they might return and become a noble child like Augustine. In any case, do your best as instructed by heaven, and when it does not seem to be working, leave it up to heaven's providence. However, it will be our responsibility if our children, who could have been saved, are instead lost due to our mistakes and laziness. Let us take this extremely short, golden opportunity, and endeavor to do our best to save our children according to the way heaven has taught us.

I would like to end by telling you a heartrending story.

The police led a young condemned criminal to the execution chamber. Before carrying out the execution, one of the officers in charge of his execution approached him and asked, "Do you have any last words?" He answered, "I would like to meet my mother one last time before I die." According to this condemned criminal's last wish, his mother was hastily brought and the two were given time to talk as the officers looked on, curious to see how much the young criminal had missed his mother to request one last meeting with her. As soon as this condemned criminal in shackles saw his mother he said, "Mother, come close to me and let me suck the very breast I was fed with when I was little, one last time." His mother held out her breast for him to take into his mouth. Little by little, he placed more and more of her breast in his mouth. Then, he mercilessly bit her breast off. Within moments his mother collapsed, unconscious. The young condemned criminal then proceeded to tell the officers who were standing dumbstruck, "My mother is my enemy. She made me into a condemned criminal. Ever since I was young, growing up as a child, even though I did not want to, she forced me steal from others and commended me every time I stole. That is how I became what I am in this world today--a notorious thief and condemned criminal. Please execute me now." In tears, he was led to the execution chamber.

In conclusion, I hope that none of the parents reading this book will ever leave such a deep scar in the lives of their dear children. Thank you.

Dear loving Father,

I lost all the precious children You have entrusted to me out of my foolish mistakes. I have educated them improperly ever since they were young. Please forgive me for such a tremendous mistake. Though it is late, please hear the prayer of this son (daughter) who repents and calls out to you. Answer my prayer as You answered the prayer of Augustine's mother, and deliver my child who is dying in the streets today because of my mistake. This is my one last, sincere desire.

I pray to my loving Father who will, by all means, answer overflowingly.

The Buddha Who Wears Shoes Backwards

2012-12-19T07:07:00.001-08:00

By Teacher Suksun

Filial Piety--The Grand Truth of the Universe

Filial piety is the basis, the foundation, of the truth of the universe. As long as the universe exists, filial piety will be the only eternal truth. All living things in the universe--people, animals, insects, and even grass, flowers, and trees--are brought forth from the body of their parents and live happily as they bloom, dance and sing, branch out, bear fruits and spread their roots, and breed and raise their offspring.

It is the duty of all creatures, as children and as long as they live, to offer eternal gratitude and praise to their parents and to repay them for their infinite love and sacrifice for giving birth to them and sacrificing themselves entirely. That is how they walk the path of the truth.

Confucius said, "Filial piety is the foundation of all actions." Not only is filial piety a fundamental way of the universe, but in essence, the sole, grand truth of the universe. Because God is the "Mother" of all things in the universe, filial piety is the only grand, universal way of fearing and serving Him. Therefore, let me start this book with filial piety, the fundamental, grand way of the universe.

The First Commandment among the Conditions to Inherit the New World

[Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.] (Exo. 20:12)

The "land which ... your God is giving you...." is the heaven Christians in the world today talk about. However, that "land" is not a heaven in the sky, but this earth we are presently living on. It is this very earth, which has become too cursed, polluted, and defiled to be inhabited by people, that will be renewed into a new land, a new world, as it was in the beginning when God first created it. It will be a land of immortality, an eternally happy new world where His children who have become saints will live.

Among the Ten Commandments God personally inscribed on stone tablets for His mortal children, the first four commandments concerned Him: commands to love God and thus, not die, but live eternally. The fifth to tenth commandments concerned His mortal children: commands to love one another and live happily together. However, the first commandment among the last six given for us tells us to be filial to our parents by honoring them.

The command to "honor your father and your mother" means more than just to love them. To "honor" them means to serve them as you would serve God. Honoring your father and your mother, filial piety, is the commandment God gave to His earthly children as a condition to be rewarded with the new world of immortality. In other words, those who serve and honor their parents will be received into the new world, while those who treat their parents coldly and dishonor them will not even be able to see the new world. He said, "Honor your father and your mother that your life may be long (eternal) in the land (new world) that Jehovah your God is giving you. However, if you do not honor your father and mother, I will not give you the land of immortality, the new world." The great commandment to honor our parents is the very first commandment among the ones given to us. Therefore, it is written in the Holy Bible, [If any has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God.] (1 Tim. 5:4) Why did God say He would take filial children who repay their parents' grace to the new world?

Parents are Visible Gods

"Parents are entitled to a degree of love and respect which is due to no other person. God Himself, who has placed upon them (parents) a responsibility for the souls (children) committed to their (parents') charge, has ordained that during the earlier years of life, parents shall stand in the place of God to their children. And he (a child) who rejects the rightful authority of his parents is rejecting the authority of God."

God gave all the children in the world parents--visible Gods who "stand in the place of God" with "the authority of God." There are different kinds of love in this world. However, the love parents have for their children is a love not of this world, but a love which only God possesses--a love that gives all and sacrifices all without receiving anything in return. The heavenly Father gave the parents on this earth His love, entrusted His children to them, and requested that they raise them in His stead. Therefore, parents are emissaries sent by the heavenly Father, His ambassadors, and visible Gods. If parents did not possess His love, how would they be able to love their children so dotingly when they cry, urinate, and defecate day and night, and not hate or dislike them in the least? How would they be able to sacrifice themselves to the end for such children? If it were a cheap, human love, parents would forsake their children after taking care of them for just a few days.

Because parents are God's ambassadors, visible Gods who possess His love, they give themselves up entirely for their children, sacrificing their bodies, minds, possessions, and even their souls. Therefore, honoring and serving the visible Gods well is the same as honoring and serving the invisible God who sent them. Treating them coldly and with contempt is treating the invisible God who sent them coldly and with contempt.

In history, we can find many events in the past that tell us of how God truly loved, walked with, and abundantly blessed the families of people who did not even know Him or Jesus--filial children who were dutiful and obedient to the parents sent by God as His ambassadors, their visible Gods. On the other hand, even if a son is devout and carries around the Bible, if he disobeys and coldly treats his parents, his visible Gods, it is written that he will not be taken to heaven, but abandon them on this earth to become prey for beasts. [The eye that mocks at his father, and scorns obedience to his mother, the ravens of the valley will pick it out, and the young eagles will eat it.] (Prov. 30:17) Therefore, rather than boasting of how well we keep our faith, we should become filial children who honor and serve our parents, our visible Gods.

Filial Sons of China

Yo and Soon, Filial Sons of China

Long ago in China, two young men, Yo and Soon, were reputed to be the most filial sons in the land. Just as God established the filial Moses as the leader (king) of Israel, the filial David as the king of Israel, and filial Joseph as the Prime Minister who had power over the gentile nation of Egypt, He again appointed two filial sons--Yo and Soon--as kings to rule over the great continent of China and its people. King Yo lost of his mother at an early age and grew up under his father and a stepmother; the abuse and persecution he received from them was indescribable. Some stepmothers are kind-hearted and love their stepchildren more than their own. However, most stepmothers have no love for their stepchildren and, instead, abuse them because they did not actually give birth to them. There is a saying that when a father remarries, he becomes a stepfather. Though the father of that filial son was very loving when his wife was alive, he turned into a dreadful father who tried to kill his son at any opportunity after remarrying.

One day his father commanded, "Put a new layer of straw on the thatched roof of the barn." Though the roof of the barn was still in fair condition, his father was ordering him to cover it with a new layer. This filial son already knew: "Father plans on burning me to death today." However, this filial son, who never disobeyed his parents, knowingly took the straw and climbed up to the roof. "I only have a chance if heaven saves me," he thought as he climbed up the barn wearing a bamboo hat. As he was busily covering the roof, just as he expected, his father set fire to one end of the roof while his stepmother set fire to the other end. Within moments, the fire spread in all directions. The filial son jumped off the roof using his bamboo hat as a parachute and barely escaped death.

Failing to burn his son to death that day, his father commanded a few days later, "Dig a well in the field out in front." Though a well already existed beside the house, he was ordering him to dig another one. The filial son thought, "This time, father plans on burying me alive. Though I was able to jump off the roof last time, how will I be able to dig myself out of the ground? I am dead." However, he began to dig in obedience to his father, knowing that he could die. With his father looking on, he dug deeper and deeper into the ground. After reaching a certain depth, he began to dig a hole off to the side when his father was not watching. He was busy digging when, as expected, dirt and stones suddenly started falling on top of him. He was able to crawl out through the hole he made off to the side and barely escaped death. After quietly returning to his room at the rear of the house, he picked up the bamboo flute he always enjoyed playing and played it in tears, thinking about his deceased mother. When his father heard him playing from the living room, he became enraged and exclaimed, "Ugh, he is still alive!"

Why would heaven not protect such a precious, inimitably filial son and just leave him to die? God especially loved that filial son, protected him so that his physical father could not kill him, and later raised him up as a king of that vast land of China. Heaven blessed the people of China who received such a benevolent king with peace. No other period in Chinese history has seen more prosperity or peace than during the reign of Kings Yo and Soon. This is because God blessed the nation of these filial sons.

Filial Sons of Korea

Sohn-Soon, a Filial Son of the Shilla Dynasty

Like China, there were many lovely filial sons and daughters in Korea, the land of the rising sun--also known as Chosun, the eastern country of courteous people. During the Shilla dynasty, there was a man named Sohn-Soon. His family was so impoverished that he had to work as a servant in order to support his mother.

Even amid such destitution, he was an extremely devoted son. After working all year long at someone else's home, he would buy his mother food, clothing, and shoes by bartering the bushels of rice he received as wages. He had a young son who always sat by his grandmother and ate the delicious food earnestly prepared for her when she offered it to him. Displeased, Sohn-Soon would say, "Mother, please do not give him any more food. It is just for you to eat." She would reply, "No, it pleases me more to give it to him than to eat it all by myself," and continued feeding her grandson. This filial son did not know what to do and quietly called his wife to the rear of the house to discuss the matter.

"Dear, we can always have another child. Once mother passes away, she will be no more. Our son is taking away all her delicious food, leaving her nothing to eat. Let's go bury him in the mountains, and then come back and take care of mother," he said. His wife who was also an extremely filial daughter-in-law agreed. "You are right, dear," she said. Therefore, the couple decided to bury their child in the mountains. How beautiful this filial son and daughter-in-law were! What woman would agree to kill her own son in order to serve someone else's mother? With her son on her back and the filial son carrying some tools on his A-frame carrier, the couple climbed up the mountain. How beautiful and commendable they must have been in the eyes of God! That scene may have been more beautiful than when Abraham climbed up Mount Moriah in order to dedicate his son Isaac to God. Abraham was slow to respond when God asked him to offer up Isaac, and his wife did not even dare accompany him. However, that filial couple who did not even know God was willing to sacrifice their son in order to honor their human mother. Why would that couple that did not know Christ not be praised for being more beautiful than Abraham and his wife who knew God? (The A-frame carrier is a back rack with a frame that looks like the letter A, usually made of wood, and widely used to carry heavy or large items.)

This couple went deep into the mountains. When they reached a suitable area, they placed their child and the A-frame carrier on the ground. The father drove the pickaxe down strongly into the ground. "Ding!" To his surprise, the earth reverberated with the clear sound of a bell ringing. Bewildered, he dug into the ground a second time, and a third time. The more he dug into the ground, the lovelier and fuller the resonance would be. After digging some more, he discovered a magnificent bell. God had prepared it as a gift for that filial couple so that they would not kill their son. God who had prepared a ram for Abraham so that he would not kill his son likewise prepared a gift for that precious filial son of Chosun.

Deeply moved, this filial son said to his wife, "Dear, it seems like heaven is telling us not to kill our son by giving us this precious bell as a gift. Let's just take our child and this bell back home." Because she was a good wife who never objected to his words, they both returned home and later hung the bell at the end of a rafter of their hut. The bell rang so clearly and beautifully and echoed throughout the country that even the king heard the ringing as he was sitting on his throne in the palace.

"What is that beautiful sound?" the king asked his ministers. When the king heard their report, he was deeply impressed. Praising the filial couple, he said, "Long ago, there lived a man named Kwak-koh who tried to bury his child in order to support his parents. Heaven gave him a golden wok. Now in my days, heaven has given that inimitably filial son a rare, precious bell." The king then issued a royal mandate, saying, "Build a nice, large house for that inimitably filial son. In addition, provide him with fifty sacks of rice a year from the national treasury for the rest of his life so that he may live happily with his mother and son."

It was God, not the king, who provided that filial son with rice and a house; He personally rewarded him through the king. This is a true story. The filial son no longer worked as a servant in someone else's house and lived happily with his mother, wife, and son.

Sang-duk, a Filial Son of the Shilla Dynasty

There once lived a man named Sang-duk during the Shilla Dynasty. In order to support his parents during a famine, he fed his parents a piece of his thigh he had secretly cut off. In addition, when his parents suffered from a malignant tumor, this filial son sucked out all the poison to cure it. For this filial son, God moved the heart of the king who ordered a red gate built at that filial son's house to officially commend him, making him an example for all the children on this earth, and to provide him with an ample amount of money and rice annually so that he and his family could live happily.

All these stories are not mere fabricated tales of the past, but true stories of filial sons from a previous era who also lived on this earth.

Mr. Doh, a Filial Son of the Yi Dynasty

During the time of King Chul-Jong of the Yi Dynasty, there lived a man who was only known by his family name, Doh. Even though his family was poor, he was a very devoted son. Because he did not have enough money to support his mother, he would go into the mountains every day to chop wood, burn it into charcoal, and then sell it once a week at the market. With that money, this filial son would buy rice and fish for his mother. One day, after selling charcoal at the market, he bought a fish for his mother and tied it to his A-frame carrier. As he was crossing over a heavily wooded ridge, he heard a sound from behind. "Swoosh!" In the blink of an eye, a large hawk snatched the fish off the A-frame carrier and flew away. Startled, he yelled. It was too late. The hawk had snatched the fish and disappeared in a flash.

That fish was to be a side dish for his mother to eat until the next market day* came. If he only had money in his pocket, he would have gone back immediately and bought another fish, alas he had no more money. At a loss for words, he burst into tears at the thought of having to return to his mother empty-handed and serve her just rice. "You coldhearted hawk! Why did you have to steal the fish of this poor man who wanted to serve it to his elderly mother?" he exclaimed, weeping as he plodded the rest of the way back home. (Market days only took place on certain days of the month and varied with the region.)

However, God watched the entire scene from the beginning. He who had commanded a raven to prepare a meal for Elijah now told the hawk that had snatched this filial son's fish, "Little hawk, do you know whose fish you took? That fish belongs to an inimitably filial son. Do not eat even a single piece of it. Instead, take it to the front yard of that filial son's house." The hawk then realized whose fish it had taken and did as God had commanded. The filial son walked many kilometers in tears without knowing what had happened. When he arrived at home, he was startled. Though he imagined that the hawk had already eaten the fish since it had been lost back at the ridge, there it was, in the front yard, untouched. "Undoubtedly, heaven helped me," the filial son thought, and repeatedly expressed his deep gratitude to heaven.

Several years passed, and the mother whom he honored so dearly and attended to was lying sick, on the verge of death. Inexpressible grief filled this filial son. One day, his mother, lying sick in bed, said, "Son, I would like to eat some soft persimmons." Although he searched throughout the house and even the entire neighborhood, he could not find any persimmons since it was already winter. Today, there are modern methods of storage. However, there was no way to store them back then, so it was almost impossible for there to be any persimmons. Yet, he was determined to somehow find some because it was his mother's final wish. Carrying a mesh bag, he searched under every persimmon tree and rummaged through all the leaves with a stick hoping to find perhaps a dry persimmon that had fallen to the ground. Though he went from neighborhood to neighborhood searching the persimmon orchards, he could not find a single persimmon. The sun was setting, and it was beginning to get dark.

The filial son was lamenting when a tiger came crawling down from the mountain. He would have normally been scared to death and run away. For some reason, he felt calm even at the appearance of the tiger. He was not afraid; it was as if a dog or a horse was approaching him. God had been touched, and He had sent the tiger as His envoy. Like Elijah and the raven, Daniel and the lions, it was as if two friends were meeting each other. It is written in the Bible, [When a man's ways please the Lord (God), He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.] (Prov. 16:7)

The tiger drew near to the filial son, lowered its body, and swung its tail in the direction of its back, as if beckoning him to get on. Aware of what it wanted, the filial son climbed on the tiger's back. The tiger proceeded to cross over several mountain passes, running like a streak of lightning. It stopped in front of a large gate to the house of a wealthy man. It was already very late at night. The filial son knocked on the front door of the house and called the owner. The large gate creaked open, and the owner came out. "I was passing through and it is dark. May I lodge here for the night?" the filial son asked. The owner, a generous countryman, welcomed him warmly and said, "We have many rooms in our house and the guest room happens to be empty. Please come in and make yourself at home." Later that night, the owner awakened him. "Sir, sir!" he said. The owner woke him up to tell him to eat, for today was the day his father's memorial service was being held. In the countryside, it is customary for people to eat with their guests on days hold memorial services. The filial son walked into the room rubbing his eyes and was surprised to see a table laden with food including a plate full of soft persimmons--the very thing his mother wanted to eat and exactly what he had been searching for. The filial son was so astonished and overjoyed that he could barely contain himself. The owner noticed his guest's reaction and curiously asked him if anything was wrong. It was then that the filial son told him the story of how he had arrived riding a tiger.

Upon hearing the entire story, the owner slapped his knee and said, "Of course, now I understand." Now it was the guest's turn to ask what was wrong. The owner replied, "Each year, I usually keep 200 persimmons for my father's memorial service. However, most of them usually become spoiled or split open from being overripe, and I am usually left with only seven or eight persimmons--just enough to fill a single plate for my father's memorial service. This year there were fifty fresh persimmons left. I thought it very strange, but as they say, 'Sincerity moves Heaven.' Heaven was so touched by your outstanding filial piety that it kept fifty persimmons from rotting for someone as inimitably filial as you. Don't worry. You can have them all. Eat all the persimmons on this table, and I will carefully pack the rest so that you can take them to your mother." After acquiring the persimmons, the filial son could not sleep there at the thought of his mother waiting sick in bed and bid farewell to the owner that very night. As he walked out the gate, the very tiger that had given him a ride before was waiting for him. Once again, he climbed on its back. It ran like a streak of lightning and in no time, he arrived in front of his house. After letting him off, the tiger returned to the mountains. This is a true story of a filial son who satisfied his mother's desire, a story about someone from a previous era who lived on this earth just like us.

It was God who asked a raven to give Elijah food, commanded bears to punish the people who ridiculed Elisha, commanded a hawk to return the fish to a filial son, and commanded a tiger to carry a filial son on its back so that he could acquire soft persimmons. Why would He not take the loving filial sons and daughters of this age to the new world, just as He took Elijah to heaven? Those who have devotedly served their visible Gods on this earth have also served and loved their invisible God, and He personally promised to give them immortal life in the new world in the first commandment given for us. There are many other places in God's Book where He made such a promise. There are innumerable accounts from long ago of God loving filial sons who did not even know the ways of Confucianism, Buddhism, or Christianity. He personally walked with them, miraculously answered their desires, and poured all kinds of blessings upon them.

The Filial Son Who Boiled His Son in a Cauldron as Medicine for His Mother

Once, there was a couple living in the countryside whose mother was ill with an unknown, incurable disease. Any medicine administered to her was ineffective. The couple was in despair when a passing sage gave a truly difficult prescription: "Your mother's illness will only be cured if she eats a boiled child." Unfortunately, this filial son happened to have a young son. He ran to his wife and said, "Honey, we can always have more children, but once mother passes away, she will not be with us anymore. Let us use our son for mother's medicine." Upon hearing this, his wife, who was just as filial and dutiful as her husband, agreed. Their son, who was about eight years old, was learning how to write at school in a neighboring village at the time. When the time came for him to return home, the wife filled a huge cauldron with water and started boiling it, while her husband went out to meet him. As he came around the hill grinning happily, his son asked, "Father, you've come out to meet me today. Is something the matter?" "Oh, I came out today because I missed you," his father replied. "Come here, I'll give you a piggyback ride," and carried his son on his back. Upon arriving home, he signaled his wife, who had kept the fire burning, to open the lid of the cauldron. He immediately threw his son in and quickly shut the lid. The couple boiled the water in silence. Then, something incredible happened. Their adorable son walked into the house smiling, greeted his parents, and told them that he was back from school. "How can this be?" the father asked. He quickly opened the lid of the cauldron only to discover a large, wild ginseng root floating in the water.

God, who loves filial children very much, was deeply moved by the exceptional devotion of this couple who did not spare their own son but sacrificed him for their mother. He personally prepared a large wild ginseng for them, saved the son, healed the mother's sickness, and rewarded this family with great blessings. When Abraham did not spare his son but dedicated him as an offering on Mount Moriah, God prepared a ram for him instead and saved Isaac. He did the same work once again. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. In this way, the son of this filial son grew up to become a splendid man, while the mother who drank the wild ginseng tea was completely cured of her illness and lived a long, healthy life. After regaining their son and mother and receiving the blessings of heaven as well, the filial son and his wife lived a long, happy life.

The Buddha Who Wears Shoes Backwards

Now, let me tell you the story of an unfilial son. In a small country neighborhood, a widow who lost her husband early on was living alone with her young son. This young son was her life and was both a son and husband to her-- the only person she depended on. Therefore, if there were anything delicious, she would give it to him while she ate what was poor. She would clothe her son with nice clothes and have him wear nice shoes. Everything good was his, while everything bad or useless was hers. Because this son was raised in this manner from a young age, it became natural for him to eat, wear, and use anything nice, even after he grew up. He gave everything that was useless to his mother, treated her cruelly, and despised her. Whenever she saw her grown-up son mistreating her, she would be taken aback and spend the whole day in tears and sorrow. Yet, she could do nothing about it because she had taught her son to be like that from a young age; she was reaping the fruits of her own doing. Therefore, when raising your children, teach them to give whatever is good--whether it be fruits or any other food--to their parents, and eat and drink whatever is of lesser quality.

One day, this unfilial son sold all their rice paddies in the mountains as well as their small fields without even consulting his mother and announced that he was going to Han-Yang to earn money. He did not care whether she would starve or die, and left the house without looking back. This mother had no way to stop her unfilial son. She shed endless tears as she watched her heartless son disappear over the hill and then returned to her cold, empty house. (Han-Yang was a large city that is present-day Seoul, the capital and largest city of South Korea)

In Han-Yang, the unfilial son tried to make a great deal of money by running different kinds of businesses. However, for some reason, he ended up either suffering a loss or failing in all he did. He squandered away all the fortunes his widowed mother had painstakingly amassed and became pathetic. In order to find out why he was so unlucky, this unfilial son decided to have his fortune told. As a last resort, he went to see a fortuneteller who supposedly made good hits. As soon as he placed the fee before the fortuneteller, the very first thing he said was, "Oh, I see you've failed in everything. Fortune will turn in your favor only if you return and take good care of the Buddha who wears shoes backwards." Filled with hope, he left happily saying, "That's it. Now my fortune will change for the better." He then went to every Buddhist temple that was in the deep mountains and asked the monks if there was a Buddha wearing shoes backwards in their temple. Everywhere he went, he was told that there was no such Buddha. Rather, they looked at him strangely, whispered among themselves, and mocked, "Where in the whole world is there a Buddha who wears shoes backwards?"

The unfilial son bewailed, "Why am I so unlucky? Now, I won't even be able to meet the Buddha who wears shoes backwards." He soon ran out of money, and his shoes were so tattered that he could not travel any longer. Bent with hunger, he had no choice but to head back to the small cottage in the countryside where the mother he had mistreated lived. Along the way, he begged for food and at times starved for days. He finally arrived home in the middle of the night.

The unfilial son knocked on the door and called his mother. When he had left, he was not concerned in the least with whether his mother would starve or die; he had betrayed her and left home without saying one word to her. Now that this impious son had nowhere to go, he had returned. When his mother heard him knocking and calling out to her, she exclaimed, "Oh, you came back alive. You're back. Where have you been?" She rushed out, opened the door, and exclaimed, "How much suffering you must have gone through! You must be hungry!" and scurried to the kitchen in order to set the table for her son. As the unfilial son beheld his mother from behind, he saw that she was wearing her shoes backwards. That was when the unfilial son came to a great realization: "Ah, the Buddha who wears shoes backwards was actually my mother at home!" In tears, he repented for all his wrong and for being so terribly unfilial. From that day on, he began serving his mother as if she was Buddha. Whenever he would come by anything nice--whether it was food, clothing or shoes--he would always call his mother, "Mother, mother," and give it to her or have her wear it first. He loved his mother with all his heart and served her as if he was serving Buddha. His mother was now happy and joyful, and the home became a paradise.

From then on, fortune turned in his favor. Everything he did, any business he ran, and anything he was involved in was prosperous and successful. In no time, he became a very wealthy man, married and had many children, and lived happily with his mother, wife, and children.

Long ago, a sage once said, "A filial son is joy to both parents; his home is peaceful, and everything goes well." This saying coincides with the truth in the Bible, [Let your father and your mother be glad, and let her who bore you rejoice,] [that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.] (Prov. 23:25, Eph. 6:3)

If we too would like to receive blessings and be successful, let us devotedly serve our parents, our visible Gods, as if they are the invisible Gods, loving them with all our hearts. Then, God will bless us greatly, just as He greatly blessed the filial sons throughout history. As promised in the Bible, He will also give us the new world, the immortal country, as our inheritance.

An Unfilial Son and a Filial Grandson

This is a story from a time when people left elderly people to die in open tombs, according to an ancient burial custom of Korea. There was an unfilial man of age who had a grown-up son. One day, he said to his son, "Carry your grandmother deep into the mountains on an A-frame carrier and abandon her there." It was common practice during those days for people to take their aged parents to the mountains and either abandon them there or confine them in a cave. The time came for this family to do the same. There is an old saying that a grandmother's love is her grandson. This grandson grew up in his grandmother's love and care. She loved him the most, and he loved her the most. However, his father was now ordering him to carry her deep into the mountains and leave her there to become prey for the animals.

With no choice but to obey his father's orders, the son replied, "Yes, father," and left carrying his beloved grandmother on an A-frame carrier. After traveling into the mountains for some time, he found a warm and sunny spot and carefully put his grandmother down on the grass.

"Grandmother."

"What?"

"Please wait here for a while. I'll come back for you very soon."

"Alright, child."

The grandson quickly ran home with the A-frame carrier on his back. When he returned home, his father was sitting on the porch to confirm that his son had carried out his command.

"Did you abandon your grandmother?"

"Yes, father. I did."

After answering his father, the boy took the A-frame carrier he had used to abandon his grandmother and carefully hung it on the wall of the storeroom as his father looked on. When his father saw that, he bluntly asked,

"You should have discarded that old carrier, too. Why are you hanging it on the wall so carefully?"　

"I must take good care of this A-frame carrier so that when you grow old, I can carry you into the mountains with it and abandon you, also."

The father was startled to hear this. He thought, "I'm in big trouble. He will definitely carry me on that A-frame carrier and abandon me when I grow old." Everything before him went black.

"Hey, quickly bring your grandmother back."

This is how the filial piety of a good grandson saved his grandmother. An unfilial adult is no better than a child is. There is an old saying that even though you have ten children, you do not mind if all your children defecate or urinate; you adore them in spite of their filthiness. Though you only have two parents, when they grow old, shed tears, or have a runny nose, you feel disgusted and refuse to eat at the same table with them; you merely mistreat them. However, if we were to consider how indebted we are to our parents for enduring so much to raise us, we would try to repay their grace. Yet, because it is as wide and vast as the heavens, there would be no way to repay it all.

Even Confucius taught, "While your parents are alive, devote yourself entirely to serving them. When supporting them, care for them with a cheerful heart. When they become ill, fully concern yourself with nursing them. When they pass away, grieve for them with all the sorrow in you. And when holding your parents' memorial service, mourn for them with all the solemnity in you." "When your parents are living, do not travel far; if you must, be sure to tell them where you will be. When your parents call you, answer them immediately; even if there is food in your mouth, spit it out immediately and answer, 'Yes'." "Someone who is obedient and filial to their parents will also have an obedient and filial child; someone who is unfilial and disobedient to their parents will also have an unfilial and disobedient child. If you cannot believe this, take a look at the drops of water that fall down from the eaves. They will fall down in the same place a drop of water fell just moments ago."

It is written in the holy writings, "Contempt for parental authority will soon lead to contempt for the authority of God. Therefore, the god of this world, the demon (Satan), strives to lessen the obligation of the fifth commandment (filial piety)."

Honoring and loving your parents is honoring and loving God; despising and disobeying them is despising and disobeying Him. Satan, the god of this world, knows this all too well. He has the children in this world disregard God and disobey Him by urging them to disobey their parents and be unkind to them first. Parents are visible Gods, ambassadors of the invisible God. Satan knows very well that if he can just make people disobey and defy their visible Gods, they will naturally defy the invisible God. Therefore, he does whatever he can to make all the children in this world unfilial to their parents. Satan knows very well that once this happens, all the children in this world are his prey. On the other hand, those who do not know God, Jesus, or the Bible, but serve and honor their parents well are, in fact, serving God and loving Him. God loves them and gives them immortal life in the new world.

Since the creation of this earth, God loved filial children, regardless of whether they believed in a religion or not, and regardless of their nationality or race. He walked with them and satisfied their desires with overflowing blessings and miracles. This applies to Biblical history as well. The prophets of faith who received God's great calling and were used by Him throughout history were all filial children who were obedient and devoted to their parents. God never called or used anyone who was disobedient and unfilial to their parents.

Filial Sons of the Bible

The Filial Moses

Moses, the writer of the Pentateuch, left his parents at the age of twelve to live in the palace of Egypt, a country with a different religion that worshipped sundry evil spirits. Until he was twelve, his parents requested of him, "Moses, you are different from other people. You are a son of God. Wherever you go, serve only God and never bow down to other gods. You are different. You are God's son who will become the shepherd who will lead the Israelites to freedom. Please never forget that. Do you understand?" He replied, "Yes, I understand. I will never forget your words." Young Moses left his parents when he was called to the Egyptian palace. Moses lived in that splendid palace for decades--from when he was a child until he became a youth, and even until he reached the prime of life. Numerous temptations and fascinations tried to seize him, and the persecution he received was great. However, Moses was victorious because he was determined to cherish and obey the instructions he received from his parents at a young age.

By obeying his parents' instructions, young Moses was able to repel the extravagances and gaieties of Egypt. By obeying his parents' instructions, he did not kneel to the gods of Egypt. By obeying his parents' instructions, he was able to be overcome sexual temptations. By obeying his parents' instructions, he was able to renounce the throne and riches of Egypt. By obeying his parents' instructions, he became the leader of Israel and God's great prophet. Until Moses passed away at the age of 120, he was an inimitably filial son who obeyed the instructions his parents gave him when he was twelve. God loved this filial son so much that He bestowed the greatest glory and privilege upon him.

The Filial Elijah and Elisha

Elijah and Elisha were indeed precious filial sons who obeyed their parents beautifully. During that corrupt age, they neither mingled with the corrupt world nor associated with wicked friends. They obeyed their parents' instructions at home, and devoted themselves to helping their parents with the farming and household affairs. God of heaven, the great King of the universe called these obedient, filial sons to be His great prophets and glorious workers.

The Filial David

Unlike his brothers who would often get together with their friends and go places, young David was very trustworthy. He only did what his father ordered him to do. He was a young filial son who faithfully took care of the flock his brothers neglected. Though Jesse had many sons, none were as faithful in taking care of the flock as David. That is why Jesse always entrusted the flock to his obedient son, David.

God set aside all of David's handsome older brothers, chose him, and made him the king of Israel.

The Filial Joseph

Joseph was different from his stepbrothers. Like David, he was a son who fully obeyed his father's words. Before becoming an overseer of his prison and Pharaoh's prime minister, he was the overseer in his family who gained the confidence of his father. Even when his wild stepbrothers sold him as a slave to a foreign land, something more dreadful than death to him, he clenched his little fists tightly and determined that wherever he went, he would live according to his father's words and only serve and obey his father's God. By obeying his father's instructions, he became a trustworthy overseer of the prison. By obeying his father's words and fearing his God, he was able to brush off the temptations of a woman. By obeying his father's words, he grew up to become Pharaoh's teacher. By obeying his father's words, he became a wise overseer who ruled over the Egyptian nation. Pharaoh only sat on the throne; in reality, Joseph was the "king" who controlled the economy and the government. From his youth until he passed away, this filial son never departed from his father's instructions. God gave him a glorious calling, was with him wherever he went, and clothed him with immense favor and glory.

The Filial Daniel and His Three Friends

Just by looking at the names of Daniel and his three friends, we can see how thoroughly their parents educated their children to live according to God's will. The name Daniel means, "Jehovah is my Judge." It was a name from his parents' desire to only serve Jehovah and not worship or fear the judgment of any other god. When Daniel and his three friends were taken captive by the Babylonian army, the parents of these young sons held their hands tightly and earnestly entreated them, "Even if you die, die gloriously only serving and loving God. Do you understand?" "Yes, father. Yes, mother," replied these four young boys as they parted from their parents. Like Moses, they also encountered numerous temptations and persecutions at the magnificent palace of Babylon. However, by obeying the words of their parents, they were able to object to the king's orders. By obeying the words of their parents, they were able to overcome intemperance in diet. By obeying the words of their parents, they were able to become men of prayer. By obeying the words of their parents, they were able to enter the lions' den and the fiery furnace and become victorious warriors.

God especially loved these inimitably filial sons, taught them all the secret revelations of His heart, and bestowed the greatest glory and honor upon them.

The Filial John the Baptist

As the son of a high priest, John the Baptist should have attended prophet school, comparable to a present-day theological seminary, with the rest of his friends. However, in order to obey his father's words and follow his will, he forsook the corrupt theological schools and went to the secluded countryside where he faithfully farmed and took care of the household affairs. John was the loveliest filial son of his time. His father was an elderly priest, and his mother was too old to work. As a filial son, he alone took charge of all the farming and household affairs. God chose this filial son, praised him, saying, [Among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist,] (Luke 7:28) and gloriously crowned him as the greatest prophet.

The Filial Jesus

Jesus was also an inimitably filial son. Since He was young, Jesus never once disobeyed the words of His parents. Even as He died, shedding water and blood on the cross, He did not forget His loving mother and entrusted her to His disciple John. Jesus was an inimitably filial son who honored His parents unto death. He loved his mother and was more concerned about her than His own life. [When Jesus (on the cross) therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by,...said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!] From now on, please serve her in my stead." [And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.] (John 19:26, 27)

God was pleased with this filial Son and uplifted Him as the Savior of mankind. If Jesus had been an unfilial son who treated His parents with contempt and disobeyed them at a young age, God would have never made Him the Savior. Throughout the six thousand-year history of mankind, from the time of the Old Testament to the New Testament, God only called children who were filial and entrusted His glorious work to them. There is not one unfilial child among those He has called.

The Inimitably Unfilial Kwang-Gyu

However, one instance where God used an unfilial son is when He called and used me, Kwang-Gyu (Suk Sun). I cannot fit in the ranks of or even stand among the heralds of the past six thousand years. I am grateful just to be called as a son who stands at the very back of the ranks of the holy group who will enter the new world, after the entire world is radiated by the glorious light of heaven's grand truth.

When I was young, I was only unfilial to my parents; I do not know why God called me to participate in this final glorious work.

When I was young, I grew up under my parents eating plenty of boiled barley and barley porridge. When we did not have enough barley to eat, we would grind it up and use it to make a watery porridge to spare the barley. Eating barley porridge with salty kimchi was so delicious back then--I have never eaten anything more delicious than that in my life, even at a banquet. Our family did not eat barley porridge back then because we were poor; we were actually the wealthiest family in our neighborhood. We sold all the rice we harvested to buy rice paddies. In other words, we ate barley porridge only for the joy of buying more rice paddies. My father was the only son in his family for three generations. Though my grandfather was a rich man, he believed that war would break out and said that there was no use in buying land because, if anything happened, the family would have to flee with the money. Therefore, he never bought any fields or rice paddies and only held on to his money. Then one day, the house caught on fire and all the money burned. Because he passed away without leaving his only son an inheritance, my father had to gain his fortune with his own bare hands. That is why my parents had high earning power and were both tenacious and upright. No matter what hardship or poverty they experienced, they never asked other people for help or favors. (Kimchi is a popular Korean side dish of spicy pickled vegetables.)

Our family code of conduct was "honesty, diligence, and economy (thrift)." At the same time, I saw my parents giving an entire dish or a large gourd of rice to beggars or Buddhist monks who came to us. I grew up with six siblings--three brothers and three sisters. When we were four or five, our father had us learn from Chun* Ja *Moon**. Even before attending elementary school, we had already read at least one or two (traditional) books written with Chinese characters. Among them were Chun Ja Moon, Dong Mong Sun Seub, and Myung* Shim Bo Gam. We grew up not knowing what vanity or extravagance was. Because honesty was a part of our family code of conduct, we grew up honestly and understood the dire consequences of bringing home even a piece of straw that belonged to someone else. (Chun Ja Moon is a traditional children's primer of 1,000 standard Chinese characters) (**Dong Mong* Sun Seub is a traditional children's textbook of morals and history) (**Myung* Shim Bo Gam is a traditional collection of moral teachings for character building)

My brothers, sisters, and I obeyed our parents unconditionally. Even when my older brothers were over fifty years old, they discussed everything with father. They never began a business without consulting him. Even when it came to buying land, a shop, or a house with their own money, they were filial sons who always discussed it with him first. I grew up as the sixth of seven children and the third son in the family. My mother always told me that I was the most obedient out of all seven and that she rarely scolded me. She said, "Since you were young, I never had to find your socks for you. Before going to bed early in the evening, you folded your clothes and socks, placed them neatly next to your pillow, and put them on when you got up the next morning. I never had to nag you."

I remember something amusing that happened when I was about five or six years old. At that time, there were no fruits, and I wanted so much to eat the cucumbers we had planted in the field. They had a faint, sweet scent, and just looking at the cucumbers made my mouth water. I ran to mother.

"Mother, I just want to eat one cucumber."

"No, you can't. I need it to make your father's side dish for dinner."

My parents then took all my older brothers and sisters to work, and I ended up playing in the house all by myself. However, I only thought of cucumbers while I was playing. Before I knew it, I was standing in front of the cucumber field. The sight of light green cucumbers lying here and there made my mouth water. The whole family was working in the fields and paddies; I was alone in the cucumber field. Even if I were to pick a cucumber and eat it, no one would be able to see or know. However, I could not eat it because my mother had told me in the morning not to. I crouched down next to a delicious-looking cucumber and poked it with my thumbnail. Because the cucumber was tender, some of its flesh was scooped out by the edge of my thumbnail. With my tongue, I reached for the piece of cucumber flesh caught on the end of my nail, then nibbled on it with the edge of my teeth, savoring the taste. "Ah, this is good," I told myself as I sat down and continued to taste the cucumber by poking into them with my nail. After a while, even that did not satisfy me, so I returned home dejectedly and played by myself.

After returning home that evening, my mother went to the field to get some cucumbers to make a side dish for dinner. She noticed that a few of them had scars on them. Judging by the size of the marks, it was only obvious who made them. "Kwang-Gyu!" my mother yelled. At the sound of my mother calling, I replied, "Yes," and ran to her. "Dear, I guess you really wanted to eat cucumbers to have poked them like this. Here, have one," she said. She then picked a cucumber and gave it to me. Only then did I gladly eat the delicious cucumber. I have never tasted such a delicious cucumber since then. Though I grew up in a family that did not believe in God, I grew up with that kind of honesty. The children of families these days that profess to believe in and serve God should be more honest and truthful.

It is written in the Bible, [Whoever robs his father or his mother, and says, "It is no transgression," the same is companion to a destroyer.] (Prov. 28:24) Even if the coins belong to your parents, secretly taking it from their pockets and using it is plainly stealing. Whether it is money, food, or anything else, a child should first ask their parents for permission and then eat or use it in an honest manner. It has been said that only those who are honest, those whose hearts and lips are free of deceit, will enter the new world. Children should be honest so that their parents can trust them wherever they go.

Even after I grew up and was in middle school, my family ate only barley during the summer. At that time, a majority of the rural citizens in our country ate only barley. However, my mother especially packed me "half and half rice"--a mix of barley and white rice, added on one side of the pot when the barley is cooked--for lunch on schooldays. When I unpacked my lunch at school and ate together with my friends, I could not to swallow the rice, choked at the thought of my father eating barley for breakfast. After eating just a little, I would pack it back up. At dinnertime, I would set it out before my father who was about to eat barley. I said, "Father, I didn't feel like eating my lunch today. Please take it." How glad I was to see him eating it! During the winters, when my father crossed over the hill to his friend's house and spend the night there, I would wake up early at dawn, take a bamboo spade, and sweep the snowy path my father would be walking on, afraid his feet might become cold if the snow that fell the night before went into his shoes. Sometimes, I even escorted him home. Though my father did not express it, I knew that he was very pleased and happy.

Because I was an obedient son, I grew up loved by my father. However, I became a defiant, unfilial son to him from the moment I started believing in Jesus. Although he told me not to believe, I still believed. Although he told me not to observe the Lord's day, I did. Though he told me to throw the Bible away and burn It, I would get another one and read it. My father was terribly perplexed. I had been obedient ever since I was young and had grown up with the least amount of scolding among the seven siblings. Nevertheless, after believing in Jesus, I became an extremely unfilial son, which was probably why my father persecuted me so severely.

My parents forced me to leave home four times. Because I grew up so innocently at home, I thought that I would not be able to survive outside home. However, I was able to leave my house by trusting fully in God and depending upon Him. When my father first drove me out of the house, I went to live with my older brother. The second time, my sister told me to come and stay with her, so I lived with her and helped at her shop.

The fourth and last time my father forced me to leave was after I was discharged from the army. Maybe it was because I reached an age of discretion, but I was very ashamed that my neighbors had witnessed it. I left the house without a penny; I did not know how I would maintain a living. I left merely trusting in God and depending upon Him. Whether walking or sitting down, I just continued praying to Him. It was early summer then, and a brother of the faith suggested that I try selling iced tea during the summer. After praying about it, I went to my second oldest brother who was running a store, borrowed some money from him, and bought a used iced teacart. I planned to make money by selling a glass of ice tea for five or ten won.* If it was not for my faith, I could not have imagined that this son of a wealthy family doing such an embarrassing job. At first, I was so embarrassed that I could not even stand near the cart. If a customer would come and ask for iced tea, I would run reluctantly to the wagon, sell him a glass of it, and flee back to my friend's small shop nearby. If another customer came, I would run out reluctantly, sell it, and then flee again. Later on, I became the most popular iced tea salesman. God was with me even in that work and bestowed many precious blessings and wonders upon me. It would be fun to talk about them, but I will have to skip it due to the lack of space. (Five won is equivalent to USD $0.04.)

When summer ended, I could not to sell iced tea any longer. Unemployed, I sought another job. My parents brought me up gently at home, and now I was faced with the destiny of having to make it through the rough and dangerous world on my own, without any skills or means. Only God was with me, and I was determined to only depend on Him and live in an area where I would not meet or see anyone from my hometown, where there would be no one I knew, where there would be just God and me, heaven and me.

I was determined to leave my hometown forever due to the persecution, torment, and disgraceful events. I was afraid to meet people from my hometown if I went to a large city like Seoul or Busan, and so I decided to go to a place I had never been to--the city of Iri, Jeonla Province. I would go and see what it was like. If I did not like it, I would trust in God and move to another place. I went to Iri; God's providence kept me there, and I decided to stay there for the time being. I began by selling peanuts in front of a movie theatre on the main street. I was able to preserve my faith even while selling peanuts past eleven o'clock at night in the winter. God was with me and blessed me, and I became one of the highest givers of tithe among the members of my church in Iri. Though I sold peanuts from morning to night to people who visited the movie theatre and heard the unwholesome music blaring, I never sinned in thought. God always watched over my heart and conscience and was a living Witness. I lived every moment of each day united with heaven through prayer.

Afterwards, I tried selling roasted yams, and underwear and sweaters made from recycled fibers. Then, I tried selling Bible study guides. On one extremely severe winter day when the sun had already set, I tried to take a shortcut and return home quickly. It was already getting dark when I accidentally fell into a pit of manure right next to a rice paddy by the side of the road. That evening, I rode the train outside the car and shivered from the cold for several hours. Though I traveled around like that, I never once resented my parents for persecuting me and driving me out of the house. They just seemed so pitiful to me.

By God's providence, I later worked at a certain orphanage that someone introduced me to in the town of Ch대nan. I discovered that it was a large orphanage with over 240 orphans, about the size of a small, rural elementary school. My job was to lead the general worship at dawn, in the evenings, and on Sunday afternoons and teach the Word of God. Pastors from Protestant churches previously held that position. People told me that the pastors who worked there before me used clubs to control the orphans because they were so unruly.

I was the youngest evangelist there and became completely united with the orphans through love while living with them. I worked with them, talked with them, washed their faces, and wiped their noses. When the orphans saw me, they followed me around, and did everything I told them. I realized that love was stronger than the club was. I came to the greatest realizations about heaven's love while I was there and shed endless tears every day, thinking about that infinite love. When I climbed up the hill to pray, I felt the glory of heaven shining around me, and heaven walking and abiding with me at every moment.

After leaving my home, I held some of the lowliest jobs and did some of the most menial work while following God's guidance around this rugged, perilous world. Through it all, I tasted the toil, suffering, loneliness, and poverty of our Savior. I also came to understand the situation of the poor, lonely, and destitute in this world. By living such a life, I learned mercy, compassion, and sympathy. That is not all I experienced. I did heavy labor at construction sites as a day laborer, became a wandering peddler, and even sat on the side of the street as a shoemaker repairing shoes.

No matter what I did or wherever I went, even when I underwent hardships, I never once resented my parents. Though my parents opposed my faith, I never left the house of my own accord. I left only when my parents drove me out. Even if your parents oppose your faith, you are an unfilial child if you betray them and leave the house of your own accord, even though they had not driven you out.

Though our parents may oppose our faith and persecute us, we should uphold and serve them to the end. If your parents later drive you out of the house, it is all right to leave then since you have no other choice but to do so. My father drove me out of the house four times; if I counted all the smaller persecutions, it was more than that. One time my father drove me out of the house in the daytime with just some blankets. Another time, he drove me out in the middle of night while I was sleeping. There was also a time when he drove me out during the summer. I had nowhere to go, so I went to the church prayer room. I fell asleep while I was praying, and the mosquitoes bit me so much that my face was completely swollen the next morning. I looked up to see a large air vent in the ceiling. All the mosquitoes between the ceiling and roof had come down through there and bitten me all over my face. I slept in that prayer room for many days. Still I did not move into the pastor's house because I did not want to trouble him.

Though that was how I lived, I would always my parents a letter and enclose a small amount of money I earned on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, or their birthdays. I always wrote, "Father, (date) is your birthday. Please forgive this unfilial son. If there is anything you would like to eat, please use this money to buy it." I later learned that when my father received the letter, he threw the money on the ground, saying, "Who told him to send any money?" However, I knew my father's heart and love--that was not his real intention. He was only doing that in front of our family, and I prayed for him because I knew that he tormented deep inside and was worried sick about me.

Afterwards, I stopped by my hometown and stayed at home for a short while. My father never cried in his entire life. Even after personally burying one of his children, he took his meal without shedding a tear. However, now he was weeping aloud because of me. It was the first time I ever saw him cry. My father was in his room, and my mother and I were in another room when I heard him cry out, "Out of my four sons, I had the greatest expectations for you. I never thought you'd become such an unfilial, disobedient son." Until then, I had easily overcome every persecution and trial, but that trial was truly difficult to overcome. I felt an urge to rush into his room and say, "Father, I will abandon my faith. Please stop crying." I barely managed to overcome that final trial. Though it is true that we should serve our parents as visible Gods, we should not serve them above our heavenly Father. When the commands of God and our parents conflict with each other, we should be devoted to our parents while standing on God's side. That is the way to deliver our parents and the way to show true filial piety to them. [Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.] (Eph. 6:1)

I also went through a time of heart-rending struggle over my parents before I was victorious. Not long afterwards, my father told me to come back home. He said that he would allow me to marry the person of my choice and give me my inheritance. When he told me that, I gave him this condition: "Father, though I am the third son, am I still not your son? If you intend on getting me married, then I will only marry if you come and live with me. If you will not come and live with me then I will not get married." I truly wanted to have my parents live with me so that I could take care of them. My father replied, "We can discuss that after the marriage. Get married first." I married the woman who is presently my wife. My father gladly accepted a Christian daughter-in-law, and even traveled hundreds of miles to attend our wedding at Namwon Church. Though we refused, he insisted on giving us wedding rings and gifts and wished us the best of luck. After living together for one month, my father had us move out and live by ourselves. I had no choice but to live separately from my parents, and my wife and I did our best to make them happy. (*According to Korean tradition, the eldest son was responsible for taking care of elderly parents.)

For my father's sixtieth birthday, we gave him a watch. In addition, we gave my father and mother each a gold ring and a Bible. Though my older brothers were better off than we were, they did not think of giving him such gifts. I saw that my parents were very pleased. As Christians, we should not wear rings for the sake of luxury. However, for parents who do not know God, until they do understand, giving them something like a ring in order to please them is a proper and wise thing to do.

Once, there was a devout Christian woman who married into an unbelieving family. The first thing she did was to make her father-in-law a beautiful cigarette pouch. After giving it to him, she bowed deeply every morning for an entire year. One morning, her father-in-law asked, "Dear, what would you like me to do for you?" The daughter-in-law politely replied, "I would like you to believe in God with us and go to heaven." The father-in-law said, "Fine. Starting from today, I will do it." In front of his daughter-in-law, he broke the long cigarette holder with his knee and even burned the cigarette pouch she had made for him. Later, people said that he served God more faithfully than his son or daughter-in-law before passing away. Though we should not buy our unbelieving parents liquor, tobacco, or anything else that is harmful to them, we should do whatever we can to please them with other things. Once the children's filial piety touches their parents, they will come to a realization, regret on their own, and automatically give up everything that is harmful. What unbelieving parents need first is love and filial piety from their believing children. We should not try to be excessively righteous like the Pharisees. True righteousness is nothing but love. A truly righteous person is someone who lovingly serves and cares for all mankind and leads others to the right path.

My father finally understood my true intentions. I had disobeyed him not because my heart for him changed, but because I was obeying God of heaven. He realized that my filial piety for him had not changed at all. Love was victorious after all. I entered my father's room alone and told my touched father what I wished.

"Father, I have one life-long wish."

"What is it?"

"Our church will be holding an evangelistic meeting this week. I would like you to attend the meeting for just one week."

"Okay, I'll attend."

It was a miracle. Even if the heavens caved in, he would not have agreed to go in the past. My stubborn father agreeing to go to a church and attend an evangelistic meeting was a miracle only our God could have fulfilled. My father had a change of heart. To my disappointment, however, the evangelistic meetings did not move him at all. He passed away without having accepted God. After hearing the news of my father's death, I went to where my father laid in state. Though no one else wanted to sleep in the room where he laid in the coffin, I wanted to sleep with my father one last night before separating from him forever. I went inside, embraced his coffin, and spent one last night with my father before parting with him.

Dear children with loving parents! Please do not become unfilial and disobedient children like me.

An ancient poet once wrote:

"Serve your parents all you can while they are still alive.

For after they have passed away, what good is all your grief?

All your life, it shall be one thing you cannot change."

Dear beloved reader! I hope that you honor your parents with all your heart while they are alive and while the opportunity still exists. If you do not, I fear that you will become like me, lose the opportunity, and regret it for eternity.

Honor the Visible God First

Before being faithful to God, all children should first be fully devoted to their parents. Before becoming workers of God, they should become filial children who serve their parents well. These days, many Christian workers and laymen who claim to serve God with all their heart make the mistake of neglecting their visible Gods and are undutiful to them. Even if they lived believing for [a thousand years twice] (Eccl. 6:6), it would be completely useless--there is no salvation for them. Before we serve the invisible God, we must first know how to serve our visible Gods devotedly. Some people were fully devoted to their parents, their visible Gods, even though they did not know the ways of Confucianism, Buddhism, or Christianity. From ancient times to the present, God has especially loved such people and personally walked with them. In addition, He clearly promised in the fifth commandment that He would give them eternal life and the new world. [Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land (new world) which the Lord your God is giving you.] (Exo. 20:12)

Long ago, when the Jews were told to be filial to their parents, they made excuses saying they rendered all the service that was due to their parents to God. By being undutiful to their parents, they were destroyed. However, a gentile woman like Ruth, who was not even one of the chosen, was loved by God, received the honor of being an ancestor of the Savior, and entered eternal life for being so devoted to her father-in-law and mother-in-law.

People strictly respect and exalt kings and presidents while they neglect their parents. They hold high esteem for ministers, so-called servants of God, as well as the Pope and Buddhist monks, while they treat their own parents recklessly. This is the exact opposite, a great mistake, and corruption in itself. Parents should be exalted and respected much more than the President, a pastor, or the Pope. This is because our parents are visible Gods who, in God's stead, passed on to us our life and bodies. That is why in the first commandment among those He gave to man, He does not tell us to serve God's servants well or revere kings, but to "honor your mother and your father." "Parents are entitled to a degree of love and respect which is due to no other person," such as a minister, monk, or even the President. "God Himself, who has placed upon them (parents) a responsibility for their children committed to their (parents') charge, has ordained that during the earlier years of life, parents shall stand in the place of God to their children. And he who rejects the rightful authority of his parents is rejecting the authority of God."

The Love of a Visible God

Long ago during a time when people left elderly people to die in open tombs, according to an ancient burial custom of Korea, there lived an unfilial son. In order to abandon his aged mother, he carried her on an A-frame carrier deep into a mountain that was alive with ferocious animals. On the way, his mother who was sitting on the A-frame carrier continued breaking twigs off pine trees and dropping them on the ground. The unfilial son scolded her.

"Mother, why are you bothering to break off those twigs when you are going to die?" he bluntly asked. Without answering one word, she kept breaking off the twigs and dropping them to the ground. When he had reached a place deep in the rugged mountains where his mother would never be able to find her way out, the unfilial son set down the A-frame carrier. It was somewhere deep in a mountain which was alive with ferocious animals. After practically throwing his mother off the A-frame carrier, the dishonorable son turned around to leave without even saying good-bye. That was when the mother who had remained silent the entire trip into the deep mountains began to speak.

"Wait a minute, dear."

"What do you want?"

"This place is very deep in the mountains. There are many ferocious animals here, and the path is so rugged it is difficult to come here. I was worried that you might get lost on your way back home, so I broke twigs off the pine trees and threw them on the ground. All you need to do is follow those twigs and you will be able to return home safely. Be careful not to lose your way. Go and live happily with your children," she said.

Oh, what an amazing love that mother had! Would Heaven not punish that child who abandoned his mother (parent) and, on the other hand, reward children who are filial to such parents with the immortal new world? This mother is not the only one who possesses such a holy love for her child. All parents in the world, including the parents who live in our very own homes, also begot and raised their children with the same love. What God would take children who betray such parents to the new world and give them immortal life? Before we think about going to heaven, we should first honor our parents. Instead of coveting eternal life, we should first be filial to our parents. Before becoming a worker for God, we should first become good children who obey our parents. All throughout history, God only chose filial children who were extremely devoted to their parents, called and used them to fulfill His glorious mission, and rewarded them with the land of immortality, eternal life.

[Children..."Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise: "that it may be well with you and you may live long (immortally) on the earth."] (Eph. 6:1-3) "Once again, [honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land (the new world) which the Lord your God is giving you.]" (Exo. 20:12)

Let us respectfully bow to and eternally thank our parents who came to us as visible Gods, gave us life, nurtured us with their love and sacrifice, and had us receive the immortal, new world as an inheritance.

The Life of a Swan

The swan lost all the beautiful feathers of her youth on her chest,

Only for her children, while brooding her eggs.

Now she goes off afar to catch fish for her newborn.

Without a net or a fishing rod, how will she catch any fish with just her beak?

After using all her strength to barely catch one fish,

She looks at the fish that looks so appetizing.

The exhausted mother's stomach had been empty for a long time.

Hungry for the fish, her mouth waters.

However, thinking of her young she left at home,

The mother merely returns home with it.

The mother swan only feeds her young and does not properly fill her stomach.

After raising her young in such a way for many days,

The mother swan becomes thinner and thinner,

And weaker and weaker.

Once, twice, three times...after raising her young for several years,

The mother swan is utterly exhausted, and her body is haggard.

She must move far, far away to the land down south

Before the cold winter comes.

However, the mother swan cannot go for she is weak and feels dizzy.

The mother swan gathers her young together,

Forces a smile, and tenderly bids them farewell, saying,

"Children, mommy will remain here and live alone. Go to that warm land down south,

Don't fight with one another but love one another, and live happily for a long, long time."

Again and again she advises them.

For the remaining few days of her life,

The mother swan that sent off her young

Weakly looks around the bank of the pond and on the ridge between the rice paddies looking for something to eat

While being exposed to the cold frost all by herself.

And at the foot of an obscure hill, she quietly bows her head

And breathes her last breath, praying again and again that her young will be well.

However, her young do not even think about their mother who has remained behind.

They all fly far, far away to the land down south

Laughing merrily by themselves, singing and dancing,

And seeking their own happiness,

Not knowing that their mother who remained behind already breathed her last breath.

The mother swan closes her eyes and sits

With an empty stomach that was never filled her whole life because of her children.

However, her heart holds onto an armful of love for her children,

And she sits with a smile of satisfaction. This is the holy appearance of the mother swan.

This is the holy life

Of a beautiful and loving angel swan.

The Sole Grand Truth of the Universe

2012-12-18T23:18:00.000-08:00

By Teacher Suksun

This was something that happened while I was holding an international seminar. Someone mentioned that the seminar was being attended by people from eight different foreign countries, pastors and members of various denominations, unbelievers, ex-convicts shunned by society, an army colonel, a lieutenant-colonel, soldiers on leave, a Buddhist monk in his sixties, another in his seventies, and a female Buddhist monk. There was also this peculiar man, a bachelor in his forties. He was a guru who had searched for the truth in Christianity, Buddhism, and Confucianism all his life. He had already attended the seminar many times in private. I did not think much of him because people from various religions and backgrounds had attended every seminar. That ten-day seminar ended like any other. Afterwards all those attending returned home.

However, an usher came to my room and told me that a pastor from Jeju Island and two elderly Buddhist monks were standing outside, determined to meet me before returning home. I put my jacket back on and gladly went to meet them. When I tried to shake their hands, they refused and instead asked me to sit down. I thought, "Perhaps Buddhists do not shake hands when meeting people in a room," and sat down as they asked me to. After I sat down, the two elderly monks proceeded to bow to me.* In tears, they expressed their heartfelt gratitude. "What a difficult time you must be having, trying to save mankind!" they exclaimed. That is when I realized why those two men had refused to shake hands with me and had instead asked me to sit down. Though I was much younger than they were (I was in my mid-forties at that time), these men were treating me with the respect they would have shown for their mentor. (*This is a deep bow of kneeling and falling prostrate, touching the head to the ground, usually reserved for grandparents, parents, elders, and others held in high esteem.)

A few days after returning home, I had another guest--the same guru who had attended my most recent seminar. However, this time he brought along an elderly man in his seventies who had not attended my seminar, someone who had placed all his housework aside and had spent more than thirty years just searching for the truth, the true way. He was a Confucianist scholar; people called him the modern-day Confucius. Since they both had been pursuing the truth, these two men were in close acquaintance with one another. It seems this guru went directly to that modern-day Confucius after bowing to me at the last seminar, professing to have finally found the true mentor he had been searching for all his life. Moreover, after hearing about my seminar and me, that modern-day Confucius had now come all the way to Songni Mountain just to meet me.

I was dressed in working clothes--a jacket and blue jeans--what I normally wear as a woodman. I invited these two men into our living room, which was quite shabby at that time. From the facial expression of that modern-day Confucius, I could see that I was not exactly what he had expected. Based on what he had heard from the guru, he had imagined an elegant, dignified-looking spiritual guide preaching seated with his eyes closed, his long hair tied in a topknot, and clad in (Korean traditional) full-dress attire. Moreover, I was young and still in my forties with my hair cut short, and I was wearing work clothes along with jeans, and so it seemed to him that no teaching or truth could come from someone like me.

Yet, he kneeled in front of me, perhaps from feeling nervous. I repeatedly suggested that he sit comfortably, but he would not. For someone like me, kneeling was more comfortable because I was used to praying on my knees. He had traveled quite a distance, and it did not seem proper for an elderly man to kneel in front of a young man like me. Sorry for all the trouble he had gone through to come this far, I asked him several times to sit comfortably, but he would not. What he had heard about me from that guru before coming here must have been very grand.

I had no choice but to first sit cross-legged in front of that elderly man and then ask them to do the same. Only then, did they follow suit and sit comfortably. Then the modern-day Confucius began to question me as if he was determined to get something out of me. He tried to lead me the conversation so that he could get a feel of me and about what I knew. I dislike arguing or debating. Besides, debating is what people who are on a similar level do when they meet; it is not possible when you are too different.

No matter how much he pressed me to talk, trying to get a feel of me and about what I knew, I merely smiled and remained silent. Then, he decided to hit me with a final blow before standing up to leave. He said something like, "You learned the truth from Jesus, the holy Son of the West, and I learned the truth from Confucius, the holy son of the East. Therefore you are one level lower than me." It was then that I began speaking.

“I said, "Sir, Jesus is not from the West, but from the East. Israel is clearly a country in the East. What did Confucius teach? He taught people to obey God. That was his one and only teaching. He never once told anyone to believe in him, but instead led people to God, teaching that they would be blessed by obeying Him. What did Jesus teach? He also led people to God, introducing Himself to be [the way] (John 14:6) to Him, and taught them to obey God. Buddha also taught people to serve Heaven. We should all go out to God, who Confucius, Jesus, and Buddha taught is the source of all blessings and life, and live as His children. Why hold on to the people who led us to God and argue about whether we believe in Confucius, Jesus, or Buddha? I believe that we should all return to God since we are all His children." When I said that, the elderly had a complete change of attitude and said, "I'm sorry that a man as secular as me wasted your precious time. May someone with a topknot like me attend your lectures?"

"Of course," I replied, "I cut my hair short to fit in with the secular world. If you come to my lectures, I will make sure you are taken care of." He was pleased to hear that, and both men left overjoyed. After bidding them farewell, the thought of the discord between the different religious denominations in the world and the rivalry found even within their own denominations tormented me.

Actually, there originally were no such things as denominations. The wicked powers of darkness just happened to take us in, accounting for the countless number of religions and denominations. It is truly an egregious and upsetting reality. How can there be more than one denomination if there is only one God, one universe, one universal teaching, and one truth? In the beginning (the Creation), was there Christianity, Buddhism, Confucianism, or shamanism in the Garden of Eden? We must eradicate all those demons.

What is the "way"? There is a path that God, the Creator of the universe; the angels in heaven; His children on earth; and all the galaxies and the innumerable stars within them have been taking. Everything in the universe has been taking that path safely from time immemorial. It is a safe path without any accidents, collisions, or death--a path of life, a path of happiness and peace for eternity. It is the right way, the grand way of the universe.

Confucius said, "The path of the truth is never a lonely one."”He was not merely referring to people walking on the same path, but heaven, earth, and the entire universe walking together. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth." (John 14:6) In other words, He was saying, "I am the great Path you may follow--the Guide to the Heavenly Father, who is the greater Path of truth."

What is the way? As I mentioned earlier, it is the eternally unchanging path of the truth. Therefore, the way is the truth, and the truth is the way. A simple example, “1 + 1 = 2, is a mathematical principle that will never change. Another, H2 + 0 = water, is a chemical principle that will never change. Just as the number 2 takes the path of the addition of 1 and 1, and water takes the path of combining two hydrogen atoms with one oxygen atom to become what they are, everything in the universe has a path it must take. Everything in mathematics and chemistry has its path, God has His path, humans have their path, and all creation has its path of the truth.

Let me briefly mention the path of the truth that humans must take. Until now, all the sages throughout history have taught the path of love--to "honor God and love one another."”That was the safe path of truth man was to take, the grand way of the universe. The Bible lists the details of that path as "The Ten Commandments."

When Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth," He was stating that He Himself was the eternally safe path of truth, the true path of the way, since He could never deteriorate or set foot on the path of sin; only through Him could the way of truth be conveyed. He was the only one who could impart (eternal) life to all people. He was saying, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father," the greater, grand Way of the universe, "except through Me." (John 14:6)”

Our heavenly Father, too, is the universe's eternally unchanging, grand Way of truth, and the Source of all life. When all creation, nature, the angels in heaven, and the people on this earth serve and follow Him, they can live enjoying the life, happiness, and blessings that come from Him; they can walk the path of truth. That is why all the western and eastern sages who taught the true way only strove to join people to Him. Any god or person who joins people to himself (herself) or any other object or subject besides God and has them serve and worship him (her) is a fake, a fraud, and the devil.

However, if someone--whether it be Confucius, Jesus, Buddha, or a nameless person--or some denomination leads and unites the world to the true God, he (she) is uniting the world under one way, one truth, one universe, and one God. That person is a true sage, a true son (daughter) of God. There can never be two denominations in a world with such sages. Everyone in the world will all naturally become children under one God, one brethren living as one universal family--a happy, universal heaven. The word for "universe" written with Chinese characters (宇宙) consists of two separate characters that both mean home, which tells us that the universe is one home, one family. The living God will surely find and restore His original, universal family once again and make them heirs to the new world.

Therefore, no one could have originated or founded Christianity, Buddhism, or Confucianism. Those who professed to have were only human guides who introduced and led the people in this world to God, the Entity and Origin of the true way, the genuine truth of the universe. The devil, the demon of darkness, estranged the children of God on this earth from their heavenly Father, the Source of life and the Entity of the truth. Then, in order to destroy all mankind, he used human mediums as his puppets to establish all the innumerous denominations of today--pitfalls for them to fall. With "chains" of false teachings and doctrines, he tied up anyone who fell into one of those denominations so they could never escape. There, he had them fight bitterly with one another until the day they passed away, so that they would be destroyed all at once. Oh, who knows this horrible fact? Who can set himself (herself) free from those heinous binds and escape that pitfall of destruction?

That is why Jesus said, [I am the (true) way (to God), the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (and not through those frauds).] (John 14:6) It was not only because He was the Son of the true God that Jesus asked people to believe in Him. There was a greater reason. When a young man interested in marriage asks someone to be his matchmaker, he must trust him/her. Only when he believes his matchmaker is sincere can a marriage be consummated and a new family be established. Likewise, with the world full of impostors, Jesus was asking people to fully believe that He was the true Intercessor (matchmaker) who came to unite the children of God on this earth with their heavenly Father.

The way taught by each sage throughout the ages was the same way from the same God. China's Confucius taught "charity"--love that is benevolent. He never instructed people to build a shrine and worship him. Buddha taught "mercy"--love that is compassionate. He, too, never told people to establish temples, erect statues of him, and worship them. Jesus taught "perfect love"--to worship God and love man (Mat. 22:37-40). He never instructed anyone to erect crosses or statues of Mary and worship them. On the contrary, he told us never to make or serve idols.

Thus, all the sages in every age taught "love"--the sole truth of the universe. They strived their entire lives to join (match) all of God's children with their heavenly Father so that they would go out to the Entity of love and the Source of life, and receive eternal happiness and immortal life. However, as time passed, the wicked, deceptive demon seized opportunities to hinder mankind from going out to Him. He absurdly seated those human matchmakers--the men (sages) who were guides--in God's position, saying, "They are your gods," and force people to serve them, thereby creating the many religions and denominations we have today.

Once again, the many different sects we have today that argue and fight with one another are deceptive pitfalls the demons in this world have dug in order to kill all of God's children on this earth. Those sects are demonic temples that have nothing to do with the true God. There is only one universe, one heaven, one God, one truth, and one way of selflessness in the universe. Therefore, all the religionists in the world should be startled and come to their senses; set themselves free; quickly slip out of those horrible pitfalls; and return to [the only true God] (John 17:3)--our Father who is the Entity and Source of all things. I pray and hope with all my heart that, by doing so, all your wandering will end, and you enjoy immortal life after restoring the former Eden (new world) as real brethren under one love in the arms of our heavenly Father.

In conclusion, brothers and sisters, I hope that you do not consider this book to be strictly for Christians. As you continue reading this book, you will notice many references to the Bible and Jesus. As I emphasized earlier, please do not concern yourself with the denomination, sage, name, or book that is being cited. Instead, contemplate only on the truth--the true way of life--that has been given by heaven through those human mediums so that, as happy children who return to the God who gave the way, you will all become heirs to the new world who live forever.

I mention the Bible and Jesus frequently because heaven has abundantly conveyed the truth of life, the way of selflessness and the way of humility, through both, and I am using them to convey the truth. This does not mean that I am only stressing Jesus and/or Christianity. If our spiritual eyes are opened, we will discover the precious truths of heaven throughout the entire universe. I ask for your understanding in this matter and hope that regardless of what denomination you may be from, it will not bother you. My only request is that you read this book to the end and take whatever you believe to be the truth. Moreover, I would still bow deeply to you out of gratitude even if you were to throw this book away afterwards.

Pitiful Human Beings

Though the green hills laugh without a word,

The running water sings,

The sun, moon, and stars all smile in joy,

And the God of heaven loves all His children,

Human beings are the only ones

Who snap at each other,

Fighting in groups until they die,

Not even knowing that Heaven

Has already turned away from them.

New Mission: Peran Nilai Moral Pancasila Dalam Kancah Politik Indonesia

2010-04-09T02:40:00.000-07:00

New Mission: Peran Nilai Moral Pancasila Dalam Kancah Politik Indonesia

Peran Nilai Moral Pancasila Dalam Kancah Politik Indonesia

2010-04-09T01:26:00.000-07:00

1. Definisi Disiplin ilmu politik

Pada prinsipnya, politik merupakan salah satu dari sekian banyak cabang ilmu dari apa yang disebut filsafat. Kata “filsafat” berasal dari kata bahasa Yunani philosophia, (“love of wisdom”), cinta akan hikmat kebijaksanaan menurut prinsip-prinsip fundamental. Filsafat terdiri dari empat cabang utama yakni metafisika yang mengkaji tentang realita; epistemologi yang menyelidiki asal-asul, validitas dan batas-batas pengetahuan; berikut etika yang menyelidiki kodrat atau sifat moral dan keputusan; dan estetika, ilmu tentang keindahan dan seni.
Karena metode dan prinsip khusus dikembangkan dalam berbagai bidang pengetahuan, setiapnya memperoleh aspek filsafatnya tersendiri, yang akhirnya membentuk filsafat seni, ekonomi, politik, agama, teologi, dll. Istilah filsafat juga sering dipakai secara populer yang mengandung arti seperangkat nilai dasar dan sikap terhadap kehidupan, alam dan masyarakat yang membentuk frase “filsafat/prinsip hidup.” Demikian juga ilmu politik memiliki filsafat tersendiri yaitu filsafat politik.

Ilmu Politik
Ilmu politik adalah sebuah ilmu pengetahuan sosial menyangkut teori dan praktik politik dan deskripsi serta analisis sistem-sistem politik dan perilaku politik. Sering dideskripsikan sebagai aplikasi pragmatik dari seni dan ilmu politik yang didefinisikan sebagai “siapa yang memperoleh apa, kapan dan bagaimana” dengan meniadakan “mengapa.” Ilmu politik memiliki beberapa cabang termasuk teori politik, kebijakan publik, politik nasional, hubungan internasional dan politik komparatif.
Secara metodologi, disiplin ini termasuk filsafat politik klasik, positivisme, interpretivisme, strukturalisme, behavioralisme, realisme, pluralisme dan institusionalisme.
Ilmuwan politik mempelajari segala sesuatu yang bersangkut paut dengan alokasi dan pengalihan kekuasaan dalam pengambilan keputusan, peran dan sistem penguasaan termasuk pemerintahan dan organisasi-organisasi internasional, perilaku politik dan kebijakan publik. Mereka mengukur suksesnya penguasaan dan kebijakan-kebijakan khusus dengan mempertimbangkan banyak faktor termasuk stabilitas, keadilan, kekayaan materi dan perdamaian.
Menurut Chaturvedy, para ilmuwan politik berjasa sebagai penasihat bagi kaum politisi tertentu, atau bahkan menjabat sebagai politisi. Mereka dapat dijumpai bekerja di jawatan pemerintah, dalam partai-partai politik atau sebagai pegawai pemerintah. Mereka juga terlibat dalam organisasi-organisasi non pemerintah atau gerakan-gerakan politik.

Filsafat Politik
Filsafat politik adalah ilmu yang mempelajari konsep-konsep seperti kebebasan, keadilan, harta kepemilikan, hak, hukum, dan pemberlakuan kode etik oleh otorita; apa sesungguhnya, mengapa (atau meski) dibutuhkan, apa yang membentuk satu pemerintahan yang sah, hak dan kebebasan apa yang harus diayomi, dan mengapa, bentuk apa yang harus diambil dan mengapa, apa hukumnya, dan apa tugas dan kewajiban warga terhadap satu pemerintahan yang sah. Secara logika, istilah “filsafat politik” sering merujuk kepada satu pandangan umum atau etika khusus, kepercayaan dan sikap politik. Filsafat politik dapat juga dipahami dengan menganalisisnya menurut perspektif metafisika, epistomologi dan etika atau axiologi dengan demikian menguak sisi realitas pokok, sisi pengetahuan dan metodologi dan aspek-aspek nilai politik. Tiga kepedulian sentral dalam filsafat politik adalah ekonomi politik untuk mendefinisikan hak milik dan mengatur akses kapital, tuntutan keadilan dalam distribusi dan hukuman, dan peraturan-peraturan tentang kebenaran dan bukti yang menentukan peradilan dalam hukum.

2. Perubahan pandangan politik dari zaman ke zaman

Seiring dengan perkembangan zaman dan peradaban manusia, cara berpikir orang pun terus berganti dari zaman ke zaman menurut kecenderungan tersendiri dalam menyikapi persoalan hidup yang muncul di tengah masyarakat, bangsa dan negara. Maka tak dapat dipungkiri telah muncul banyak filsuf yang mengetengahkan pendapat mereka dalam wujud teori-teori dan prinsip dalam mengatasi segala permasalahan sosial politik dan dalam berbagai aspek kehidupan. Gagasan dan teori terus muncul mulai dari filsafat barat purbakala yang bersumber dari Mesir kuno, dengan berbagai bentuk organisasi politik seperti monarki, tirani, aristokrasi, oligarki dan demokrasi. Di antara filsuf yang berjasa pada zaman ini adalah Plato dengan karya klasiknya “Republik” disusuli Aristoteles dengan karyanya “Politik Aristoteles.”
Filsafat timur jauh misalnya muncul filsuf-filsuf kenamaan seperti Cong-hu-cu, Mencius, Mozi, dll. yang mencoba menempuh cara-cara yang layak untuk memulihkan keutuhan dan stabilitas politik melalui pengembangan nilai cinta kasih dan kebajikan.
Kekristenan pada zaman pertengahan memiliki ikon penting seperti Santo Agustinus dengan perubahan dasar pemikiran yang menandaskan peran negara dalam mengaplikasikan belas kasihan sebagai satu paradigma moral. Tokoh politik lainnya pada zaman ini adalah Santo Thomas Aquinas yang menghadirkan 4 jenis hukum yang berbeda yakni, hukum kosmik Allah, hukum Alkitab Allah, hukum alamiah atau kaidah perilaku yang diaplikasikan pada situasi tertentu.
Berikut Islam pada zaman pertengahan memperkenalkan filsafat politik yang bersumber pada sharia (hukum Islam seperti termaktub dalam Al-quran) di mana nabi Muhamad dengan tegas merubah keseimbangan kuasa dan persepsi asal mula kuasa di kawasan Mediterania. Pada abad ke-14 salah seorang teoris politik terkenal Ibnu Khaldun mendefinisikan pemerintahan sebagai sebuah lembaga yang mencegah ketidakadilan dan semua bentuk kejahatan – teori politik terbaik dalam sejarah.
Eropa pada zaman pertengahan menerima pengaruh besar dari pemikiran Kristiani yang memiliki banyak kesamaan dengan pemikiran Islam Mutazalit yang menandaskan keharmonisan potensial dalam logika dan wahyu.
Jelaslah bahwa sejak zaman kuno sampai pertengahan, pikiran para filsuf masih diilhami oleh Roh ilahi yang berupaya mengendalikan kehidupan politik dengan melibatkan satu kuasa kebenaran dari Tuhan demi menciptakan satu keharmonisan ideal dalam hidup bermasyarakat, berbangsa dan bernegara.
Ironisnya, justru pada zaman yang disebut sebagai kebangunan kembali (Renaissance), berbagai filsafat politik sekuler mulai menjamur setelah pandangan politik teologis berkuasa selama seabad di Eropa. Pada zaman ini muncul pandangan pragmatis yang sesat bahwa kebaikan dan kejahatan semata-mata dipakai sebagai sarana untuk mencapai satu tujuan. Konsep ini terus berkembang sampai abad ke-17 selama Renaissance Inggris. Lebih jauh filsuf pada zaman kebangunan ini seperti Thomas Hobbes dan Machiavelli memahami kodrat manusia sebagai individu yang mementingkan diri sendiri.
Selanjutnya pada zaman pencerahan Eropa muncul kaum teoris baru seperti Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Montesquieu dan John Locke yang mendasarkan pemikiran mereka pada dua persoalan dasar; pertama, atas hak dan kebutuhan apa rakyat membentuk negara; dan kedua, apa yang mungkin menjadi bentuk negara. Kedua persoalan ini melibatkan perbedaan konseptual antara “negara” dan “pemerintah.”
Pada zaman industrialisasi dan era modern muncul Karl Marx dengan teori komunismenya yang merupakan salah satu ideologi politik yang paling berpengaruh di abad ke-20 melalui leninisme. Revolusi industri menghasilkan revolusi paralel dalam pandangan politik. Urbanisasi dan kapitalisme membentuk kembali komposisi masyarakat dengan drastisnya. Selama masa ini, gerakan sosialis mulai terbentuk.
Akhirnya setelah perang dunia kedua filsafat politik memasuki era kontemporer. Komunisme tetap menjadi fokus penting khususnya selama tahun 1950-an dan 1960-an yang sempat menabur benih ideologinya di bumi pertiwi, meski tidak berhasil berkecambah dan bertumbuh kembang, dan embryonya mengalami aborsi total. Bangkit pula isu penting lain yang disebut kolonialisme dan rasisme. Indonesia tak luput dari meneguk cawan pahit anarki kolonial yang disodorkan kaum penjajah yang memperkosa HAM dengan nafsu keserakahan dan birahi keegoisan. Umumnya, ada satu tren menuju pendekatan pragmatis terhadap isu politik daripada pendekatan filsafat. Dari sinilah timbul gerakan-gerakan seperti feminisme dan LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender), praktik penyimpangan seksual yang dipicu oleh spirit jangak, yang sudah sangat marak di seluruh dunia dengan Amerika sebagai promotornya dan menyebarkan pengaruh busuknya ke seluruh dunia, tak ketinggalan Asia dengan organisasi komunitas mesum bin maksiat mereka yang disebut ILGA (International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Association).
Meninjau semua teoris politik dengan berbagai perspektif mereka terhadap masalah sosial politik, dapat disimpulkan bahwa Cong-hu-cu berupaya mengintegrasikan nilai etika dalam falsafah dan prinsip politik. Demikian juga Santo Agustinus dan Santo Thomas Aquinas mencoba memadukan nilai Kekristenan dalam praktik politik yang mengembangkan gagasan Aristoteles tentang hubungan antara etika dan politik. Dalam bukunya yang berjudul Nicomachean Ethics, Aristoteles menegaskan bahwa substansi dan esensi politik adalah etika itu sendiri dalam lingkup yang lebih luas. Berikut Ibnu Khaldun yang berpedoman pada kaidah dan nilai Islam mencoba memberantas aksi kejahatan dalam kancah politik. Sedangkan yang lainnya sampai kepada zaman kontemporer lebih cendrung kepada pendekatan metafisik dan estetik yang hanya melihat kenyataan yang ada dengan pandangan sekuler dalam seni berpolitik sementara mengabaikan nilai-nilai luhur agama dan akhlak dalam menyikapi problematika hidup.

3. Peran Nilai Moral Pancasila dalam Politik Indonesia

Karena sudah lama meninggalkan tanah air dan berdomisili di luar negri, saya tidak tahu jelas apakah Pancasila sebagai dasar negara Indonesia ini masih diucapkan atau dideklamasikan bersama dengan Undang-Undang Dasar Negara Republik Indonesia Tahun 1945 pada setiap upacara pengerekan bendera merah putih. Pancasila ini dihafal dengan baik oleh semua warga negara Indonesia yang berpendidikan.
Etimologisnya, Pancasila berasal dari kata bahasa Sansekerta (bahasa liturgi inspiratif Hindu dan Buda di India yang sekarang sudah terancam punah), yang terdiri dari kata “panca” artinya “lima” dan “sila” berarti “prinsip/asas”. Lima prinsip yang tak dapat dilepas pisahkan. Pada prinsipnya, Pancasila merupakan dasar falsafah resmi dan filsafat politik negara Indonesia, demikian definisinya.
Historisnya, Pancasila adalah hasil pemikiran calon presiden pertama, Sukarno, yang mengumumkan ideologi ini dalam sebuah pidatonya yang dikenal dengan “Lahirnya Pancasila” yang disampaikannya kepada Panitia Persiapan Kemerdekaan Indonesia (PPKI) pada 1 Juni 1945. Dengan demikian ia menolong mengatasi konflik antara kaum Muslim, nasionalis dan Kristen. Setelah itu UUD 1945 mengabadikan Pancasila sebagai pengejawantahan prinsip dasar negara Indonesia merdeka.
Mari kita kaji satu persatu signifikansi kelima sila ini dalam kaitannya dengan peran penting yang dimainkannya dalam konteks percaturan politik di bumi merah putih ini.

Sila pertama adalah “Ketuhanan yang Maha Esa.”
Bukan sekadar kebetulan sila ini ditempatkan pada urutan pertama sebagai bukti positif bahwa Allah mencurahkan inspirasi Roh-Nya kepada bapa-bapa bangsa. Inilah yang perlu dihayati oleh semua warga negara Indonesia, teristimewa oleh yang memangku jabatan penting baik dalam instansi pemerintah maupun non pemerintah dan para politisi yang memainkan peran utama dalam proses penentuan kebijakan dan pengambilan keputusan.
Sila ini menandaskan iman kepercayaan warga Indonesia bahwa Allah itu ada. Semua warga yang mengaku beragama percaya bahwa semua makhluk hidup, dan seluruh alam ciptaan di dunia dan alam semesta adalah hasil ciptaan Tuhan Allah. Sila ini mengakui eksistensi Allah sang Khalik menurut iman. Dengan kata lain, manusia, hewan dan tumbuh-tumbuhan serta semua benda angkasa berasal dari Allah, bukan muncul dengan sendirinya seperti yang diklaim oleh kaum evolusioner. Artinya bahwa sila ini sama sekali menyangkal dan menolak teori evolusi, ilmu favorit yang memenuhi buku-buku teks biologi di seluruh dunia yang berkembang pesat selama 5 abad terakhir.
Karena seluruh lapisan masyarakat Indonesia percaya akan keberadaan Allah, sila pertama ini juga berarti warga Indonesia percaya akan satu kehidupan setelah kematian atau setelah hidup di bumi ini. Sila ini menegaskan bahwa penekunan nilai-nilai sakral akan menuntun orang kepada satu kehidupan yang lebih baik di dunia sekarang dan dunia yang akan datang.
Karena Pancasila merupakan filsafat politik Indonesia, sila pertama ini juga merupakan bagain integral dari semua sistem kehidupan yang harus diejahwantahkan dalam semua sistem, praktik, perilaku dan aktivitas politik. Artinya kaum politisi Indonesia haruslah benar-benar menjadi politisi yang pancasilais dan ber-Tuhan. Mereka harus menjadi ikon-ikon yang menampilkan citra Allah dalam seluruh kehidupan politik. Merekalah figur-figur penting yang menyatakan karakter Allah dalam kehidupan politik mereka. Dengan demikian, mustahil bagi politik untuk menyandang kata “kotor,” melainkan bermeterai “murni.”
Sila ini dilambangkan dengan bintang di tengah perisai Garuda Pancasila. Apa artinya bintang? Bintang sebagai benda angkasa ciptaan Tuhan memiliki sumber cahaya sendiri sama seperti matahari sebagai sentrum tata surya kita di galaksi bima sakti. Ini berarti para aktivis politik hendaknya memancarkan cahaya kebenaran yang berlandaskan nilai-nilai luhur agama dan kaidah moral tanpa mentolerir segala praktik korup yang mengarah pada degradasi akhlak dan dekadensi moral. Ikon-ikon politik ini harus menjadi paradigma kebenaran berdasarkan norma moral Pancasila sebagai filsafat politik Indonesia.
Ambil contoh kasus yang lagi seru diperbincangkan belum lama ini di Surabaya tentang gagalnya rencana penyelengaraan kongres homoseks dari organisasi se-Asia, ILGA (International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Association). Berbagai pandangan pro dan kontra telah muncul menyikapi problem sosial politik yang akut ini. Terlepas dari sudut pandang mana pun kita meninjau, semuanya haruslah bermuara pada prinsip kebenaran yang diakui, yang mendasari semua praktik, prilaku dan aktivitas sosial politik. Inilah standarnya. Artinya, semua sudut perspektif, apakah dari sudut ekonomi, sosial budaya, kesehatan, pendidikan, psikologi, HAM, dll, harus berlandaskan pada tolok ukur ideologi bangsa, yakni Pancasila. Dan telah disahkan secara konstitisional bahwa Pancasila merupakan pengejawantahan UUD 1945. Jadi kalau kaum politisi dari Partai Demokrat SBY menilai tindakan para polisi Jawa Timur yang melarang kongres homoseks sebagai tidak konstitusional merupakan penilaian atas dasar pemikiran yang menyimpang dan melenceng. Justru para polisi telah bertindak secara konstitusional dengan mendengar advis berharga dari para pemuka agama untuk mencegah praktik penyimpangan seksual di bumi Pancasila.
Allah, yang kepada-Nya kita sembah, yang dirujuk sila pertama, melarang perbuatan maksiat seperti itu yang hanya mendatangkan murka dan laknat. Seyogyanya kalau kaum politisi dan pemerintah pada umumnya mau memulihkan kembali pandangan hidup mereka dengan berpatokan pada nilai moral Pancasila dan norma agama maka segala problem sosial dapat diatasi dengan mudah. Alasan semua permasalahan sosial seperti pelacuran kian marak dan telah mewabah secara mendunia ialah karena pihak yang mengendalikan negara sudah menyimpang dari ideologi dan falsafah yang dianut. Konsekuensinya, bukannya mengatasi permasalahan dengan menyelenggarakan kongres yang bermanfaat seperti menolong saudara/i kita yang malang itu untuk menyadari kesalahan mereka dan bertobat, kembali kepada jalan hidup yang benar, dengan memberikan ceramah-ceramah keagamaan, sebaliknya menjerumuskan mereka dalam kubangan dosa yang semakin pekat dengan dalih menjamin kebebasan hak asasi yang sebetulnya telah disalahgunakan. Inilah salah interpretasi dari entitas kebebasan dan hak asasi itu sendiri. Memang Allah memberi kita hak asasi dan kebebasan yang harus kita gunakan dengan semestinya demi kemuliaan-Nya dan kebaikan sesama manusia, bukan untuk disalahgunakan dalam perbuatan dosa dan kekejian yang melanggar hukum-Nya. Oleh karena itu, sikap, tindakan dan keputusan yang telah diambil aparat keamanan Surabaya yang bekerja sama dengan para pemuka agama dalam menggagalkan kongres homoseks ILGA sebetulnya sama sekali tidak melanggar hak asasi melainkan mengayominya. Memang tak mengherankan mengapa pandangan kaum politisi begitu melenceng karena itulah ilmu yang mereka tekuni dengan menerima indoktrinasi teori evolusi yang mengajarkan bahwa manusia berasal dari binatang (monyet) makanya persepsi mereka juga miring dengan memelopori segala perbuatan keji seperti binatang.
Kasus homoseksualitas harus dicermati secara bijaksana dengan tetap bertolok ukur pada ajaran agama dan kaidah moral, karena inilah standar absolut ilahi yang mengatur seluruh kehidupan umat manusia. Tetapi sayangnya, yang menyebut diri manusia intelek, yang bertitel, begitu bengalnya meninggalkan standar kebenaran ‘sumber air yang hidup’ ini dan menggali ilmu sendiri ‘kolam bocor’ (Merujuk pada Yeremia 2:13) yang hanya membinasakan diri mereka. Firman Allah (Kitab Suci Kristen) baik dalam bahasa asli (Ibrani dan Yunani) maupun dalam semua terjemahan, dengan gamblang menyatakan bahwa Allah menjadikan manusia laki-laki dan perempuan. Jadi hanya dua jenis kelamin secara alamiah. Jenis apa pun namanya selain dari kedua ini adalah penyimpangan, kelainan dan tidak alamiah. Tapi ini memang kenyataan hidup yang perlu diluruskan. Penelitian-penelitian terbaru terhadap DNA manusia membuktikan bahwa penyimpangan seksual seperti homoseksualitas dan lesbianisme bukan alamiah secara genetika, melainkan sifat tabiat yang dikembangkan setelah kelahiran, bukan pembawaan. Kitab suci juga menegaskan bahwa penyimpangan ini adalah dosa, yakni hubungan seksual yang tidak wajar, tidak alamiah. (Lihat rujukan ayat Alkitab dalam ulasan selanjutnya). Jadi kalau kaum aktivis gay menyatakan bahwa praktik gay itu tidak bersangkut paut dengan kejahatan merupakan kesalahan fatal yang bertentangan dengan wejangan Firman Allah. Di samping itu argumen tersebut bertentangan dengan argumen lain yang diungkapkan sendiri oleh fulsuf gay bahwa konferensi itu bisa jadi sarana untuk membuat kaum gay bertobat. Berarti sebenarnya mereka sendiri mengakui keberadaan mereka sebagai orang berdosa yang memerlukan pertobatan. Nah, jelaslah bahwa gay adalah satu problem yang harus diatasi, bukan dibiarkan berkembang. Kalau memang niat dan maksud organisasi ini tulus untuk mengatasi persoalan maka pasti akan didukung oleh berbagai pihak, khususnya kaum agamawan. Tetapi kenyataannya, intensi mereka ditolak tegas karena maksud baik mereka tidak transparan dalam agenda, dan hanya menonjolkan maksud ‘jahat' mereka yang sesungguhnya yakni supaya eksistentsi mereka diakui dan dikembangkan. Inilah letak kesalahan fatal dari pihak gay. Memang mindset dan perspektif orang yang meninggalkan Allah kedengaran lucu dan melenceng, sampai tidak mau menyebut soal agama, doa, surga, neraka, karena memang hal-ihwal agamawi dari Allah sungguh-sungguh menempelak perbuatan keji yang mereka gemari.
Karena sudah lama diindoktrinasi dengan teori evolusi, tidak sedikit ilmuwan sekuler menolak Allah, meragukan wahyu-Nya yang dituangkan dalam Kitab Suci semua agama, menganggap Kitab Suci itu hasil tulisan manusia dengan latar belakang kultur patriarkis, sosialis, dan macam-macam embel aliran lain. Mereka pikir Allah itu sama dan sederajat dengan mereka. “Dengan siapa hendak kamu samakan Aku, seakan-akan Aku seperti (kamu)” (Yesaya 40:25)? “Itulah yang engkau lakukan ... engkau menyangka, bahwa Aku ini sederajat dengan engkau. Aku akan menghukum engkau dan membawa perkara ini ke hadapanmu” (Mazmur 50:21). Yang tidak disadari oleh kaum aktivis gay adalah meski Alkitab itu ditulis oleh manusia, para penulis diilhami oleh Roh Kudus Allah. “Segala tulisan yang diilhamkan Allah memang bermanfaat untuk mengajar, untuk menyatakan kesalahan, untuk memperbaiki kelakuan dan untuk mendidik orang dalam kebenaran” (2 Timotius 3:16). Andaikata pendidikan yang dienyam orang di seluruh dunia adalah pendidikan sejati berdasarkan ilham Allah maka semua kesalahan dapat dikoreksi dengan panduan kebenaran ilahi ini. Tapi sayangnya kaum cendekiawan menolak otoritas kebenaran Allah dan menyimpang jauh dari jalan-Nya dan menempuh jalan kebinasaan mereka sendiri. Dan biarpun kasus pembubaran kongres gay itu diangkat ke Komnas HAM, kalau Komnas sendiri tidak mengerti apa sesungguhnya HAM dalam konteks kebenaran hakiki ini, maka sia-sialah segala usaha yang mungkin ditempuh.
Tidak hanya di bumi Pancasila, di negara Paman Sam Amerika Serikat, negara yang pernah bangga dengan statusnya sebagai negara adidaya dan adipura itu, tapi ironisnya merupakan negara terkorup di dunia dan sekarang tengah dilanda bencana ekonomi, Presiden Barak Obama sudah mendeklarasi bulan Juni 2009 sebagai bulan kebanggaan kaum homoseks (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/LGBT) dengan dalih yang sama memberi kebebasan dan persamaan hak asasi kepada warga kaum homoseks ini. Di samping itu pada 15 Mei 2008, Mahkamah Agung California telah melegalisasi perkawinan gay dan mengeluarkan akta perkawinan untuk pasangan sejenis. Hukum ini telah diberlakukan di beberapa negara bagian AS, Belanda dan Belgia. Andaikata Obama itu ber-Tuhan, dia tidak akan pernah menentukan kebijakan aneh dan mengambil keputusan ganjil seperti itu yang sama sekali melanggar perintah Tuhan mengenai penyimpangan seksual.
Larangan Allah mengenai penyimpangan seksual ini termaktub dalam Imamat 18:22; 20:13; Roma 1:24-28; 1 Korintus 6:9, 10; dan Ulangan 22:5. Satu ratapan yang terus terdengar di seluruh Kitab Suci merupakan duka nestapa Allah terhadap para pemimpin negara dan kaum ilmuwan sekuler yang menolak Dia, dan menggiring warga mereka menuju penyesatan. Yang sangat menyayat hati adalah peristiwa seperti tertera dalam kitab Yesaya 3:9-12, “Mereka menyatakan kejahatan mereka ... seperti orang Sodom, mereka dengan terang-terangan menyebut-nyebut dosanya, tidak lagi disembunyikannya. Celakalah orang-orang itu! Sebab mereka mendatangkan malapetaka kepada dirinya sendiri. ... Celakalah orang fasik! Malapetaka akan menimpanya, sebab mereka akan diperlakukan menurut perbuatannya sendiri. ... Hai umat-Ku, pemimpin-pemimpinmu adalah penyesat, dan jalan yang kamu tempuh mereka kacaukan.”
Jadi sila pertama ini sangat signifikan yang merupakan dasar dari keempat sila lainnya. Sebab tanpa Allah, maka tak ada sesuatu pun yang ada di muka bumi ini, dan tak ada kehidupan seperti yang kita nikmati sekarang. Oleh sebab itu, menolak Pancasila pada hakekatnya menolak Allah dan ibarat rumah tanpa fondasi yang akan segera rubuh kapan saja ditimpa badai, negara akan rubuh dan luluh lantak bila fondasi negara ini tidak kokoh. Degan demikian, pandangan teoris politik kontemporer yang mengatakan bahwa nilai-nilai agama dan kaidah moral tak bermanfaat sehingga harus dipisahkan dari aktivitas politik adalah pandangan yang melenceng, menyesatkan dan destruktif. Justru esensi dan entitas politik merupakan etika itu sendiri dalam pengertian yang lebih luas.

Sila kedua adalah “Kemanusiaan yang Adil dan Beradab.”
Sila ini menghendaki umat manusia diperlakukan dengan harkat dan martabat sebagai insan ciptaan Allah. Prinsip ini menandaskan bahwa warga Indonesia tidak mentolerir penindasan jasmani dan rohani terhadap manusia oleh sesama warga atau bangsa lain.
Rantai pada bagian kanan bawah perisai menyimbolkan kesinambungan generasi umat manusia. Apa artinya rantai? Inilah tali pengikat jatidiri kita dari generasi ke generasi dengan memiliki silsilah yang jelas dan asal usul epistomologis yang pasti yang dapat ditelusuri menurut ilham Allah. Manusia bukan keturunan kera, melainkan keturunan Allah yang dijadikan menurut gambar dan rupa-Nya. (Merujuk pada Kejadian 1:26, 27; Kisah Para Rasul 17:29).
Jelaslah bahwa sila kedua juga pada hakekatnya menolak teori evolusi. Musuh bebuyutan Allah yang disebut Setan iblis sudah menjerumuskan seluruh dunia dalam kancah pendidikan palsu mengajarkan bahwa manusia berasal dari monyet. Argumen ini sungguh-sungguh melecehkan harkat dan martabat manusia sebagai puncak ciptaan sang Khalik. Konsekuensi logis pengajaran ini membuat orang-orang terus berseteru dengan prinsip hukum rimba di mana orang-orang kuat menginjak orang-orang lemah demi memenuhi keserakahan dan keegoisan mereka berdasarkan teori seleksi alamiah dan “survival of the fittest.” Teori palsu seperti ini telah demikian gencarnya diimplementasi oleh semua partai politik dalam berkampanye untuk memenangkan suara bahkan dengan menghalalkan berbagai cara haram untuk mencapai tujuan pihak tertentu. Inilah ciri politik yang mulai berkembang pada zaman Renaissance Inggris yang banyak menerima indoktrinasi teori evolusi. Sebenarnya yang menjadi kuncinya adalah sila pertama. Orang yang ber-Tuhan akan memiliki hati penuh cinta kasih terhadap sesama sehingga ia akan bersikap adil terhadap sesamanya dan benar-benar beradab. Orang yang beradab adalah orang yang hidup dengan mengamalkan semua nilai agama dan kaidah moral yang berlaku. Seluruh hidupnya akan diatur secara tertib menurut kaidah kencana ini. Ia tidak akan menindas sesamanya untuk memenuhi ketamakan dan keegoisannya. Nilai moral ini harus diintegrasikan dan dialihterapkan dalam kehidupan sosial politik di mana keadilan harus sungguh-sungguh ditegakkan dalam proses pengambilan keputusan dan penentuan kebijakan. Itulah sebabnya sabda Allah mengatakan, “Apabila orang adil memerintah, rakyat gembira. Tetapi apabila orang jahat berkuasa, rakyat menderita” (Amsal 29:2; Alkitab Terjemahan Bahasa Indonesia Sehari-hari).

Sila ketiga adalah “Persatuan Indonesia.”
Sila ini mewujudkan konsep nasionalisme dan patriotisme, cinta akan bangsa dan tanah air. Prinsip ini memandang perlu untuk selalu memupuk persatuan dan menumbuhkan integritas nasional. Nasionalisme Pancasila menghendaki warga Indonesia menghindari perasaan unggul secara ras, keturunan dan warna kulit.
Bajuzirah mengabadikan simbol “Bhineka Tunggal Ika” yang berarti “berbeda-beda tapi tetap satu.” Ini dilambangkan dengan pohon beringin pada sebelah kanan atas perisai. Apa arti pohon beringin? Pohon beringin mengacu kepada naungan dan lindungan Allah yang maha pengasih dan penyayang terhadap umat manusia yang mau bersatu dengan Dia dan sesama mereka tanpa pandang bulu dan pilih kasih. Mereka berusaha semaksimalnya untuk mencegah diskriminasi ras, suku, agama, dll di tengah lingkungan heterogen. Kita adalah satu dari nenek moyang yang sama yaitu Adam dan Eva/Hawa, keturunan Allah.
Hanya orang yang bertakwa kepada Allah yang memiliki roh persatuan dan semangat kesatuan. Tetapi kalau meniadakan Allah dalam kehidupan politik, maka pada gilirannya akan memimpin pemberontakan dengan menyulut api separatisme dan diskriminasi untuk memecah-belah bangsa dan negara.
Signifikansi lain dari pohon beringin ini adalah hidup manusia di atas mayapada ini, ibarat pepohonan dan tanaman, harus berbuah, sebab pohon yang tidak berbuah meski musim menuai sudah tiba, harus ditebang dan dicincang lalu dibakar dalam api menjadi abu dan diterbangkan angin sampai lenyap tanpa bekasnya. Sebaliknya pohon yang berbuah akan memuaskan hati penggarapnya dengan memberikan hadiah buah yang manis dan lezat untuk dinikmati. Sebagai insan terluhur dan termulia ciptaan Tuhan, para pemerintah dan kaum politisi harus bisa bertunaskan daun-daun lebat tempat bernaung rakyat yang letih lesu dan tertimpa beban berat. Mereka harus memerankan peran penting sebagai pialang untuk menyalurkan aspirasi rakyat tanpa pamrih. Mereka juga harus menyebarkan aroma kembang yang dapat memikat hati orang dengan tidak hanya mengubar janji tapi menepatinya, dan mempersembahkan hadiah buah-buah kehidupan yang lezat kepada rakyat untuk menikmatinya melalui jaminan kesejahteraan. Barulah akan tercipta persatuan dan kesatuan yang memperkuat bangsa dan memperkokoh negara pada gilirannya. Itulah sebabnya nasihat Allah berikut ini perlu diperhatikan oleh para penguasa. “Dengan keadilan seorang raja menegakkan negerinya, tetapi orang yang memungut banyak pajak meruntuhkannya” (Amsal 29:4). Falsafah hidup seperti inilah yang harus dihayati dan diamalkan dalam kubuh pemerintahan bangsa dan negara Indonesia.

Sila keempat adalah “Kerakyatan yang Dipimpin oleh Hikmat Kebijaksanaan dalam Permusyawaratan/Perwakilan.”
Demokrasi Pancasila menghendaki pengambilan keputusan melalui musyawarah untuk mencapai konsensus atau mufakat. Ini berarti pemungutan suara tidak dianjurkan selama musyawarah masih mungkin dilakukan meski membutuhkan ketelatenan dan waktu. Inilah demokrasi yang benar-benar mengamalkan prinsip Pancasila secara konsisten dan konsekuen.
Sila ini dilambangkan dengan kepala banteng di sebelah kiri atas perisai. Apa arti banteng? Allah menciptakan segala sesuatu sebagai pelajaran penting yang perlu kita simak. Kepala banteng yang besar melambangkan kecerdasan, kepandaian, hikmat, kebijaksanaan, pandangan dan pengertian yang dalam dan luas. Tanduknya yang kokoh melambangkan keteguhan iman dan keuletan moral sehingga memiliki keyakinan besar dalam berjuang melawan kuasa kefasikan dan kejangakan global.
Untuk mencapai satu mufakat dalam musyawarah, pemerintah dan kaum politisi hendaklah memiliki hikmat dan kebijaksanaan Allah. Dikatakan bahwa hikmat itu hanya datangnya dari Allah. “Karena Tuhanlah yang memberikan hikmat, dari mulut-Nya datang pengetahuan dan kepandaian” (Amsal 2:6). Tanpa hikmat Allah, bagaimana suatu musyawarah mencapai kata mufakat dengan mempertahankan opini dan gagasan mereka masing-masing? Di sini juga perlu satu aspek karakter yang disebut kerendahan hati yang merupakan advis Allah yang perlu didengar dan diamalkan oleh pemerintah dan kaum politisi, “Keangkuhan merendahkan orang, tetapi orang yang rendah hati, menerima pujian” (Amsal 29:23). Inilah salah satu prasyarat profil ideal seorang pemimpin bangsa. Ciri kepemimpinan yang ideal bukan ditentukan oleh seberapa besar kuasa yang mereka gunakan melainkan seberapa rendah hatinya mereka mau mengorbankan diri tanpa pamrih untuk melayani rakyat yang dipimpinnya. Dengan begitu mereka dapat menerima penerangan rohani dan memperoleh hikmat ilahi dalam mengambil satu keputusan demi memecahkan satu persoalan.
Makanya tak mengherankan mengapa Amerika pada zaman permulaan demikian makmur karena presiden-presiden yang terdahulu berpedoman pada kaidah Alkitab dalam memimpin negara. Inilah apa yang diakui presiden pertama, George Washington mengenai keunggulan Alkitab. “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.” Tidak hanya Washington, tapi beberapa presiden Amerika yang masih murni nuraninya memiliki keyakinan yang sama, seperti Abraham Lincoln, John Quincy Adams dan Theodore Roosevelt. Abraham Lincoln mengatakan, “I believe the Bible is the best book God has ever given to man. All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated to us through this book.” Selanjutnya John Quincy Adams mengatakan, “So great is my veneration of the Bible that the earlier my children begin to read it the more confident will be my hope that they will prove useful citizens of their country.” Dan Theodore Roosevelt berkomentar, “A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.” Tetapi kaum politisi jebolan indoktrinasi teori evolusi meniadakan Allah dalam proses musyawarah sehingga kebijakan yang ditentukan dan keputusan yang diambil hanya untuk memuaskan keinginan iblis dengan membangun lokalisasi WTS di mana-mana yang sudah merupakan epidemi sosial, membangun industri rokok yang menghancurkan kesehatan masyarakat meski upaya kampanye anti merokok sudah berlangsung lebih dari 5 dekade, memelopori kongres maksiat homoseks, dll yang hanya menghancurkan moral masyarakat, memerosotkan akhlak bangsa, membejatkan karakter negara dan memudarkan serta menghilangkan citra dunia yang telah diciptakan Tuhan. Hanya orang dungu yang menyangkal keberadaan Allah seperti kaum evolusioner yang sekuler itu. “Orang bebal berkata dalam hatinya: ‘Tidak ada Allah.’ Busuk dan jijik perbuatan mereka, tidak ada yang berbuat baik” (Mazmur 14:1). Walau demikian, mereka mengaku berhikmat padahal bodoh seperti yang dikatakan Alkitab, “Sebab sekalipun mereka mengenal Allah, mereka tidak memuliakan Dia sebagai Allah atau mengucap syukur kepada-Nya. Sebaliknya pikiran mereka menjadi sia-sia dan hati mereka yang bodoh menjadi gelap. Mereka berbuat seolah-olah mereka penuh hikmat, tetapi mereka telah menjadi bodoh” (Roma 1:21, 22).
Realita sistem pemerintahan Amerika dalam kaitannya dengan kesejahteraan dan kemakmuran bangsa menjadi pelajaran berharga untuk introspeksi diri bagi bangsa lain khususnya Indonesia. Semakin modern peradaban manusia, semakin korup akhlak manusia, baik para pemimpin negara maupun rakyatnya. Lihatlah presiden Barrack Obama. Saya tidak tahu pasti apakah benar atau tidak, tapi dalam cuplikan-cuplikan video yang di-upload di UTube, terdapat beberapa rekaman video ia menghujat dan mencemooh Alkitab sebagai filsafat dan hukum yang tidak layak untuk dipakai sebagai pedoman dalam memerintah dan memimpin negara. Makanya tak mengherankan kebijakan amoral seperti deklarasi bulan kebanggaan kaum homoseks telah diumumkan Juni tahun lalu. Apa konsekuensi logisnya? Amerika yang pernah bangga menjadi negara adipura itu sekarang dilanda bencana ekonomi yang terdahsyat dan terhimpit hutang yang paling menyesakkan dada dalam sejarah dunia. Apa sebabnya? Karena meninggalkan Allah, meniadakan hukum-Nya dan memperkosa kaidah-kaidahnya. Hikmat dan kebijaksanaan ilahi beralih dari pemimpin-pemimpin bejat karena mengandalkan kepandaian mereka sendiri dalam memimpin negara, padahal hikmat mereka hanya kesia-siaan. Dan genaplah nas Kitab Suci yang mengatakan, “Karena hikmat dunia ini adalah kebodohan bagi Allah ... Tuhan mengetahui rancangan-rancangan orang (yang mengaku) berhikmat; sesungguhnya semuanya sia-sia belaka” (1 Korintus 3:19, 20).

Sila kelima adalah “Keadilan Sosial bagi Seluruh Rakyat Indonesia.”
Sila ini menghendaki pemerataan kesejahteraan bagi seluruh rakyat, bukan secara statis melainkan secara dinamis dan progresif. Ini berarti semua kekayaan negara dan potensi-potensi nasional harus dimanfaatkan demi kebaikan dan kebahagiaan rakyat sebesar-besarnya. Keadilan sosial menjamin pengayoman terhadap kaum lemah. Akan tetapi proteksi ini tidak membiarkan orang lemah duduk berpangku tangan tanpa bekerja. Sebaliknya mereka harus bekerja menurut kemampuan dan bidang aktivitas mereka. Perlindungan hendaknya mencegah perlakuan sewenang-wenang dari pihak yang kuat dan menjamin norma keadilan.
Sila ini dilambangkan dengan padi dan kapas pada perisai. Apa arti padi dan kapas? Keduanya melambangkan sandang dan pangan yang merupakan kebutuhan primer manusia. Padi sebagai bahan makanan pokok dan kapas sebagai bahan baku tekstil untuk membuat pakaian merupakan kebutuhan pokok setiap insan ciptaan Tuhan. Ini berarti pemerintah hendaknya menciptakan satu kondisi kehidupan kondusif yang dapat menolong rakyat untuk mengentaskan kemiskinan. Program pembangunan hendaknya disusun sebagaimana rupa untuk memperhatikan pemerataan sosial sehingga propinsi-propinsi yang termiskin yang umumnya berada di belahan timur tidak akan merasa termarginalkan secara ekonomi oleh karena kebijakan nasional yang terlalu bias. Itulah sebabnya, sesungguhnya yang pantas duduk di kursi pemerintahan adalah ikon-ikon yang tidak hanya cerdas dan trampil tapi justru yang bertakwa dan berakhlak mulia. Karena hanya pejabat-pejabat yang memiliki citra Tuhan dan karakter Allah yang dapat memperhatikan keadilan sosial bagi seluruh rakyat Indonesia.
Tanpa prasyarat profil ini, kalangan pemerintah hanya terus mengadakan lobi kotor demi memuaskan cinta diri dan kegelojohan mereka tanpa memperhatikan kesejahteraan rakyat; sebaliknya rakyat terus menuntut hak mereka tanpa menunaikan kewajibannya karena kesejahteraan mereka ditelantarkan. Inilah lingkaran Setan yang terus memicu roh keji untuk melancarkan demo anarkis di mana-mana. Masih adakah Pancasila di bumi Merah-Putih?
Figur-figur pemerintah yang tak ber-Tuhan, tak soal setinggi-tingginya pendidikan yang dicapainya, sebanyak-banyaknya titel doktor yang direbutnya, sepandai-pandainya mereka berbicara di hadapan publik, setenar-tenarnya mereka dikenal sebagai celebrity, segencar-gencarnya mereka dielu-elukan massa di manapun mereka tampil, kalau tanpa kekuatan moral dan kuasa akhlak serta tawakal pada Tuhan, maka pada gilirannya meski berteriak keras pro-demokrasi, kebebasan, HAM, dll. sebetulnya mereka tidak tahu apa semuanya itu dan hanya berdecit dalam lubang tikus, bersembunyi di balik layar melakukan berbagai tindak kriminal mencuri, korupsi, teror moral, membunuh, memeras, dan sederet aksi anarkis dan destruktif lainnya dengan menghisap darah dan menelan sesama warganya. Fenomena dan epidemi sosial ini tidak hanya menjangkiti bumi Pancasila tapi menulari dan menggerogoti planet malang ini.

4. Kesimpulan

Berdasarkan analisis komprehensif ini, dapat ditarik beberapa kesimpulan:
a. Ditinjau dari disiplin ilmunya, pada prinsipnya ilmu politik merupakan cabang ilmu filsafat dengan memadukan nilai epistomologis agama dan kaidah moral (etika dan axiologi) dalam berbagai analisis, sistem, perilaku, praktik dan aktivitas politik sejak zaman kuno sampai zaman pertengahan. Itulah sebabnya substansi dan esensi politik sebetulnya etika itu sendiri dalam perspektif yang lebih luas. Namun kenyataannya, praktik politik sejak zaman Renaissance sampai dewasa ini lebih condong kepada pendekatan pragmatis metafisik dan estetik tanpa banyak mempertimbangkan nilai luhur agama dan norma etika.
b. Semakin berkembangnya zaman dan peradaban manusia, semakin merosot akhlak para pejabat pemerintah dan kaum politisi dengan menerima indoktrinasi pendidikan palsu dari teori evolusi sehingga persepsi dan pandangan hidup semakin sekuler tanpa memperdulikan kebenaran hakiki yang hanya berasal dari Allah, padahal semua ilmu berasal dari Allah yang merupakan Sumber hikmat dan kebijaksanaan (philosophia), cinta akan hikmat kebijaksanaan. Dengan meninggalkan Allah sebagai Sumber hikmat, para pemerintah dan kaum politisi hanya meraba-raba dalam kegelapan pikiran tanpa hikmat dan pengertian ilahi sehingga semua persoalan yang timbul dalam semua aspek kehidupan mustahil dipecahkan, seperti pelacuran, gagalnya kampanye anti merokok dan macam-macam persoalan lain yang sudah sangat mendunia. Inilah ‘globoclerosis’ yang hanya dapat diatasi dengan kembali kepada hukum dan kaidah Allah. Dengan demikian meski semua industri rokok ditutup, Allah telah berjanji memberkati negara yang hidup sesuai dengan hukum-Nya.
c. Nilai-nilai luhur moral Pancasila sebagai dasar negara sekaligus filsafat politik Indonesia telah memudar karena tidak diamalkan dan diintegrasikan dalam semua aktivitas politik dan pemerintahan negara.

5. Saran

a. Substansi dan esensi disiplin ilmu politik hendaknya diformat, diklirkan dan dipulihkan kembali pada posisi yang semula menurut konsep dasarnya yang hakiki, yakni perpaduan nilai etika dan axiologi serta kaidah epistemologi agama dalam praktik politik.
b. Perlu ada upaya konstan dalam regenerasi dan pengembangan SDM untuk seluruh WNI dengan titik beratnya pada aspek ‘afective’ (tanpa mengabaikan komponen ‘cognitive’ dan ‘psychomotor’), yakni transformasi karakter dan pembentukan perangai menurut paradigma ilahi sehingga baik generasi muda sebagai kandidat-kandidat pemegang tampuk kekuasaan negara maupun para pemerintah dan kaum politisi yang sedang berkuasa sekarang dapat tampil sebagai ikon-ikon teladan dan terpercaya sebagai panutan rakyat.
c. Nilai moral Pancasila dan norma agama hendaknya dipulihkan kembali, dihayati dan diamalkan dalam berbagai aspek kehidupan terutama kehidupan sosial politik. Dengan demikian semua persoalan yang timbul di tengah kehidupan bermasyarakat, berbangsa dan bernegara dapat diatasi dengan mudah melalui pertolongan kuasa dan hikmat Allah. Ini bukan agitasi keagamaan melainkan ajakan dan advis patriotis serta proposal solusi semata menurut perspektif Kekristenan. Mengingat komposisi warga dan masyarakat Indonesia yang heterogen, kiranya para pemerintah, kaum politisi dan semua pemuka agama dapat menindaklanjutinya dengan merumuskan satu format dan pendekatan baru terhadap sistem politik dengan berpedoman pada nilai agama-agama yang dianut di Indonesia dan kaidah moral Pancasila itu sendiri.

Referensi :
1. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
2. Encarta Premium 2009

Where Are We Going?

2010-03-19T01:45:00.000-07:00

The ultimate philosophical question worth answering in our precious life God has granted to us is where we are headed for after living on this planet Earth. Is there any certain place God has determined for us? If there is one, where is it, then? And what’s the name of that place? How are we going to get there? Are there any certain requirements we must meet that we may qualify to live in that place?

In the first two preceding topics, I dealt at great length with where we, human beings, came from, and why we were born on this earth. In religious perspective, if we truly believe in the Bible, the only authoritative source we need to refer to, we’ve absolutely found the significant answers that we came into existence through God’s amazing creative power. Through Him, our only Heavenly Father, we found our true genealogy that we are the descendants of God. Besides, we are placed here on this Earth for a noble mission of doing His will, keeping His commandments particularly because those are the whole duties of humankind. We’re also enabled to meet Him, know Him aright, to become better acquainted with Him, and unite with Him in our practical daily life.

In this topic, I’d like to underscore a significant issue as to where we are going to, and how our destiny is like. Those who, in their life, are always led by the true God have their obvious goal set before them. They know where their direction is heading. They do realize that the kind of life lived on this earth is not everything. Living, becoming old and weak, being infected with diseases and ending physical life is not the end of the story. There is a brighter hope of the future. God-fearing people do not regard physical death as a fearful nightmare, but rather a happy rest for an unimaginably short time to enter a joyous future of an incredibly great happiness when our Savior comes again for the second time.

Our Original Homeland and Qualifications to Enter

The Bible is full of the words of promises that eternal bliss will be the great reward for those who live according to God’s will and providence. When Jesus was about to separate from His disciples and departed from this Earth to ascend to Heaven two thousand years ago, He gave them a hope-filled, reliable, firm promise that He would not leave them in trouble or anxiety. He assured them that a temporary separation would not lead to eternal division but would bring about a perpetually touching reunion of God’s universal family. Let’s find that inevitable evidence in John chapter 14 verses 1-3. “Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father's house; I would not tell you this if it were not true. I am going there to prepare a place for you. After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you may be where I am” (NCV).

Jesus Christ, upon accomplishing His redemptive mission for the lost race on the Earth, made an all-important point of underscoring a spiritual dimension of life not only as we experience on the Earth but in a place He referred to as His Father’s house. Spiritual aspect of life directs us to a right path to achieve our life’s goal. Evolutionists have considerably led people to think that transient life on Earth is everything without involving spiritual consideration in every solution to their life problems. Their principle of life has been so perverted to merely think of physical, temporary things to fulfill their immediate greed and egotism by trampling upon others. People who honor God, however, have a wider perspective, possess a larger heart, and have a far clearer vision to see and decipher things more obviously and nobly. They are capable of comprehending things beyond the transient life. They have more important things to do to achieve their set goal. They know that their goal is not obtained through lawlessness and transgression to God’s law. They understand that an imperishable life beyond this perishable life is far more important. That’s why in all their dealings in this life, they are striving to the best of their ability to do benevolent things by abiding with all the holy precepts of Heavenly law. And this is how they are qualified to live in that place, Heavenly Father’s house, in eternal happiness, peace, and joy.

The place where the redeemed people are bound to is also called a homeland, a country and a city. Let’s see in the Bible how this blissful place is depicted.

“For people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. … But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them” (Heb 11:14, 16).

In verse 13 of the same chapter, we are shown our clear identity while living on this Earth. What and who are we? “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” If we are sojourners on this Earth and are travelling to that heavenly city, the New World, can we possibly practice lawlessness, doing all kinds of wicked, evil, atrocious deeds and hope to be welcome by the heavenly gate keepers? Far from it!

If you are processing some paper to secure a passport and visa to visit a foreign country, can you possibly have an accessible entry without adhering to that country’s immigration law? It’s out of the question. It’s just like a thief who breaks into a house to still things. Those who understand and accept the Bible’s absolute truth will definitely live worthy and holy life without even committing a single sin in their heart or mind. Why? Because we are the offspring of God. Just as God is holy, so are we who are His children.

“Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous” (1 John 3:9-12).

Evolution theory proponents argue that natural selection enables living beings to strive for supremacy in useless gain and compete with others by employing all kinds of tricks and methods to satisfy their greed. In political arena, for instance, those who are directly engaged in political activities, whose mindset has been long indoctrinated by this false teaching of evolutionary theory, have lived only for personal gain. They continue to oppress the weak for their own benefit. They have no love for others. Why? Their education is wrong. The substance of their education is flawed. They ignore the right principle of truth as found in the Bible which directs people to live heavenly life in order to inherit the eternal life. Before we would become a saint in Heaven, we must first become a saint here on this Earth. But have evolutionists stopped and pondered about spiritual dimension of life which leads to eternity? How can people, whose lives are corrupt with abominable mischiefs wanting to murder and harm others for their personal wellbeing, ever think of eternal things? The only thing that the so-called highly educated people – but in fact the educated fools who deny God, know is that they are the children of apes. Their ancestors are monkeys. That’s why they only do all kinds of stupid and egregious things until they die, and that’s it. However, those who don’t want to be brainstormed with this false education of the evolutionary theory but only receive the true education from God with the Bible as their Textbook, may be able to have sure goal in their life. They know that committing sin in any form will disqualify them for the eternal abode that their Savior has gone to prepare for them.

Evil doers will not inherit the city of God

Who then are disqualified people who will be rejected to enter that heavenly city, the original homeland? Let’s see the Bible to distinguish clearly those outcasts and be encouraged to prepare ourselves most adequately to become the eternal citizens of that country.

“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death" (Rev 22:8).

Those who are afraid to defend the truth and persist in their false teaching of evolutionary theory, those who don’t believe in God and the Bible, who neglect religious principles and moral values in dealing with all problems but use their own foolish wisdom as worldly politicians and government, will in the long run realize that their efforts to tackle the problems are in vain and never find any possible solutions. All diplomatic endeavors of peace talk result in nothing. Israel and Palestine continue to be inveterate enemies. Which god who they believe in taught them to create such devastating chaos and utter turmoil?

Not only that. Those who are abominable murderers, who continue to threaten people through their false ideology of terrorism and cause so many lives to perish together with them through suicidal attacks, thinking that by so doing, their soul will fly directly to the seventh level of heaven? What a foolish, demonic doctrine of destruction!

Moreover, those who are sexually immoral; this not only refers to those who are directly engaged in immoral practices, but also to those who are favor of the idea, who sanction such practices. The obvious fact can be seen through a shocking news released by the White House. Can you believe that US president, Barack Obama, the president of a superpower country does promote sexual perversion? But he does, and he already did it. He declared June 2009 “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month” for the United States. What a perversion! With a pretext of promoting equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, he even dared openly appoint those sexually immoral people as candidates to Senate-confirmed positions in the first 100 days of an administration. Also, the same sex marriages are sanctioned in several states. To fulfill this perversion, those abominable, demon-possessed Christian pastors openly officiate such abominably perverted matrimonies of the same sex of gays, homosexuals and lesbians. These perversions are found in Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Romans 1:24-28; 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10 and Deuteronomy 22: 5. This is God’s grief over leaders who reject Him and the truth, leading their innocent people astray.

All sorcerers, those who are magicians who practice black magic, witchcraft, voodoo, to harm people are not qualified to enter the heavenly city. Adulterers and liars; those who commit adultery with other man’s wife or other woman’s husband, who commit fornication with unmarried man or woman, who are engaged in extramarital and premarital sexual intercourse are considered abominable dogs that cannot enter that homeland. Those liars; those who exploit and oppress other people to satisfy their own greed and selfishness will find their place in the fire and brimstone.

Blessed hope for the ransomed

Blessed are those who are free from all these abominable practices. For you are prepared by our Heavenly Father and Savior a blessed home, a country and a city where all redeemed ones will find their eternal rest and enjoy living a happy life for eternity.

This joyous event will surely take place in a little while when Christ shall come for the second time to redeem His holy, law-abiding people. Apostle Paul says, "The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God" (1 Thess 4:16).

And the Savior declares: "They shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." "For as the lightning comes out of the east, and shines even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be" (Matt 24:30, 27).

He is to be accompanied by all the hosts of heaven. "The Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him" (Matt 25:31). "And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect" (Matt 24:31).

At His coming the righteous dead will be raised, and the righteous living will be changed. "We shall not all sleep," says Paul, "but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality" 1 Cor 15:51-53).

And in his letter to the Thessalonians, after describing the coming of the Lord, Paul says: "The dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (1 Thess 4:16, 17).

“There the heavenly Shepherd (Christ the Savior) leads His flock (redeemed people) to fountains of living waters. The tree of life yields its fruit every month, and the leaves of the tree are for the service of the nations. There are ever-flowing streams, clear as crystal, and beside them waving trees cast their shadows upon the paths prepared for the ransomed of the Lord. There the wide-spreading plains swell into hills of beauty, and the mountains of God rear their lofty summits. On those peaceful plains, beside those living streams, God's people, so long pilgrims and wanderers, shall find a home” (E.G. White; Adventist Home; 542.1).

“We are homeward bound.” We are travelling to that heavenly country, heavenly city, the New World. “He who loved us so much as to die for us has built for us a city. The New Jerusalem is our place of rest. There will be no sadness in the City of God. No wail of sorrow, no dirge of crushed hopes and buried affections, will evermore be heard. Soon the garments of heaviness will be changed for the wedding garment. Soon we shall witness the coronation of our King. Those whose lives have been hidden with Christ, those who on this earth have fought the good fight of faith, will shine forth with the Redeemer's glory in the kingdom of God” (ibid. 542.3).

Conclusion

We are placed here on this planet Earth to be entrusted with a noble mission of life. In every aspect of life, we are to make our own choice, and make a series of important decision in our life. As we are the free moral agents, no one is compelled to do whatever right or wrong in every step of life. We are completely free to choose to obey God’s law or disobey it, but it must be understood that our choice will determine our own ultimate destiny, whether for eternal salvation or eternal death. All will reap what they have sown. If they sow the seed of salvation, they will automatically reap the fruit of salvation. On the other hand, if they sow the seed of destruction, they will definitely reap the fruit of destruction. Everything will happen according to the natural law of the universe.

As we do know our true genealogy that we are God’s children, then we may be able to know why we are born on this Earth. We know how to behave and live our daily life to please Him as our Heavenly Father who is taking meticulous care for us in our entire life. We know how to please Him, to make Him happy by obeying His commandments and living holy life without committing sins because that is our whole duty as God’s children. And since we adhere to His law of life, as a bonus, He will reward us with an eternal blessing of joy and happiness by giving us heavenly home to which we are bound. Are you, readers, truly happy to know this amazing fact? Are you willing to sacrifice everything for the glory of God? Are you willing to abandon this lawless world and accept this heavenly country of liberty? The choice is yours to make. May God bless and lead you in making a good choice. NM

Why Were We Born?

2009-05-28T15:50:00.000-07:00

This one of the most fundamental questions has both considerably plagued and challenged all human beings from generation to generation. Can we possibly answer this question? Have you ever imagined not being born as a human but an animal like a cow or a pig, and lived a life of an animal, ate animal feeds marred with dirt and filth? Had you been born as an animal, would you have ever been able to enjoy all privileges that human beings are enjoying? Did you ever find yourself being very grateful for the fact that you were born as a human, not an animal? If you did, have you found any meaning in this life? Or is the life just meaningless to end aimlessly through death? Is there any hope in this life? Is there any hope of life after death? And what is that hope? What are you going to do to realize that hope?
The world has drastically been mesmerized and intoxicated by the popular naturalistic theory of evolution that it seems impossible to find any true significance of life on this earth. Those who firmly hold this theory neither find nor have any meaning in their life. Their life is such that is exactly the same with that of an animal. Ironically however, even the animals were created to serve certain purposes. God created them for our benefits. We can ride on horses, and scavengers like birds or pigs can help us do the environmental cleaning. Nevertheless, do the animals have any knowledge of God, salvation or eternal life, and are privileged to ascend to heaven? Far from it. Human beings are God's pinnacle creation formed with capacity to acquire the knowledge of God and are capable of possessing God's image. But can we achieve this without God? Can we live even a single second without depending on God's great mercy and grace? Can we live properly without involving God? Naturalistic evolutionary theory enthusiasts have nothing to do with God and live careless life. Their life has no purpose and hopeless. They just temporarily live on this earth and end up dying without any clear concept of what is taking place after death. That kind of life is such of an animal life.

God's Purposes of Creating Us
Then, why were we born? Why did God place us on this planet earth? Does He have any special purpose of creating us? Why did He not just create plants and animals? What significance does our existence bear as human beings? If we truly believe that the Bible is our mere moral standards of judgment and regard it as the infallible, sacred inspiration from God, then we can easily trace down the answer to where we came from, and why we are here on this earth. The Bible can tell us plainly about the purpose of our existence here.

1. Establish God's family
The Scripture tells us clearly that after God completed creating plants and animals, on the sixth day, He created us.
[So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them] (Gen. 1:27).
His own image or in the image of God simply means that we resemble God not only physically but also with moral aspect quality. We simply partake in His divine nature.
[... that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust] (2 Pet 1:4).
[Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man's devising] (Acts 17:29).
[Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth] (Gen 1:28).
God blessed us and wanted us to be fruitful and multiply. He desires to establish not a mere mortal human family having beast-like character, but an eternal God's family possessing God's image and character instrumental for sharing the blessings of His grace and entrust stewardship to us.

2. Meet God
Another purpose why we were born is to meet our Maker, our heavenly Father. Once an old wise man asked a young university student sitting beside him on a bus while reading a book. The young man is the most brilliant student in his university. He's an agnostic.
"Hi, young man, do you go to university?"
"Yes, I do."
"What are you studying at the university?"
"I'm studying political science."
"What are you gonna be after graduating from university?"
"I'm gonna be a politician, and then be a senator."
"After being a senator, what would you like to be?"
"I'd like to be a president of this country."
"After being a president, what are you gonna do next?"
"Well, I'll just retire and go fishing."
"What are you gonna do after that?"
"Well, I just get old and die."
"So you're spending your precious time and tremendous amount of tuition fee to accomplish your education in this life doing whatever you're pleased to do and then just end up dying?"
The wise man kept on explaining at greater length about the significance of life, and managed to make that young man converted into a Christian.
The wise man here presented, depicts a pious man who lives with sure purpose. He knows why he was born on this earth. We can clearly tell by the questions he probed and the ultimate conclusion he draw during the conversation that made the young brilliant student completely stupefied. The majority of people inhabiting this earth are just like that young university student who live without any clear life objective. They just live wondering around like a ship without a compass tossed away by the waves in the ocean, hanging around like vapor blown by the wind. They just don't have any clear idea why they are here on this earth. Thankfully however, due to the wise man's living testimony, the young man was converted. Who did the young man meet? He met God through the wise man.

What a blessed thing for human beings to meet God who has created them. If we don't meet God while living on this earth, then it would be far better to be born as a chicken whose meat can be eaten by people. Those who neglect God and are indifferent to Him are like animals. Since they don't have God, they live as they please without any purpose committing vicious crimes regardless of age, position, and educational background. They continue to live sinful life until they die without any hope of salvation. On the other hand, those who meet God will know for sure why they were born, they do have hope in their life, and know what to do to realize that hope. They don't consider this life as a mere mortal one to just end aimlessly like what is happening to the animal kingdom. Ours is not a mortal, perishable kingdom but an eternally indestructible family God designed and established for our eternal happiness and joy. In this life, therefore, we must seek to meet God, to know Him, to be acquainted with Him and to become one with Him.
[But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul] (Deut 4:29).
[For the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever] (1 Chr 28:9).
[Blessed are those who ... seek Him with the whole heart! They also do no iniquity] (Psa 119:2, 3). [... so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us] (Acts 17:27).

3. Keep God's Commandments
After having met God, we're endowed with new spirit to know Him more, to become friends with Him and be united with Him. If we know God aright, we also know how to please Him. To please Him is to keep His commandments. We know what He wants us to do to please Him and honor and glorify Him. By so doing we will obtain wisdom.
[The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments ... Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, Who delights greatly in His commandments] (Psa 111:10; 112:1).
[The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding] (Pro 9:10).
Keeping God's commandments is the whole duty of mankind toward God who has created us. It's our expression of gratitude for His creative power.
[Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man] (Eccl 12:13 NIV).
We're not keeping God's commandments to receive salvation, because we're all saved by His Son's grace by dying on the cross. We're keeping His commandments simply because we have been saved by His amazing grace. But those who don't keep His commandments are the ones who haven't yet responded to God's invitation of salvation through Jesus' precious sacrificial blood. Those who feel and believe that they have been saved by God's grace will automatically respond to it by obeying His commandments and live forever. That's an obvious evidence that we really love God. [If you love Me, keep My commandments] (John 14:15).
Finally, we can confidently guarantee that our life is worth living as we know where we came from, why we are here on this earth with clear purpose in mind and what we should be doing to achieve that purpose. We will then be guided continuously in our daily path of life to where we should be headed with total dependence on God and absolute submission to His perfect providence. May you, readers, make a wise choice to life worthy life walking together with God as your personal Heavenly Father who is constantly taking meticulous care of us. NM

Where Did We Come From?

2009-04-22T15:48:00.000-07:00

Have you ever stopped to ponder this philosophical sounding question, "Where did we come from?" Many scientists, scholars, philosophers, and theologians, I'm sure, have earnestly attempted to delve into such matter throughout the earth's history to find the answer to one of the most crucial questions facing human beings throughout the ages. But have their endeavors yielded satisfactory results?
There have been many heated debates and controversies in the schools of thought of both the ancient and modern scholars as to the real origin of human beings. It stands to reason that all scientists view things in different perspectives from others. Each has his/her own approach and underlying principle to the question under discussion.
In the beginning, in fact, God has given us direction as to how we perceive things in our unique relation to Him. Through nature as His first-hand, actual handicraft, we may be able to understand that things are brought into existence by a perfect design, not by chance as what evolutionists claim they are. Our existence plainly violates the evolutionary premise that all things emerge by random chance. Rather it is through perfect design by the Great Artist, Master Designer of the colossal universe.
I remember attending a Catholic religion subject lesson at my first year of senior high school in Indonesia. The very first topic introduced to us back then was "The Origin of Man." My subject teacher expounded in great detail concerning our origin viewed from two perspectives: science and the Bible. The two approaches tried to answer the question, "Where did human beings come from?" In the final analysis, as we all know well, scientific approach came up with the answer, "Human beings came from apes," while biblical approach rendered the answer, "Human beings came from God." Two paradoxical ideas indeed. What a stark contrast! Ironically however, the so-called scientists admitted the first principle that human beings descended from apes. But in order to bridge the vast gap between the two principles, an absurd conclusion was drawn that the first, unlike the latter, tended to answer the question, "How did human beings go through the evolutionary process from apes to humans?" It never tried to answer the question of man's origin. What a fabrication that fills the low-quality textbooks!
Recently, a great number of studies have been made by many scientists to unearth this mysterious secret of our genealogy. More and more scientists begin to reject evolutionary theory and have begun to perceive new insight of our existence being the God's pinnacle creation. Those so-called scientists who argue that apes are our ancestors are really degrading their own dignity as God's precious created beings (children). They liken themselves with apes. Yes, they are the descendants of apes, and they are apes indeed. "There is no ground for the supposition that man was evolved by slow degrees of development from the lower forms of animal or vegetable life. Such teaching lowers the great work of the Creator to the level of man's narrow, earthly conceptions. Men are so intent upon excluding God from the sovereignty of the universe that they degrade man and defraud him of the dignity of his origin." (E.G. White; Patriarchs and Prophets p. 44). And what is more shocking is that this subject of evolution is still being taught in all educational institutions around the globe.

What the scientists had to say about evolution and creation

Now, let’s thoroughly examine what the scientists had to say about this long held and taught theory.

Wernher von Braun, NASA director, when asked by California State Board of Education in 1972, responded, “In the world around us, we can behold the obvious manifestations of an ordered, structured plan or design… The better we understand the intricacies of the universe and all it harbors, the more reasons we have found to marvel at the inherent design upon which it is based… To be forced to believe only one conclusion – that everything in the universe happened by chance – would violate the very objectivity of science itself. Certainly there are those who argue that the universe evolved out of the random process, but what random process could produce the brain of a man or the system of the human eye?” (Scott Huse, The Collapse of Evolution, 1997, pp. 159-160).

Even Charles Darwin himself, the originator of evolutionism, was confused with his own idea about evolution and had second thought. In his later years, he reflected on what he has started: “I was a young man with unformed ideas. I threw out queries, suggestions, wondering all the time over everything; and to my astonishment the ideas took like wildfire. People made a religion of them” (William Federer, America’s God and Country, 1996, p. 199).

“For I am well aware that scarcely a single point is discussed in this volume [Origin of Species] on which facts cannot be adduced, often apparently leading to conclusions directly opposite to those at which I arrived” (Charles Darwin : 1809-1882, British naturalist who popularized the theory of evolution through natural selection).

Which is the myth, God or evolution? Louis Bounoure, director of France’s Strasbourg Zoological Museum and professor of biology at the university of Strasbourg, stated: “Evolution is a fairy tale for grown-ups. This theory has helped nothing in the progress of science. It is useless” (Federer, p. 61). Yes, it is fatally useless, and only useful for those who want to reject the idea of God.

“The more I study nature, the more I stand amazed at the work of the Creator. Into His tiniest creatures, God has placed extraordinary properties that turn them into agents of destruction of dead matter. A bit of science distances one from God, but much science nears one to Him” (Louis Pasteur: 1822-1895, French scientist).

“Atheists all over the world have…called upon science as their crown witness against the existence of God. But as they try, with arrogant abuse of scientific reasoning, to render proof there is no God, simple and enlightening truth is that their argument boomerang. For one of the most fundamental laws of natural science is that nothing in the physical world ever happens without a cause” (Dr. Wernher von Braun).

“The theory of evolution is impossible. At base, in spite of appearances, no one any longer believes in it…Evolution is a kind of dogma which the priests no longer believe, but which they maintain for their people” (Paul Lemoine: 1878-1940, director of the Paris natural History Museum).

“To postulate the development and survival of the fittest is entirely a consequence of chance mutations seems to me a hypothesis based on no evidence and irreconcilable with the facts. These classical evolutionary theories are a gross over-simplification of an immensely complex and intricate mass of facts, and it amazes me that they are swallowed so uncritically and readily, and for such a long time, by so many scientists without a murmur of protest” (Sir Ernst Chain; 1906-1979, director of Rome’s International Research Center for Chemical Microbiology).

Bethell concludes: “Darwin’s theory, I believe, is on the verge of collapse. In his famous book, [The Origin of Species], Darwin made a mistake sufficiently serious to undermine his theory. And that mistake has only recently been recognized as such . . . I have not been surprised to read . . . that in some of the latest evolutionary theories ‘natural selection plays no role at all.’ Darwin, I suggest, is in the process of being discarded, but perhaps in deference to the venerable old gentleman, . . . it is being done as discreetly and gently as possible, with a minimum of publicity” (pp. 308, 313-314).

Aggressive proponents of evolutionary theory seem to be narrow-minded, hypocritical and tend to be self-righteous. They are too arrogant to be open-minded to accept the truth and constantly cling to their erroneous belief even though they know precisely that their position is weak and wrong. In his book "The Dogma of Evolution" Professor L.T. More candidly acknowledged, "Our faith in the doctrine of Evolution depends upon our reluctance to accept the antagonistic doctrine of specific creation (by God)" (quoted by Francis Hitching, The Neck of the Giraffe, p. 109).

There must be an explanation for the existence of everything. The number, precision and perfection of natural laws cannot be explained away as a lucky accident. Such reasoning is irrational. It simply doesn't add up. Common sense tells us that the existence of an unimaginably magnificent universe structured on and sustained by innumerable laws of physics requires the existence of a Creator of those laws, a Designer of those structures. A structured design does reveal the Designer.

The writers of the Bible recognized in the creation much evidence of a great, allwise Creator. They understood that the wonders we see around us shout the same message: Such astonishing design demands a Master Designer! Whether we are moved by the power of the sea, the grandeur of a mountain range, the delicate beauty of the first spring flowers or the birth of a child, as we look at the world around us we naturally conclude: This is the handiwork of a great Designer. We may behold it in the everlasting hills, in the lofty trees, in the starry night sky. All speak to us of God.

The Effects of Accepting Evolution

One of the reasons why evolutionary theory was widely accepted and has been extensively taught in all educational institutions nowadays is that 19th century during which the theory was introduced was the era of social and religious unrest. Science was riding a crest of popularity. Impressive discoveries and inventions appeared constantly. This climate was conducive to people embracing revolutionary concepts. Furthermore, Darwin himself had an impeccable reputation as a dedicated naturalist. However, what are the underlying principles of this once-favored theory which defies Creator God and what effects has it exerted in human's life as we have seen in our prevailing life's condition?

Supporters of evolution like to point out that acceptance of the idea of a divine Creator requires faith in someone or something we cannot see. Yet they are far from comfortable admitting that all who believe that life evolved from inert matter also have faith in a theory that cannot be proven—and is founded on far more fragile evidence than that which supports the faith of believers in a Creator.

The momentum grew in the 20th century until many Protestants and Catholics turned to theistic evolution. This is the belief that God occasionally intervenes in a largely evolutionary process through such steps as creating the first cell and then permitting the whole process of evolution to take place or by simply waiting for the first man to appear from the gradual chain of life and then providing him with a soul.
“Darwinian evolution to them,” says Dr. Hayward, “is merely the method by which God, keeping discreetly in the background, created every living thing . . . The majority of theistic evolutionists have a somewhat liberal view of the Bible, and often regard the early chapters of Genesis as a collection of Hebrew myths”.

The implications for the trustworthiness of the Bible are enormous. Is it the inspired and infallible Word of God, or are parts of it merely well-intentioned myths? Are sections of it simply inaccurate and unreliable? Were Jesus Christ and the apostles wrong when they affirmed that Adam and Eve were the first man and woman, created directly by God (Matthew 19:4; 1 Corinthians 15:45)?
Was Christ mistaken, and did He mislead others? Is 2 Timothy 3:16 true in stating that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine [teaching] . . .”? Clearly, the implications for Christian faith and teaching are profound ).
Perhaps the effects of his theory on Darwin’s own faith can illustrate the damage it can do to religious convictions. Darwin started as a theology student and a staunch respecter of the Bible. But as he formulated his theories, he lost faith in the Old Testament. Later he could no longer believe in the miracles of the New Testament.
There is great danger in following in Darwin’s footsteps. We should remember the old saying: If you teach a child that he is only an animal, don’t complain when he behaves like one. Can we not lay part of the blame for rampant immorality and crime on society’s prevalent values and beliefs—derived to a great extent from evolutionary theory?

Without the belief in a just God who will judge the actions of men, isn’t it easier for people to do as they please? Aldous Huxley, a fervent advocate of evolution, admitted why many quickly embraced evolution with such fervor: “I had motives for not wanting the world to have meaning . . . The liberation we desired was . . . from a certain system of morality. We objected to the morality because it interfered with our sexual freedom” (Ends and Means, 1946, p. 70).

Could this kind of thinking have something to do with the immorality rampant in so many schools and universities where God is banned from the classroom and evolutionary theory is taught as fact? It’s time to gain some proper perspective. Is the Bible a reliable guide for understanding?

By accepting the revolutionary theory, people are prone to do away with religion. It results in holding the principle of atheism, arguing that there is no God. Everything happened by random chance and our existence is through lucky accidents.

In relation to natural selection, for instance, a lion which runs the fastest has greatest possibility and opportunity to survive longer, yet this does not change the species, but rather the number. It only preserves existing genetic information (DNA); it doesn't change genetic material that would allow an animal to sprout a new organ, limb or some other anatomical feature. By adopting this principle and put into practice, people are led to lead a selfish and greedy life trying to destroy other people for their own gain. It's completely contrary to the biblical principle of love which seeks to live for others' sake instead of their selfish ambition. [Love ... does not seek its own] (1 Co 13:4, 5).

"Love is life. All, everything that I understand, I understand only because I love. Everything is, everything exists, only because I love. Everything is united by it alone. " (Leo Tolstoy: 1828-1910).

Furthermore, evolution proponents introduced the unlimited liberalism wanting to do whatever they like to do at the expense of sacrificing other people. It displays animal propensities in their life by practicing immorality, committing various kinds of vicious crimes which do harms and damages to others. The Bible, on the other hand, teaches that [love does not behave rudely,... thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth] (1 Co 13: 5, 6). Therefore, evolutionary theory avails nothing but only does evil to global life. It has considerably triggered nations to rise against each other, wage numerous wars that a series of peace talks have never done any good. This is partly a logical consequence of accepting the useless theory of evolution. This is a sure fruit born by this theory.

And another thing that must not be forgotten is Darwin's concept of the "survival of the fittest." It really has had terrible impact on social and political life in real history. This "survival of the fittest outlook has been used considerably to justify genocide against ethnic groups considered inferior. During world war II the Nazis brutally exterminated more than two million people whom Hitler considered to be inferior. Can we not anticipate that genocide will gain scientific justification as long as evolution is accepted and believed? Such genocidal events could possibly happen again when so many people in this world have adopted a belief in moral relativism and survival of the fittest perspective.

Our Real Genealogy

It has been argued that evolutionary approach has failed to answer one of the most fundamental questions of where we came from. All the assertions made by ardent advocates of the evolutionary theory can never be adduced, groundless, deceptive sophistry, and fatally flawed. They can never defend their weak position at the fact that as far as natural laws are concerned, all events have preceding causes. There is no smoke without fire. All effects have causes. Even if they are plainly wrong, they stubbornly insist on their erroneous belief in the abiogenesis, a fatally flawed hypothesis that life can come into being from nonliving materials. They want to say that they were born without their physical parents. They mean to say that they were born of some lifeless stones.

Then, if evolution cannot help us find out the real answer to our real genealogy, what source do we have to turn to in order to find the answer? I have said previously that the Bible held in the hands of millions of Christians all over the world is the only authoritative source, infallible, divine inspiration given directly by God for our true guide. Nothing else. Only on Bible can we rely and upon it alone can we depend. Any science that conflicts the biblical principle is the false science. True science must be based on and in accordance with the Bible as the underlying principle of truth, the moral standards of truth.

Well, let's now come directly to the true science to learn much more about our real genealogy, in order to prove that we human beings are not the descendants of apes, but rather the descendants of God.

First I have to clarify that our universe and all that it harbors is the perfect product of the Great Designer, the Creator God. Therefore, the very first verse of the first chapter of the first book in the Old Testament of the Bible plainly reveals that God created all things. [In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth] (Gen 1:1). It's very clear and an indisputable fact that even little children can easily understand. For six days God performed His wonderful work of creation, and He rested on the seventh day, Sabbath day. Again, David the Psalmist was inspired to proclaim, [By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth; ... You (God) who laid the foundations of the earth, So that it should not be moved forever] (Ps 33:6; 104:5).

On the sixth day, as His pinnacle creative work, He made us into being. [Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; ... So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them] (Gen 1:26, 27). ["Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man's devising] (Act 17:29). It clearly says here that we are the offspring of God, not of apes.

In order to prove further, let's look at Jesus' genealogy. [Now Jesus Himself ... being the son of Joseph, the son of Heli, the son fo Matthat, ... the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God] (Luke 3:23-38). Whose son is Jesus, God's son. Just as Jesus, our eternal paragon, is God's son, we also are God's children, God's sons and daughters.

If we paraphrase the above verses, it goes like this: [Jesus' father is Joseph, whose father is Heli, whose father is Matthat, ... whose father is Seth, whose father is Adam, whose father is God]. Yes, it's clearer here that God is Jesus' father. He is our Father, Heavenly Father. God and human beings share a unique father-son relationship.

Beloved readers, which case do you find more grateful for; the indisputable, candid, plain testimony from the inspired biblical account directly given by God, our Heavenly Parent, that says, we are the offspring of God, or the groundless sophistry, irrational myth, unsupported fairy tale of the theory of evolution devised by imperfect human beings, that says we are the descendants of apes?

Which one do you believe? Which side will you take? Does it really matter what you believe? The choice is yours. It goes without saying that what we believe will undoubtedly shape our behavior; it plays a significant role in molding our character, whether good or evil. Those who believe that they are dogs will automatically act like dogs, but those who believe in the word of God that they are God's children will automatically act like God's children having the quality of love, because God's life is love. It is to the Bible that we should turn for our moral standards, to unearth our only true source of salvation and eternal life. There is none like the Bible. NM.