How to Pursue the Truth (3)

For a while now, we have been fellowshipping on the topic of pursuing the truth. The content involved in this topic is quite broad, but no matter how broad the content is, it is inseparable from some issues that people encounter in their daily lives that relate to how they view people and things, and how they conduct themselves and act, isn’t it? (Yes.) These are real issues in people’s lives. They are not divorced from people’s daily lives, nor are they divorced from people’s normal humanity. These issues include people’s attitudes and views toward various things, as well as all sorts of major matters that people encounter in their existences and on their life journeys. The content of our last fellowship concerned one aspect of practice within “letting go” in “How to Pursue the Truth”—letting go of the barriers between oneself and God and one’s hostility toward God. What does this practice involve? It involves the relationship between people and God, doesn’t it? (Yes.) The content of the past few fellowships concerned how one should view all kinds of people and all kinds of things according to the principles and standards that God requires, and how to handle all kinds of people and all kinds of things. The content of our last fellowship concerned the relationship between people and God, and informed people how they should let go of the various notions and imaginings that do not accord with God’s intentions, do not accord with God’s requirements, and do not accord with the truth principles. These are real problems that exist between people and God on the journey of believing in God and in the process of existing. We divided this big topic of “letting go of the barriers between oneself and God and one’s hostility toward God” into four aspects: The first is notions and imaginings, the second is unreasonable demands, the third is guardedness and suspicion, and the fourth is scrutinizing and prying. We began our fellowshipping with notions and imaginings. The first point within notions and imaginings relates to God’s work—that is, what notions and imaginings people have about God’s work. We did some fellowshipping on this. Our fellowship on this point was concerned with how people view God’s work, and what deviations, notions, and imaginings people have in their knowledge and ideas about God’s work; these notions and imaginings are something that people should let go of. If people let go of these notions and imaginings and seek the truth, they will be able to know God’s work and have a pure comprehension of God’s words. When God’s work does not conform to people’s notions and imaginings, they should reflect upon and try to know themselves, and they should also let go of their own notions and imaginings, rather than relying on them to gauge what God’s work should be like, or what the effect is that God intends to achieve in people with His work. People’s notions and imaginings about God’s work have a direct impact on people’s life entry and their attitude toward God, so these notions and imaginings are also something that people must let go of. For example, we fellowshipped that God does not change people’s inherent caliber, personality, instincts, and so on, that the innate attributes that people are born with and the instincts of their flesh are not the targets of God’s work, and that His work targets people’s corrupt dispositions, and the things within people that rebel against God and are incompatible with God. If people imagine that God’s work aims to change their caliber, their instincts, and even their personality, habits, living patterns, and so on, then every single aspect of their practice in daily life will be influenced and swayed by their own notions and imaginings, and there will inevitably be many distorted parts or extreme things. These distorted parts and extreme things are not in line with the truth principles and will cause people to deviate from the conscience and reason of normal humanity, and to disengage from the trajectory of normal humanity. Say, for example, that in your notions and imaginings, you believe that God wants to change people’s caliber, abilities, and even their instincts; if you think these are the things that God wants to change, what kind of pursuits will you have? You will have distorted and tightly-held pursuits—you will want to pursue superior caliber, and you will focus on learning various kinds of skills and mastering various kinds of knowledge so that you come to have superior caliber and superior abilities, and superior insight and self-cultivation, and even some capabilities that are superior to those of ordinary people—in this way, you will pay attention to outward abilities and talents. What, then, are the consequences of such pursuits on people? Not only will they fail to embark on the path of pursuing the truth, but they will instead take the path of the Pharisees. They will compete with each other to see who has superior caliber, who has superior gifts, who has superior knowledge, who has greater capabilities, who has more strengths, who has higher prestige among people and is looked up to and esteemed by others. In this way, not only will they be unable to practice the truth and act according to the truth principles, but they will instead head down a path that leads away from the truth.

God’s work is to transform people’s corrupt dispositions, and their various fallacious thoughts and views that violate the truth, within the scope of their normal humanity, so that their conscience and reason can be restored and optimized. In other words, the more you understand the truth, the more normal your conscience and reason will become, and they will also continue to develop in a beneficial direction; this is not supernatural at all. What do I mean by this word “normal”? If people have an awareness of conscience and a sense of justice, they will become kind—to put it in the words of man, they will be understanding, upright, reasonable, and not obstinate and prone to distortions. This is the effect that God intends to achieve with respect to people’s humanity. As people understand the truth more and more, one incidental effect is that their humanity becomes more and more normal. However, if people pursue according to their own notions and imaginings, these notions and imaginings will exert a great deal of negative influence and negative guidance on their pursuits, and will lead them onto all kinds of distorted and obstinately followed, extreme, and fallacious paths. For example, in people’s notions and imaginings, they believe that God’s work intends to elevate people’s humanity, and to enable people to transcend human instincts, human caliber, and even human age and gender. When people have notions like these, they will pursue, endeavor, and grope along in this direction. What things will they focus on then? In one regard, they will focus on knowledge, abilities, skills, gifts, and talents; in another regard, they will focus on supernaturalness. Do you know what the manifestations of supernaturalness are? (Does it mean that, in some things, people will directly undergo qualitative changes without paying a price?) It’s like when someone doesn’t usually read God’s words, but something happens to them, and God’s words suddenly appear in their mind, or when someone has never been able to sing or dance, but after being inspired they can suddenly sing and dance, and even dance pretty well, or when someone has never learned a foreign language, but suddenly they can speak a foreign language. Are these things supernatural? (Yes.) For example, suppose that you have to go out for an urgent matter, but you don’t know how to drive, and in desperation you pray, and immediately you feel all fired up, and suddenly you know how to drive, and you even drive as steadily as an experienced driver. Someone asks you, “How do you drive so well?” You say, “I don’t know either. This is all done by God; I was moved by the Holy Spirit. Look, these hands of mine are not my own hands anymore; they are being held by the Holy Spirit!” In actual fact, the Holy Spirit is not doing this; instead, another kind of spirit has entered into you and is manipulating you, such that you have become a different person and cannot control yourself. Is this not transcending one’s intrinsic capabilities? This is supernatural, isn’t it? (Yes.) What does supernatural mean? Is this a good phenomenon? (No, this makes a person abnormal.) If you can suddenly know a language, have a skill, or understand some knowledge without studying for a period of time or being guided by any expert, that is supernatural. If a person’s life disposition has changed without them needing to pursue the truth, seek, wait, or experience things, isn’t this a frightful matter? (Yes.) If there are still many things of notions and imaginings in your mind and in your subconscious, then you should let go of them and not pursue them, because they are not true knowledge of God’s work, and they do not align with the methods and principles of God’s work. God’s work absolutely will not transcend your normal humanity, and the effect achieved by God’s work in you absolutely is not that of transforming your normal humanity into an elevated, supernatural humanity. What’s more, God would not transform you from a normal person into an unusual person. Say that, in the process of experiencing God’s work, your conscience becomes increasingly sensitive, and you develop a greater sense of shame. You become kind, able to be considerate of God’s intentions, and able to safeguard the church’s work and the interests of God’s house. Furthermore, your words and actions do not go against your conscience and reason, you gradually become able to act in accordance with the truth principles, and you can identify all kinds of people, events, and things based on God’s words. This proves that the path you are walking in your belief in God is correct. But suppose that you still focus on listening out for some voice when you pray, and await some inspiration, flash of light, or supernatural revelation when you seek from God and beseech God. Moreover, your conscience and reason have not been restored or corrected in any way, and you have not come to possess a sense of justice or to submit to God. This proves that there are problems with your pursuit and the path you are walking, and it could also be said that you have not embarked on the path of pursuing the truth at all. You often also subconsciously seek to become a supernatural person, and often feel that you should transcend the flesh—not feeling hungry if you don’t eat, and not feeling tired or sleepy if you don’t sleep or rest for several days—and you even seek to suddenly understand and master things that you don’t understand or haven’t learned in the process of doing your duty when you urgently need them. These imaginings about supernatural things all come from human notions and imaginings. Because people haven’t experienced God’s work, they are naturally full of imaginings about His work. In fact, God’s work is the most real and practical of things. God never acts according to people’s notions and imaginings; He never performs this kind of work on people. He only does a bit of supernatural work under very special circumstances and on very few people, but this work is merely temporary and something that’s needed in special situations—it is not a method of work that is often manifested in people within God’s salvation. In His management work, God intends to save people, to enable them to cast off their corrupt dispositions and attain salvation, and the basic method by which God works is to provide people with the truth, so that they can practice according to the truth principles after they understand the truth. Therefore, no matter what notions and imaginings you have in your mind and in your subconscious, no matter how logical your notions and imaginings are or how much they meet your spiritual needs—no matter what the reasons are, they will always be notions and imaginings, and you should let them go and not cling onto them. No matter to what extent God’s work is done, and no matter how long it goes on, people will always be people and they will never become angels. Even if you turn white from head to toe, with white hair, a white painted face, and a white top and white pants, and you also put on two wings, you cannot become an angel—people will always be people. Moreover, “people” here refers to people with the conscience and reason of normal humanity, not extraordinary people, and even less so unusual people. These people are not supernatural at all, but they are clearly different from the nonbelievers who do not believe in God, in that they do not commit evil, they can put the truth into practice once they understand it, and they understand how to view people and things, and conduct themselves and act based on God’s words, and according to God’s requirements and the truth principles, rather than living by their corrupt dispositions and by the various thoughts and views that Satan instills in people. No matter how long people have pursued according to their own notions and imaginings in the process of believing in God, and no matter how much they feel they have gained, it does not count in the eyes of God, and God does not remember any of it. What am I referring to when I say this? Namely that if you, based on your notions and imaginings, restrain all the various normal needs of your flesh, or try hard to change your instincts, caliber, abilities, personality, living patterns, and life habits, then no matter how hard you try to restrain and change these things, even if you are able to get some results, it does not mean that you have already gained anything on the path of practicing the truth, and even more so, it does not mean that you are already someone who pursues the truth—God does not remember these things. Have you understood? (Yes.)

Although people’s notions and imaginings are invisible and outwardly do not seem to force people to say or do anything, or to walk any kind of path, they tightly control people’s thoughts and inner selves, deep in their hearts and in their subconscious. Why is this the case? It is because the things that people love and pursue fit with their notions and imaginings all too well, and these things also pander to the needs of the human flesh and satisfy all manner of human desires and curiosities. For example, in people’s notions and imaginings, they believe that God’s work intends to transform them into extraordinary beings who are different from ordinary people, and that, when they are moved by the Holy Spirit, they will be able to speak several languages. This obviously transcends people’s intrinsic capabilities and the scope of normal humanity, but to a very great extent it satisfies their vanity, curiosity, and competitiveness. In other words, before people have gained the truth, they like some supernatural things, and these things make them feel important and superior to and different from ordinary people—this is exactly what corrupt humankind loves and yearns for. Everyone hopes to be a standout among the human race, to be different from everyone else, to be unique and one-of-a-kind, and to be looked up to and admired by others. For example, there is a phenomenon among corrupt humankind that if only one item of something is produced, those people who are rich and prominent will feverishly compete to buy it. To what extent will they do this? To the extent that this product ends up being sold at a price that is several or even over ten times higher than its original price. The person who manages to buy it thinks, “Look, I snagged this thing that’s the only one in the world. I’m really powerful, aren’t I? I’m better than others, aren’t I? No one else is as capable as I am!” In their own mind they feel pleased with themselves, and feel that they are special, extraordinary, and highly capable. What kind of disposition is this? (Arrogance.) This is caused by an arrogant disposition. Some people feel uncomfortable when they wear the same item of clothing as another person. If they wear an item of clothing that other people can’t afford and have never seen before, and everyone who sees it is envious, how do they feel? (Pleased with themselves.) They feel particularly pleased with themselves, and they think that they are like no other and a cut above the rest. What kind of disposition causes this? (Arrogance.) This is also caused by an arrogant disposition. You see, almost 100% of people have this mentality: If they have mastered a technical or professional skill, they think they are better than others and that no one is as good as them. If someone else also masters the same technical or professional skill, they will be jealous of that person and desperately wish that no one could match them. Why do they have such a mentality? (They want to become like no other.) If they are the only one who masters this professional skill, they are superior to the average person in their group. Having knowledge of this technical or professional skill, they fear that others will learn it from them. If others seek help from them, will they teach them? (No, they won’t.) They will only teach you some simple things; as for the most important and crucial things, they will not teach those to anyone, and they will leave you to figure them out yourself. What are they actually thinking? “If I teach it to you, then how can I stand out? If everyone could do it, then wouldn’t I become just a regular person? If none of you know how to do this, then I’m the most superior person here, and you all have to curry favor with me—that way I get to feel important, don’t I? Am I not the one with the highest status and the most capable among you? I’m the top dog among you, am I not?” Having some knowledge of a professional or technical skill, they are deeply afraid that others will learn it from them, and don’t want others to be the same as them. They will feel upset if anyone has the same professional or technical skill or specialty as them, so they are always thinking up ways to learn something in order to surpass others. They want to be superior to others and always want to outshine others to feel important. Is this the correct pursuit? (No.) Precisely because corrupt humankind has such yearnings and pursuits, they naturally develop all sorts of notions and imaginings about God’s work, and seek to be a cut above other people, to have status and prestige, to feel important, to become like no other, and even to become superhuman or extraordinary people in the eyes of others. Therefore, people should let go of these notions and imaginings about God’s work. In terms of specifics, how should this be practiced? Do not pursue superior gifts or talents, and do not pursue changing your own caliber or instincts, but rather, under your inherent conditions—such as caliber, abilities, and instincts—do your duty according to God’s requirements, and do each thing according to what God asks. God does not demand what is beyond your abilities or caliber—you should not make things difficult for yourself either. It is fine if you just do your utmost based on what you understand and what you can achieve, and practice according to what your own conditions allow. For example, if your caliber and talents only allow you to be suitable for the role of team leader, then do a good job as a team leader, sorting out whatever jobs and professional skills are within the scope of this role, tackling them one by one, and implementing them according to the methods and principles that God has taught you—in this way, you will come to satisfy God. Suppose that you go by your notions and imaginings, and think, “Since I am capable of being a team leader, if I strive more to do better, endure a bit of hardship and pay a bit of a price and the Holy Spirit does great work on me, then won’t I be able to become a church leader or the leader of a decision-making group? People may think that I don’t have it in me, but I will beseech God—nothing is difficult for God to achieve! I don’t want to be a team leader. I will pray to God, asking Him to let me shoulder greater work, to let me become a leader or worker.” Is this kind of pursuit right? (No, it’s wrong.) Why do you say that it’s wrong? (Such people always want to do things that are beyond their own caliber and abilities, and aren’t able to stick to doing their own work based on their own caliber and talents, keeping to their proper place.) It is not appropriate to always want to be superhuman; this is not what a normal person should pursue.

Some people often say, “Nothing is difficult for God”; this saying is a fact, and everyone can understand that. But some people have distorted comprehension, they believe that anything which is impossible for people to do can be accomplished for them by God if they just pray to Him, and that by relying on God in this way, people can transcend their own instincts and become superhuman. Is this really the case? (It’s not.) The saying “Nothing is difficult for God” obviously refers to God’s power and essence, God’s almightiness, and also to God’s sovereignty over all things—there is nothing God cannot accomplish. However, it does not mean that people must transcend normal humanity and become supernatural; no matter how almighty God is, the work He does on people is based on their normal humanity and is done within the scope of normal humanity. God orchestrates and maneuvers all things, He maneuvers people, events, and things, so that they render service to His accomplishment of all kinds of things, and to His accomplishment of the facts that He is about to accomplish. During the period in which God accomplishes all kinds of things, people are still in normal humanity—nothing has changed about them, and they are still people. No matter how almighty God is, and no matter what methods God uses to sovereignly rule over something or to accomplish something, created humans are always created humans; they still live in normal humanity and are not supernatural in any way. Would you all say that these are facts? (Yes.) What does “not supernatural” mean? It means that, when God orchestrates people, events, and things, people cannot help but live, survive, do each thing, and live in the present moment under God’s orchestration. But when you live in the present moment, is your consciousness fuzzy? (No.) You are still clear-headed. So, has your caliber instantly improved or changed? (No.) It remains the same as it was originally. Have your instincts instantly changed, then? No, they haven’t either. Under God’s sovereignty, orchestrations, and arrangements, no matter how many things you experience, there is no change whatsoever in your personality, habits, living patterns, and in the caliber, abilities, and various functions of your normal humanity. It is just that, when people experience God’s work, they experience all types of things and people in their own respective environments, with the end result being that, during the process of experiencing God’s work, they gain insight and learn some lessons. If they are people who pursue the truth, then they are able to reap a harvest in terms of the truth and knowing God. In the process of experiencing God’s work, people’s thinking is normal, their consciousness is not fuzzy, and their caliber, abilities, and instincts remain the same as they originally were, without any change. Therefore, “Nothing is difficult for God” refers to God’s almightiness and God’s orchestration of all things. It does not refer to making people supernatural or changing the essence of created humans. God does not change people’s essence; humans are still humans, and no matter if you are male or female, there is no change whatsoever in this respect. God orchestrates everything, and God is omnipotent; this is what God has and is, and this is what God possesses. “Nothing is difficult for God” does not mean that people have become supernatural, nor does it mean that people are omnipotent. Even if some individuals can sometimes achieve certain things that are beyond their own caliber or beyond their bodily instincts, it is the work of the Holy Spirit. It is God who has given them this gift; it is not that they were born with this ability. This is because created humans do not have the ability to change all of this which God has ordained. I will provide a simple example regarding the matter of human instinct. When people hear a frightening sound, for instance, they will feel afraid and instinctively cower. No matter how old you are, you have been like this since childhood, and you will still be like this until you meet your death—this is instinct. What does “instinct” mean? It is an inherent function of the physical body and it will never, ever change. Only by possessing inherent instincts can a normal person maintain the life and survival of normal humanity, so human instincts are not something that God intends to change. Have you understood this? (Yes.) What does “God is omnipotent” refer to? (It refers to God’s own authority and God’s almightiness.) Does it have anything to do with people? (It has nothing to do with people, and it doesn’t mean that people can do supernatural things.) It doesn’t mean that under God’s control, people are omnipotent; even when people are under God’s control, they cannot achieve omnipotence. Why is that? (Because people are not God; people are just created beings, whereas God is unique.) That’s right, that is how it is. People will always be people. They will not become another species, and, of course, they even more so will not become God; people’s attributes will not change. People’s attributes will not change, so will their instincts change? (No, they won’t.) People’s instincts will not change, nor will their life habits and living patterns, or the inherent personalities that are given by God. Take living patterns, for example. Humans, like most creatures, work after the sun rises and rest after the sun sets. When they get up in the morning, and their brains are well rested and their bodies feel comfortable, they start work; at night, when their bodies start to become tired, and they are yawning and their brains are exhausted, they start to enter a resting state—this is a very normal living pattern. This is a common trait of humans, and it is also a human instinct, and of course it is also a living pattern that God has established for humankind. This pattern is determined according to the rotation of the sun, moon, and stars, and the rising and setting of the sun. If you break this living pattern, in the short term there may not be any major problems—when you occasionally feel tired and want to sleep, you can exercise self-restraint and drink some tea or coffee, and your physical fatigue will be somewhat relieved—but over the long term, your body will develop problems. Why will it develop problems? Because you have violated the living pattern that God has established for people. When your body develops problems and you go to see a doctor, they will say, “You must go to bed early at night, resting by 10 o’clock, and getting up at 4 or 5 o’clock in the morning; in a few months, you will be well again.” After three months of following the doctor’s advice, all your symptoms of bodily discomfort will basically disappear, so you will think to yourself, “It turns out that the problems with my body weren’t some serious illness, but were caused by me not following this normal pattern in my life.” See, wouldn’t you say that people’s living patterns cannot be broken? (Yes.) This living pattern of humans is the same as that of other creatures; they all work after the sun rises and rest after the sun sets. Of course, there are some creatures, like owls, that rest during the day and come out and become active at night; their living pattern is different from that of humans and other creatures, but if you wanted to break this pattern of theirs, that would be impossible. In addition, some creatures hibernate in winter. Do human beings have this pattern? (No.) No, humans don’t need to hibernate. The life of humans has a pattern—they rest for one or two days per week, they work after the sun rises and rest after the sun sets, and constantly maintain this normal pattern of work and rest, and in this way their lives can be safeguarded and their survival maintained. Human beings have their own living patterns, and these living patterns were established by God. They are all meaningful and they are all for the purpose of maintaining the normal life and survival of humankind. Therefore, God’s work absolutely will not break the patterns of human life and survival as people imagine that it will, and you should also let go of this notion and imagining. If humans were to forcibly break these patterns that God has established for them, or if humans were to constantly want to change them due to being governed by some ideas about supernatural things, then that would be stupid. If you think that changing them will elevate your life and improve your humanity, then try changing them and see how long you are able to live, see how things change in the days that follow, and whether your normal humanity is elevated, and whether you become a superhuman, or an angel. If you believe that God’s work should have a supernatural element to it, and that it should change your living patterns, and you also want to forcefully change them to make yourself become transcendent, then you can give it a try. It may be that after trying for several years, you really do change the patterns of your life and survival. There is only one situation where this could happen, which is that your physical body will no longer exist, at which point you will truly be supernatural and turn into a puff of smoke, and you will turn into a “celestial being” and become immortal. If you want to keep your physical body normal and healthy, and to be able to accept God’s work and His words while in a normal state, then you should not seek to become a so-called superhuman or pursue a so-called raised-up humanity based on your own notions and imaginings; rather, you should live in normal humanity, maintain the pattern of life and survival of your normal humanity, and also maintain the instincts of your normal humanity. Don’t make unreasonable demands of God; these unreasonable demands all come from your imaginings and notions. Your instincts, living patterns, and so on are not what God intends to change, nor are they things that He intends to change with His work. A saved person is definitely not someone who is full of notions and imaginings, and even less are they a superhuman or an unusual person. Rather, they are a person with normal humanity, and conscience and reason, a person who is able to heed God’s words, and to view people and things, and conduct themselves and act according to the truth principles; they are a person who can submit to God in all things, who is not supernatural at all, and whose humanity is particularly normal and practical.

People living in normal humanity are also restricted by many bodily instincts and bodily needs. For example, sometimes people may delay doing their duties for a couple of days because they are too tired or ill and need to rest; sometimes, due to a tense environment, they may feel scared and be unable to settle down to do their duties; or they may often feel a sense of indebtedness and sadness in their hearts because, due to their limited caliber and abilities, they cannot be competent in a certain kind of work or duty—these are all normal manifestations that fall within the scope of normal humanity. Sometimes people may be constrained by feelings and bodily needs, and sometimes they may be subject to the restrictions of bodily instincts, or to the restrictions of time and personality—this is normal and natural. For example, some people have been quite introverted since childhood; they are not fond of talking and struggle to associate with others. Even as adults in their thirties or forties, they still can’t overcome this personality: They are still not adept at speech or good with words, nor are they good at associating with others. After they become a leader, this personality trait limits and hinders their work to a certain degree, and this often causes them distress and frustration, making them feel very constrained. Introversion and not being fond of talking are manifestations of normal humanity. Since they are manifestations of normal humanity, are they considered transgressions to God? No, they are not transgressions, and God will treat them correctly. Regardless of your problems, defects, or flaws, none of these are issues in God’s eyes. God only looks at how you seek the truth, practice the truth, act according to the truth principles, and follow God’s way under the inherent conditions of normal humanity—these are what God looks at. Therefore, in matters that relate to the truth principles, do not let the basic conditions, such as the caliber, instincts, personality, habits, and living patterns of normal humanity, restrict you. Of course, do not invest your energy and time in trying to overcome these basic conditions either, nor attempt to change them. For instance, if you have an introverted personality, and you aren’t fond of talking, and you aren’t good with words, and you aren’t adept at associating and interacting with people, none of these things are problems. Although extroverts love to talk, not everything they say is useful or accords with the truth, so being introverted is not a problem and you don’t need to try and change it. You may say, “If I were an ordinary follower, it wouldn’t be a problem for me to have an introverted personality; but now I am a leader, so don’t I have to change my introverted personality?” If you really want to change it, you can try learning how to associate with others, or make a rule for how much you say, how many matters you handle, and how many types of people you have dealings with in one day. If you really have the ability to change your inherent personality, then of course, this is not necessarily a bad thing in terms of you doing the work of the church. However, if you were born with an introverted personality and you are not good with words, and not adept at socializing, and don’t know how to converse or interact with others, then no one can change this. Some people have an introverted personality, they aren’t willing to interact or converse with others, and furthermore, they don’t have that much to say. They always feel that it’s only right to say something useful, and that there’s no need to say unnecessary things, so they aren’t willing to say much. For some people, it may be because they are too young and have no life experience and lack the words; for other people, it may be that they are not young anymore and already have life experience, but still have this introverted personality. If you try to change this kind of personality and adopt all sorts of approaches to change it, then let Me tell you, you will never be able to change it in your entire life, because God does not do this kind of work. No matter whether your face or appearance resembles that of your father, your mother or any other relative, this appearance will not change, and even more so, your personality in particular will not change. Some people say, “It’s hard to change an introverted personality, so is it easy to change an extroverted one?” It is just as difficult to change an extroverted personality. Extroverts love to talk and have a lot that they want to say; if you ask them not to talk or to talk less, they can’t control themselves, and if anyone restricts them from speaking, it’s like stripping them of their life. If an introvert is made to associate with an extrovert, will they influence each other? They might influence each other somewhat at the beginning; for the sake of face, the two people will be accommodating and tolerant toward each other, or be forbearing and understanding with each other. But over time, they will get to know each other and obtain a clear idea of each other’s personality, and there will be no need to act so forbearing and considerate toward each other, so they will quickly return to their original states. If you originally had an introverted personality, you are still introverted now; when you talk and converse, you only utter a few words or sentences, and have nothing else to say. If someone asks, “Did you go out?” you reply, “I did.” Then if they ask, “When did you come back?” you reply, “Just now.” You don’t say what happened, and you don’t say what that person wants to hear. By contrast, extroverts shoot out words incessantly, like a machine gun, and even if you interrupt them, after a while they will carry on talking. Is it easy for a person’s personality to change? (No, it isn’t.) This is something that every created human being is born with. It has nothing to do with corrupt dispositions or the essence of one’s humanity; it is simply a state of being that people can see from the outside, and a way by which a person approaches people, events, and things. Some people are good at expressing themselves, whereas others are not; some like to describe things, while others do not; some like to keep their thoughts to themselves, while others don’t like to keep their thoughts inside, but want to express them out loud so that everyone can hear them, and only then do they feel happy. These are the different ways in which people deal with life and people, events, and things; these are people’s personalities. Your personality is something you were born with. If you have failed to change it even after many attempts, then let Me tell you, you can take a break now; there’s no need to tire yourself out so much. It can’t be changed, so don’t try to change it. Whatever your original personality has been, that remains your personality. Do not try to change your personality for the sake of attaining salvation; this is a fallacious idea—whatever personality you have, that is an objective fact, and you cannot change it. In terms of objective reasons for this, the result that God wants to achieve in His work has nothing to do with your personality. Whether you can attain salvation is also unrelated to your personality. In addition, whether you are a person who practices the truth and has the truth reality has nothing to do with your personality. Therefore, do not try to change your personality because you are doing certain duties or serving as a supervisor of a certain item of work—this is an erroneous idea. What should you do then? Regardless of your personality or innate conditions, you should adhere to and practice the truth principles. Ultimately, God does not measure whether you follow His way or can attain salvation based on your personality, or on what inherent caliber, skills, abilities, gifts, or talents you possess, and of course He does not look at how much you have restrained your bodily instincts and needs either. Instead, God looks at whether, while following God and doing your duties, you are practicing and experiencing His words, whether you have the willingness and resolve to pursue the truth, and ultimately, whether you have achieved practicing the truth and following God’s way. This is what God looks at. Do you understand this? (Yes, we understand.)

When some women act, they blaze through things, they are as quick and as vigorous as a lightning bolt, and they make prompt and firm decisions; their personality is just like that of a man. What is the popular term used to describe them nowadays? Masculine women. “Masculine women” are no longer the stupid, great, hulking oafs that people used to refer to with this term. It is not a derogatory term; rather, it is a commendatory one. But how does God regard this commendatory term? You are as quick and as vigorous as a lightning bolt, and boldly and resolutely decisive in your actions, but what are the principles of your practice and the basis for your actions? Is it the truth? Is it the words of God? This is key. If a man is slow and meticulous in his actions, then in the words of nonbelievers, he is like a woman with bound feet—some even use a derogatory term, saying that he is “a bit girly”—but how does God view him? Regardless of whether a person is as quick and as vigorous as a lightning bolt and boldly and resolutely decisive in doing things, or acts like a woman with bound feet and is a bit girly in their actions, are either of these things problems? (No.) Is being as quick and as vigorous as a lightning bolt, and boldly and resolutely decisive a strong point? (No, not necessarily.) So is it a weakness to act like a woman with bound feet? (Likewise no, not necessarily.) Though one of the two terms “masculine women” and “a bit girly” is commendatory and the other is derogatory, the essence of these two types of behaviors or ways of doing things should not be judged based on their literal meanings. What should be used to judge this? (Whether what someone practices is the word of God or not.) The basis of their actions, and also the effect that they intend to achieve, should be used to judge this. If the basis of their actions is the word of God and the truth principles, then it is basically 90 percent certain that they are doing no wrong. If they not only do things according to the truth principles, but furthermore, the effect they intend to achieve is that of defending God’s testimony and the interests of God’s house, and of edifying more brothers and sisters, then we can be 100 percent sure that they are doing no wrong. Never mind whether they are boldly and resolutely decisive or like a woman with bound feet—never mind the way they outwardly act—that isn’t important. What is important is whether or not the truth principles are the basis of their actions, and whether or not the goal of their actions and the effect they intend to achieve through their actions is that of safeguarding the interests of God’s house and the work of the church, and of edifying more people. So is the form that their actions take important? (No, it isn’t.) Regardless of whether you are a masculine woman or like a woman with bound feet, this is not what God looks at; this is not the standard God uses to evaluate people. So, if a woman seems like a masculine woman, and in her actions, she is as quick and as vigorous as a lightning bolt, and boldly and resolutely decisive, is this worthy of praise and esteem? (No, it is not.) Is being as quick and as vigorous as a lightning bolt, and boldly and resolutely decisive a principle for doing things? (No.) Regardless of whether you are a man or a woman, being boldly and resolutely decisive and as quick and as vigorous as a lightning bolt is not a principle for doing things. So, what is a principle for doing things? (One must do things according to the truth principles, and the effect that one intends to achieve must be to safeguard the interests of God’s house and edify more people—this is a principle.) This is a concrete principle. If you act according to this principle, then you are practicing the truth; if you do not act according to this principle, then in My eyes, the expression that best defines you being boldly and resolutely decisive, as quick and as vigorous as a lightning bolt is “running riot doing bad things.” It is obvious that running riot doing bad things is not acting based on the truth principles; although you appear to be decisive and unhesitating in your actions, and to have the air of a leader or king, in reality you are running riot doing bad things. What are the consequences of running riot doing bad things? It causes disruptions and disturbances, and sabotages the church’s work. So, will God remember this? (No.) Not only will God not remember this, but He will also condemn it. So, you say that you are a masculine woman, and that in your actions you are as quick and as vigorous as a lightning bolt, and boldly and resolutely decisive, but is that useful? (No, it isn’t.) Only seeking the truth and acting according to the truth principles can be called a true ability; only this is practicing the truth and pursuing the truth, and only this is what people with normal humanity should do. Suppose you say, “This is just my personality and it can’t change, so what am I supposed to do?” There’s an easy solution. Whether you are a brisk person or have a slow temperament is not a problem; don’t be constrained by this. There is also no need for you to try hard to change your method of doing things because you want to act according to the principles. Regardless of your method, if the basis of your actions is the truth principles, and the effect you achieve is that of defending God’s testimony, God’s interests, and the work of God’s house, then these are good deeds, and they will be remembered by God. By contrast, regardless of whether you outwardly act meek and restrained like a woman with bound feet, or are as quick and as vigorous as a lightning bolt like a leader or a king—regardless of the outward form of your actions—if you do not act according to the truth principles, then you are causing disruptions and disturbances, and these are evil deeds, and they will be condemned by God, and not remembered by God. This is the principle for judging whether a person is good or evil. Do you get it? (Yes.) So, now that we’ve finished fellowshipping on these things, do you have some understanding of what notions and imaginings people have regarding God’s work? (Yes.) Now that you understand them, do you know some of the deviations that people have in their process of believing in God and pursuing the truth? Are you also clear on how you should practice? (Yes, we are.)

The purpose of understanding people’s notions and imaginings, in one respect, is to stop people from living according to these notions and imaginings and walking the wrong life path. In another respect, it is to enable people—while they let go of these notions and imaginings—to live within normal humanity and fulfill their responsibilities and duties with ease and joy, and to not force themselves to do things they are unable to. If there is something you can achieve and ought to do, then put your very best effort into doing it; if something is beyond your caliber and ability, then find someone to cooperate on it with you or ask other brothers and sisters for help, and do it to the best of your ability—these are the principles. In summary, what people should understand about this matter is that, during the period in which God works, everyone’s humanity is gradually developing in a good direction in the process of accepting God’s words, and within the scope of the inherent basic conditions of their humanity, rather than becoming twisted, supernatural, or abnormal. Therefore, if the duty you do involves a technical or professional skill, then to do that duty well, you should put in the effort to diligently learn and delve into that technical or professional skill. You should not blindly wait for God to act based on thoughts and views such as “God is omnipotent, and whatever is impossible for people to do can be accomplished by God if we just pray to Him” and imaginings about supernatural things, without expending the effort to learn the skill yourself. You should put all your heart, all your strength, and all your mind into doing that which is within the scope of what your caliber can achieve, and when it comes to what is beyond your caliber and abilities, don’t make things hard for yourself, don’t encumber, burden, or pressure yourself in any way, instead go easy on yourself. Take learning computer skills, for example. Let’s say that you are getting on in years, and based on your age, your caliber, and your present conditions, just learning to type is already quite an achievement for you. If you can also learn to contact the brothers and sisters and do work online, that’s already pretty good going. However, you are never satisfied and still have a desire for more—you want to learn how to write programs and keep the network secure, doing some work that only network engineers and high-tech personnel can do. Isn’t that foolish? (Yes.) You can’t get the hang of these things, so you become negative and complain about God: “Oh God, why can’t I get the hang of these things? Why did You give me this kind of caliber? I’m so old—why can’t You make me young again? Isn’t God omnipotent?” It is wrong for you to have such thoughts and make such demands. What is meant by “doing whatever is within one’s power, and not exceeding one’s caliber, abilities, and instincts”? Whatever your caliber and abilities allow you to achieve, that is what God requires of you. Whatever is beyond you, God does not require that of you, and you don’t have to demand it of yourself either. If you cannot do something, there are others who can; God doesn’t demand that you be the one to do it. You say, “I’m old—I don’t know how to upload videos, I don’t know how to keep the network secure either, and even less do I know how to write programs,” and yet you insist on learning these things—have you asked whether God’s house needs you to do this work? Have you done your own work properly? Have you done the work that your caliber allows you to achieve properly? If you haven’t done it properly, and you still insist on trying to do things that are out of your reach and beyond your grasp, and that you will even never manage to learn in your whole lifetime, do you think you are struggling against yourself, or against God? Isn’t this very troublesome? (Yes.) You always want to surpass yourself and become superhuman, but God hasn’t required you to do that. There can only be one reason why you want to be superhuman, which is that you want to show off and you won’t admit defeat or give in to old age. It’s not for the sake of doing your duty well that you endure hardship and pay a price; you are not doing your duty according to the principle of conducting yourself in a well-behaved manner and holding firmly to your proper place. You want to prove that you are not old by challenging your own caliber and abilities. “I’ve still got it,” you think. “I’m just as good as the rest, I can do whatever other people can!” Is this meaningful? (No.) It is not meaningful. All this effort you are putting in is futile and worthless. If you put all your heart, all your mind, and all your strength into properly doing that which your own conditions allow you to achieve, then God will be satisfied. Do not challenge yourself, nor seek to push your limits. God knows what your caliber and abilities are like. What caliber and abilities God has given you have long been predetermined by Him. Always wanting to surpass these is to be arrogant and to overestimate oneself; it is asking for trouble and will inevitably end in failure. Are such people not neglecting their proper tasks? (Yes.) They are not conducting themselves in a rule-abiding manner, and not holding fast to their proper positions to fulfill the duties of a created being—they are not following these principles in their actions, but rather always trying to show off. There’s a two-part saying: “An old lady puts on lipstick—to give you something to look at.” For what purpose would the “old lady” do this? (To show herself off.) The old lady wants to show you: “I, as an old lady, am not ordinary—I’ll show you something special.” She does not want to be looked down upon, but instead wants to be highly regarded and revered; she wants to challenge her limits and surpass herself. Is this not having an arrogant nature? (Yes.) If you have an arrogant nature, then you do not stay within your bounds, you do not want to conduct yourself in a manner befitting your station. You always want to challenge yourself. Whatever others can do, you want to be able to do as well. When others do things that make them stand out, achieve results, or make contributions, and receive everyone’s praise, you feel uncomfortable, jealous, and discontented. You then want to abandon your current tasks to undertake work that allows you to shine, desiring to be highly regarded too. But you are not capable of doing work that allows you to stand out, so isn’t this a waste of time? Isn’t this neglecting your proper tasks? (Yes.) Do not neglect proper tasks, for neglecting them is not going to end well. Not only does it delay things and waste time, making others look down on you, but it also makes God loathe you, and in the end, you torment yourself to become quite negative. Regardless of a person’s age—whether they be young, middle-aged or elderly—they have limits in terms of their caliber and talents; nobody is perfect. Forget about being a perfect person, forget about knowing how to do everything, being able to do everything, and understanding everything—it is troublesome if you have this kind of disposition.

Within God’s work, why is it that when He speaks to all kinds of people about any topic or any kind of issue, He talks over and over again about the same thing addressing different states and situations? Those who lack spiritual understanding think, “Speaking in this way is too detailed and long-winded; we already understand.” You may already understand, but others may not; and even if you understand, can you resolve the problems of various states? If you can’t, it means that you still don’t fully understand, so don’t pretend that you do. People’s states are all different. Only once all the states of each type of person have been spoken about, and all the various states have been covered—that is, once the states of all types of people within a certain major issue have all been discussed, and everyone understands this aspect of the truth—only then has this issue been explained clearly. What do I mean by this? It is that everyone develops different problems while living under their own conditions; everyone’s problems are different, and everyone’s personalities, strong points, and the things that they’re good at, are also different. Therefore, everyone has their own personal conditions, their own difficulties, and their own different thoughts and views. However, no matter how different people’s own conditions are, and no matter how different their abilities, calibers, height of vision, personalities, and habits are, human beings’ corrupt dispositions and nature essence are the same. That is, no matter how different the various conditions of people’s humanity are, people possess the same common traits. Why do human beings have the same common traits? Because the disposition essence which human beings depend on for survival is the same. Therefore, after the states and problems of all kinds of people have been exposed, what human beings need to do is to practice according to the truths and principles required by God, and then the common problems of humankind will be resolved. No matter your personality or caliber, no matter how capable you are, and no matter whether you are male or female, or whether you were born in the West or the East, or whether you are from the South or the North, as long as your corrupt dispositions are resolved through accepting the truth, accepting the judgment and chastisement of God’s words, and through practicing the truth, your difficulties will be resolved. This means that all the various states that arise in people in the context of the common problems of human beings can also be resolved. Why do various states arise in people? It is because the inherent conditions of humanity that each person possesses are different. For example, if you live in the South, and you have some living habits and patterns of southerners, and you also develop some personality and lifestyle traits that are specific to southerners, then with this kind of background, you will develop some particular notions and imaginings, particular thoughts and views, and particular states. If you were born in the North, you would have the personality and living habits of northerners, or some states that arise out of the customs, cultural background, education methods, and other such things which are intrinsic to northerners. In this way, the states that arise in people who live in the South and the North are different. However, the root cause and essence of states that arise from a single problem are the same, so they can all be resolved with the same truths. This being the case, it doesn’t matter whether you are from the North or the South, or from the East or the West; as long as you are a created human being, your problems can all be solved with truths. Have you understood? Is this issue complicated? (Now that I’ve heard it explained, I feel that it isn’t complicated anymore.) Why do you say that this issue isn’t complicated? (Although people’s own conditions, backgrounds, and personalities are different, and this naturally gives rise to different states, the root cause of these different states is the same, and people’s corrupt essence is the same. No matter how much corrupt disposition people reveal, it can be resolved with the same truths; therefore, truths can resolve the problems of every person.) Regardless of whether people are from the South, the North, the East, or the West, regardless of whether they are male or female, young or old, and regardless of what their own conditions are, their corrupt dispositions are the same, and the various states, thoughts and views, and attitudes toward the truth that these corrupt dispositions give rise to have a common trait. What is this common trait? Everything that arises out of these corrupt dispositions is of Satan and does not accord with the truth; of course, to be more specific, it could be said that it is contrary to the truth. Therefore, no matter what differences there are between the races, religions, or cultures of corrupt humankind, and no matter whether people have yellow, white, brown, or black skin, they are all corrupt human beings, and human beings all have the same essence of resisting God. This is something they have in common. Therefore, regardless of which country people are from or what race they are, they are collectively referred to as corrupt human beings. That is, regardless of whether these races of people are superior or humble, poor or rich in terms of their skin color, appearance, life habits, or racial culture, and regardless of what education they have received, in any case, the rules which they rely on for their survival come from Satan, are inconsistent with the truth, and are resistant to God. Even if people belong to an affluent, noble race with a lofty religious background, their essence is still that of corrupt human beings, they are still the ilk of Satan that resists God, they are still corrupt humans, they are all resistant to God, they are all those who are judged and chastised within God’s work, and the ones among them who can accept the truth are those whom God intends to save. What is the implication of this? It is that before you are saved, no matter how lofty your cultural background, educational background, and religious background are, your essence is still resistant to God and hostile to God. As such, the essence of human beings will not change because of their skin color, religion, country of birth, or their educational background or cultural background. Similarly, no matter what race a person is, they will not become noble or lowly in the eyes of God because of their own conditions. So in the eyes of God, what is the standard for evaluating whether people are noble or lowly? There is only one standard, and that is whether or not you accept the truth. If you accept the truth, then no matter your race or the color of your skin, you are noble. If you do not accept the truth, then even if you say, “I have white skin, blond hair, and blue eyes, and my family has been royalty for generations,” there is no use in that! Even if you are noble among humankind, if you do not accept the truth, then in God’s eyes you are still a corrupt human being, you are the same as any other corrupt human being—there is no difference. No matter how many members of the human race look up to you, revere you, and present offerings to you, it serves no use and will not change your status, identity, and essence in God’s eyes. God’s standard for evaluating humankind—which of course is also God’s fixed high benchmark and standard for evaluating humankind—is to evaluate them by the truth. If you love the truth and practice the truth, then you are noble; if you do not practice the truth, then this old flesh of yours is a corrupt human being; it is not worth a penny, and is not even as valuable as an ant on the ground. With the exception of microorganisms that people cannot see, ants are relatively small among all living things. Their living patterns, survival rules, and instincts fully adhere to the laws set by God. Their work-and-rest schedule changes according to the climate and fluctuating temperatures of the four seasons, and they will never proactively change these patterns and rules. But humans are different. Humans always want to change the status quo and the world, they always have ambitions, and they constantly engage in betrayal and rebellion. Although ants don’t have the faculty to accept the truth, nor the capability to comprehend the truth, at the very least they do not resist God. Humans are different; they will actively come forward to attack and resist God. Therefore, in God’s eyes, human beings who have not gained the truth and have not been saved are worth nothing. Isn’t this a fact? (It is.) Evaluating and characterizing people based on this fact completely accords with the truth principles. Through fellowshipping on these issues, people should have a correct view and understanding of the essence of humankind and the effect that God’s work intends to achieve. After you understand this aspect of the truth, won’t you be less constrained when you preach the gospel to people or when you associate and fellowship with them, no matter what type of person they are—regardless of whether they have a religious background or not, whether they have standing and status in society or low social status, and whether they are white or a person of color? (Yes.) If you don’t understand these truths, you’ll always tend to view people of other races highly, or feel that you can’t fathom them, and don’t know how to fellowship or interact with them. Doesn’t understanding these truths assist you in associating with those people? It will help you to view the entire human race from the right stance and from the right viewpoint. This is the benefit of understanding the truth. When you understand the truth, your perspective on things will be right and it will also be relatively broad-minded, and not so narrow-minded. Otherwise, you will always lack confidence as a leader or worker. Firstly, you will feel that you lack life experience. Secondly, you will feel that you haven’t had enough experiences. Thirdly, you will feel that you aren’t good at speaking and cannot see through the states of most people; in particular, when you see older people, you will be afraid and nervous, and you won’t dare to speak. Some people say, “Especially when I see that longtime religious believers have some knowledge of the Bible, I don’t know how to preach the gospel to them, and I get scared and feel inferior to them.” You understand so many truths, so what is it that you are scared of? Isn’t this not being able to see through matters? Once people understand the truth, they should be able to resolve these matters and problems, and they will no longer be constrained by these things.

What aspects of truth have you understood through the topics that we’ve fellowshipped on today? Are you clear on God’s work, and on how God saves people, God’s methods for saving people, and the aspects of people that God changes? (Yes.) Now that you are clear on these things, don’t you feel even more the importance of practicing the truth and of evaluating everything by the truth? (Yes.) Don’t you think even more that it is extremely important to pursue and understand the truth? If someone doesn’t understand the truth, then they cannot see through any matter, they cannot see through all types of people, and they cannot see through people from all countries and ethnicities, and so they are a fool, a moron. When some individuals see people that wear glasses, they assume that they are professors or intellectuals, and so they feel constrained and do not dare speak, and whenever they see tall and good-looking people, they feel inferior to them. After understanding the truth, won’t people basically not be affected by these things? In one respect, they will not constrain themselves; in another respect, they will—to a certain extent—improve their attitude and viewpoint with regard to dealing with people and things, and they will also have some insight into it. This will be beneficial for the performance of their duty, especially when it comes to the performance of work by leaders and workers at all levels. After people have understood the targets and true significance of God’s work, how should they act in order to approach their own inherent conditions correctly? How many principles are there? (The ones I can think of are that people should view their own personality, caliber, and other conditions correctly, stop pursuing supernatural things and stop seeking to be superhuman, do whatever they are capable of doing to the best of their ability, and not force themselves to achieve what is beyond their reach. That way, their life will be more liberated, and their humanity will become more and more normal.) First of all, if you want to avoid doing foolish or stupid things, you must first understand your own conditions: What your caliber is like, what your strengths are, what you are good at, and what you are not good at, as well as what things you can and cannot do based on your age, gender, the knowledge you possess, and your insights and life experience. That is, you should be clear about what your strong points and weaknesses are in the duty you perform and the work you do, and what the deficiencies and merits of your own personality are. Once you are clear on your own conditions, merits, and shortcomings, you should then look at which merits and strong points should be maintained, which shortcomings and flaws can be overcome, and which ones cannot be overcome at all—you must be clear about these things. In order to achieve this clarity, in one regard, you should seek the truth, ponder on and gain knowledge of these things through comparing God’s words to your actual situation, and, at the same time, pray for God to reveal these things. In another regard, you can also ask the brothers and sisters around you and have them give you prompts and pointers. That way, you will have a deeper understanding of yourself, and you will have more ideas and clues when it comes to the matter of knowing yourself. There are some problems that cannot be resolved by people. For example, you may be prone to becoming nervous when speaking to others; when you are faced with situations, you may have your own ideas and viewpoints but cannot articulate them clearly. You feel particularly nervous when many people are present; you speak incoherently and your mouth trembles. Some people even stutter; for others, if there are members of the opposite sex present, they are even less intelligible, simply not knowing what to say or what to do. Is this easy to overcome? (No.) At least in the short term, it’s not easy for you to overcome this flaw because it’s part of your innate conditions. If after several months of practicing you are still nervous, the nervousness will turn into pressure, which will negatively affect you by making you afraid to speak, meet people, attend gatherings, or give sermons, and these fears will crush you. So what should you do? You can ponder this issue and talk about it with others; see what mindset others have when they encounter this problem, and how they solve it, and then you should also practice this way yourself. Let’s say that during today’s gathering you are in pretty good form; you are in a cheerful mood, and what’s more, you are also moved by reading God’s words, and feel a particular desire to express yourself. It just so happens that it is a small group gathering with only a few people, so you try fellowshipping a few words and feel pretty good about it, and not nervous. In this situation, when you aren’t under any pressure and haven’t prepared at all, you freely express yourself very well, and everyone is really moved and edified by it. Isn’t this progress? Just start practicing talking and fellowshipping in small group gatherings, where there are few people, and gradually you will be able to speak normally, and your nerves will fade away little by little. Practicing this way will achieve the best results. First, choose a small group gathering where there are few people or an informal setting to practice this, talking and fellowshipping in an off-the-cuff manner, as if you were chatting, in order to overcome this flaw of yours. Sometimes, after speaking for a minute you may feel a little nervous, you may feel less confident the more you talk, and you may have less to say the more you go on; in such cases, don’t talk anymore—quickly finish up and stop. Sometimes, after you have been speaking for a while, everyone may be willing to listen and feel very liberated; in such an atmosphere, your nerves and stress will be dispelled without you realizing it. Only under such circumstances can this flaw of yours be gradually improved—but it will not be overcome. If you feel that after training for a month, your state has not improved much, and even a kind of pressure arises in your heart, making you more and more nervous, which affects your normal work, life, and performance of duty, then you don’t need to continue training. It is enough if you can do your duty normally. Just focus on doing your duty well—this is correct. Keep that defect, that flaw, in your heart, silently pray to God, and then find suitable occasions to work at speaking and associating with people, expressing what you want to say by articulating every word, speaking with structure and clarity. This way, your defect, this flaw, will gradually improve. It is possible that after a year or two, you may become more mature with age and more familiar with the people around you, and their gaze, opinions, and the atmosphere created when everyone is together might no longer create pressure, bondage, or constraint for you—then your flaw might be overcome and resolved among these people. This is the type of person who has the most severe form of this flaw; they can only overcome it through long-term tempering and training in such environments. Of course, there are also people who gradually resolve this flaw in a short period of three to five months. They are not nervous when interacting and talking with others in ordinary situations, except when facing large occasions. Therefore, if you can overcome this defect, this flaw, in the short term, then do so. If it is difficult to overcome, then don’t bother with it, don’t struggle against it, and don’t challenge yourself. Of course, if you cannot overcome it, you should not feel negative. Even if you can never overcome it in your lifetime, God will not condemn you, for this is not your corrupt disposition. Your stage fright, your nervousness and fear—these manifestations do not reflect your corrupt disposition; whether they are innate or caused by the environment later in life, at most, they are a defect, a flaw of your humanity. If you cannot change it in the long term, or even in your lifetime, do not dwell on it, do not let it constrain you, nor should you become negative because of it, for this is not your corrupt disposition; there is no use in trying to change it or struggle against it. If you cannot change it, then accept it, let it exist, and treat it correctly, because you can coexist with this defect, this flaw—your having it does not affect your following God and doing your duties. As long as you can accept the truth and do your duties to the best of your abilities, you can still be saved; it does not affect your acceptance of the truth and does not affect your attaining salvation. Therefore, you should not often be constrained by a certain defect or flaw in your humanity, nor should you often become negative and discouraged, or even give up your duty and give up pursuing the truth, missing the chance to be saved, for the same reason. It’s totally not worth it; that is what a foolish, ignorant person would do.

Some people can only reach middle notes when they sing and cannot get to the high notes no matter how much they train at it. So, what can be done about this? Just sing notes within the middle and low ranges; it’s fine to just sing those notes well. If you constantly want to challenge yourself, saying, “I’m good at singing middle notes. I want to challenge myself to reach high notes,” then even if you succeed in this challenge, it will be meaningless, and it will not mean that you have obtained the truth. At best, it will just mean that you have acquired an extra skill, you can do an extra duty, you can sing some more songs, and you can be in the limelight a bit more. But so what? Does being in the limelight more mean that you are practicing the truth more? Is there a connection between these two things? (No.) If you can sing middle notes, then sing them well. If you can’t sing high notes well, but insist on straining to sing them, and you end up not being able to sing them correctly, and also make yourself ill from exhaustion, God will not remember this. It doesn’t matter whether you can sing high notes or middle notes, as long as you can sing well, and be loyal and give your all in your duty, without being perfunctory, or being slippery and slacking off, or recklessly committing misdeeds, or spouting high-sounding ideas, and you strive—whether in terms of technique, emotion, tonal quality, and notes—to sing in a standard, beautiful way that touches the heart, and to sing in a way that can move people, quieten people’s hearts before God, and edify people when they listen to you, then this is doing your duty in a way that is up to standard. If you always want to challenge your limits, and always want to make personal breakthroughs and surpass yourself, this is revealing your satanic corrupt disposition, and it is not doing your duty. After you have done your own work properly, and done what you are able to achieve properly, it is fine for you to learn something useful for your duty in your spare time, but this is not what God requires. Suppose that you sing middle notes well, and in your spare time you practice singing high notes. After a period of time, you make a breakthrough, and after two to three years of hard work you are also able to sing high notes well. You are able to sing both middle and high notes, and fulfill both of these duties; you are able to do both of these duties according to the truth principles, and to sing with all your heart, without being perfunctory, being slippery or slacking off, or spouting high-sounding ideas. This is even better, it is a good deed, and God will remember it. But say that you cannot achieve this, and still always think, “God has high expectations of me, aren’t I being slippery and slacking off if I only sing middle notes? God is not satisfied!” That is your own imagining. You are speculating about God, and engaging in the practice of “assessing the noble by the standards of the ignoble.” God has placed no such requirements on you. What God requires of you is for you to do well that which you ought to do within the scope of your inherent caliber and abilities, and if you do it well according to the principles required by God, then God will have already given you full marks. But if you do not try to do well that which you are able to achieve, and you do not do it according to the principles, and you are always slippery and slacking off and always want to spout high-sounding ideas, and you do not practice the various singing techniques, but still want to challenge your limits, then you acting like this is devoid of reason, it is a manifestation of arrogance and ignorance, and God will not be pleased. He will absolutely not say, “This person can sing middle notes and they are trying to sing high notes too. Although they can’t sing the high notes well, this is quite conscientious of them, and that is enough.” God will not view you in that way, so don’t feel good about yourself. God only observes whether you conduct yourself in a manner befitting your station, and whether you are someone who does the duties of a created being well. He observes whether, in your performance of your duty, you put all your heart and strength into it under the inherent conditions God has given you, and whether you act according to principles and achieve the results God desires. If you can accomplish all of these things, God gives you full marks. Suppose that you don’t do things in accordance with God’s requirements, and even if you try hard and put in effort, all that you do is just flaunting and showing yourself off, and you do not act according to the truth principles or give all your heart and strength to satisfy God in the performance of your duty. In that case, your manifestations and behavior are detestable to God. Why does God detest them? God says you are not focusing on proper tasks, you haven’t put all your heart, strength, or mind into the performance of your duty, and you’re not walking the right path. The caliber, gifts, and talents God has given you are already sufficient—it’s just that you are not satisfied, not devoted to your duty, never knowing your place, always wanting to spout high-sounding ideas and show off, ultimately making a mess of your duties. You haven’t brought into play the caliber, gifts, and talents given to you by God, you have not made a full effort, and you have not achieved any results. Although you may be quite busy, God says you are like a buffoon, not a person who knows their place and is focused on their proper tasks. God does not like such people. Therefore, no matter what your plans and goals are, if you ultimately don’t come to do your duty according to the principles required by God with all your heart, all your mind, and all your strength, on the basis of the inherent caliber, gifts, talents, abilities, and other conditions that God has given you, then God will not remember what you have done, and you will not be doing your duty, but rather, you will be doing evil.

Have you understood the principle of practice for how to correctly approach your innate conditions—that is, your own conditions, merits, and shortcomings? (Yes.) What is the first step? First, make the absolute most of the inherent and existing gifts, abilities, and strengths that God has given you, as well as the technical or professional skills that you are able to attain and achieve, and don’t hold back. If you have come to satisfy God in terms of all these things and you feel that you can still reach greater heights, then take a look at which technical or professional skills you can improve or make a breakthrough in, within the scope of what your caliber can achieve. You can continue to learn and improve based on what you can attain with your own caliber. So, how should one practice letting go of their notions and imaginings about God’s work? First of all, you have to understand what your innate conditions are, what God has given you, how you should use these things, and how to unleash their full potential and make the absolute most of them, and turn them into basic conditions—rather than obstacles—for you coming to do your duty devotedly. Understand your own strong points and let them come into play. Understand your own flaws and defects and if you can change them within a short period of time, do so; if they are not easy to change, don’t let them become stumbling blocks or obstacles in the process of doing your duty, don’t be constrained or influenced by them, and don’t be fettered or bound hand and foot by them. Say, for example, that you are born with poor health and a weak constitution, and you constantly want to overcome this, and want to be able to eat, drink, and stay up late like a normal person, but God has not given you that capital. Then you should deal with each day based on your own conditions, and do things according to the principles required by God. Don’t challenge yourself, and don’t let your own flaws and defects become stumbling blocks and obstacles on your path of following God, doing your duty, and pursuing the truth; don’t let them become a trigger for you to be negative, and even more so, don’t give up pursuing the truth or doing your duty, or feel envy and hatred toward others just because you have certain defects, flaws, and inadequacies—there should be none of this. You must approach your own defects and flaws correctly; if you cannot change them, you should allow them to exist, and then seek the truth to understand God’s intentions, and be able to approach them correctly, and not be constrained by them. Why do you have to do that? This is the reason that normal humanity should have. If your humanity’s reason is normal, you should face your defects and flaws in the correct manner; you should acknowledge and accept them. This is beneficial for you. Accepting them does not mean being constrained by them, nor does it mean often being negative because of them, but rather it means not being constrained by them, recognizing that you are just an ordinary member of corrupt humankind, with your own flaws and defects, with nothing to boast of, that it is God who exalts people to do their duty, and that God intends to work His word and life into them, enabling them to achieve salvation and escape Satan’s influence—that this is entirely God exalting people. Everyone has flaws and defects. You should allow your flaws and defects to coexist with yourself; do not avoid them or cover them up, and do not often feel repressed inside or even always feel inferior because of them. You are not inferior; if you can do your duty with all your heart, all your strength, and all your mind, to the best of your ability, and you have a sincere heart, then you are as precious as gold before God. If you cannot pay a price and lack loyalty in doing your duty, then even if your innate conditions are better than those of the average person, you are not precious before God, you are not even worth a grain of sand. Have you understood? (Yes.) Whether it be your natural looks, your natural caliber and talents, or the defects and inadequacies of some aspect of your humanity, do not let it constrain you and affect your loyalty and submission to God, do not let it affect your pursuit of the truth, and of course, even more so do not let it affect the great matter of your salvation. You should approach your defects and inadequacies correctly and let them coexist with you, meaning that you should no longer try to change them, because they will not impact in the slightest your performance of your duty with all your heart, mind, and strength, and of course, they also will not affect your performance of your duty according to the principles, and even less will they affect your lifelong pursuit of the truth in your belief in God, or affect how you view people or things and how you conduct yourself and act in the process of pursuing the truth. Of course, you shouldn’t always make demands of yourself, thinking, “Don’t show this flaw, don’t let others see my defects, and don’t let others look down their nose at me!” If you do, then you will live a very tiring life. If you allow your defects and flaws to coexist with you, then allow them to exist, and even if others see your defects, this may even be beneficial to you, and also a protection, which will prevent you from becoming arrogant and conceited. Of course, for many people it takes courage for them to reveal their own defects and flaws. Some people say, “Everyone reveals their own strong points and merits. Who would deliberately reveal their own weak points and defects?” It’s not that you deliberately reveal them, but that you allow them to be revealed. For example, if you are timid and often feel nervous speaking when there are a lot of people around, you can take the initiative to tell others, “I get nervous easily when speaking; I just ask that everyone be understanding and not find fault with me.” You take the initiative to reveal your defects and flaws to everyone, so that they can be understanding and tolerate you, and so that everyone gets to know you. The more everyone gets to know you, the more at ease your heart will be, and the less you will be constrained by your defects and flaws. This will actually be beneficial and helpful to you. Always covering up your defects and flaws proves that you don’t want to coexist with them. If you allow them to coexist with you, you have to reveal them; don’t feel ashamed or discouraged, and don’t feel inferior to others, or think that you are no good and have no hope of being saved. As long as you can pursue the truth, and you can do your duty with all your heart, all your strength, and all your mind according to the principles, and your heart is sincere, and you are not being perfunctory toward God, then you have hope of being saved. If someone says, “Look at how useless and timid you are. You get so nervous over just speaking a few words, and your whole face turns red,” then you should say, “I have poor caliber and I’m not good at speaking. If you encourage me, then I will have the courage to practice speaking.” Don’t think that you are no good, or that you’re an embarrassment. Since you know that these are your defects and problems with your humanity, you should face up to them and accept them. Don’t be affected in any way due to them. As for when these defects and flaws will change, don’t concern yourself with that. Just focus on living and doing your duty normally in this way. You just have to remember: These defects and flaws of humanity are not negative things or corrupt dispositions, and as long as they are not corrupt dispositions, they will not impact your performance of your duty or your pursuit of the truth, and even less will they impact your attainment of salvation; of course, what’s even more important is that they won’t impact how God views you. Doesn’t that put your mind at ease? (Yes.) If you still worry about being looked down on by other people, that’s a problem of your arrogant disposition, and you must resolve this arrogant disposition. This is the path of practice for approaching your own defects and flaws correctly. Doesn’t practicing in this way make it easy for you to let go of these things and no longer be constrained by them? (It does.)

Will the normal performance of a person’s duty and the defects and flaws of their humanity have an effect on each other? (Through God’s fellowship, I now understand that defects and flaws of humanity are not corrupt dispositions, and that they will not affect people’s normal performance of their duties. As long as people do their duties according to the truth principles, they will get good results. As for defects and inadequacies of humanity, if we are able to overcome them, then we can do so. If we cannot overcome them in a short period of time, then we should allow them to exist, and be able to approach them correctly.) If you have a low level of education, but you need to employ academic knowledge in your duty, isn’t this a kind of deficiency? (It is.) So how can this difficulty be resolved? (I can do a duty that suits me instead based on my education level. Or, if this duty suits me, but it requires a certain amount of academic knowledge, I can seek out some educated brothers and sisters to cooperate with me—we can use one another’s strengths to make up for our weaknesses, and fulfill this duty together.) Can the truth make up for a low level of education? (It can, because when a person has the truth, they can see through things.) Education is something at the level of knowledge. No matter how knowledgeable you are, if you don’t understand the truth, then when you speak or write articles, you will only be able to use correct grammar, you won’t be able to explain clearly or resolve issues that relate to the truth. Therefore, education is not important; the truth is more important than education. Of course, if you do not have a foundation of education, and if the duty you do involves academic knowledge, you won’t be competent in it. However, if you understand the truth, you can guide other people—you can carry out vetting in terms of the truth principles. If you have a low level of education and lack the ability to express yourself, and you want to preach sermons or fellowship on the truth, you can seek out an educated person to help you tidy up your drafts. Then it will be easy for you to achieve results when you fellowship or preach. However, at the very least, you must understand the truth. If you do not understand the truth, and you are also uneducated, you won’t be able to do duties that involve academic knowledge, and so you should do a duty that suits your education level. Doesn’t this resolve the problem? (It does.) So, pursuing the truth is the most important thing, no matter from which perspective you view it. You can avoid the defects and deficiencies of humanity, but you can never evade the path of pursuing the truth. Regardless of how perfect or noble your humanity may be, or whether you may have fewer flaws and defects, and possess more strengths, than other people, this does not signify that you understand the truth, nor can it replace your pursuit of the truth. On the contrary, if you pursue the truth, understand a lot of the truth, and have an adequately deep and practical understanding of it, this will make up for many defects and problems in your humanity. For example, say that you are timid and introverted, you have a stutter, and you’re not very well-educated—that is, you have a lot of defects and inadequacies—but you have practical experience, and though you stutter when you talk, you can fellowship the truth clearly, and this fellowship edifies everybody when they hear it, resolves problems, enables people to emerge from negativity, and dispels their complaints and misunderstandings about God. See, though you stammer out your words, they can resolve problems—how important these words are! When laymen hear them, they say that you are an uneducated person, and you don’t follow grammar rules when you speak, and sometimes the words you use aren’t really fitting either. It may be that you use regional lingo, or everyday language, and that your words lack the class and style of those of highly educated people who speak very eloquently. However, your fellowship contains the truth reality, it can resolve people’s difficulties, and after people hear it, all the dark clouds around them disappear, and all their problems are solved. You see, isn’t understanding the truth important? (It is.) Say that you do not understand the truth, and even though you have some academic knowledge and you speak eloquently, when everyone hears you talk, they think, “Your words are just doctrines, there isn’t the slightest bit of the truth reality in them, and they can’t resolve real problems at all, so aren’t these words of yours all empty? You don’t understand the truth. Aren’t you simply a Pharisee?” Though you spoke many doctrines, the problems remain unresolved, and you think to yourself, “I was speaking quite sincerely and earnestly. Why haven’t you understood what I said?” You spoke a whole load of doctrines, but those who were negative remain negative, and those who had misunderstandings about God still have those misunderstandings, and none of the difficulties that exist in their performance of their duties have been resolved—this means that the words you spoke were just drivel. No matter how many defects and flaws there are in your humanity, if the words you speak contain the truth reality, then your fellowship can resolve problems; if the words you speak are doctrines, and they are devoid of the slightest bit of practical knowledge, then no matter how much you talk, you will not be able to resolve people’s real problems. No matter how people view you, as long as the things you say do not accord with the truth, and they cannot address people’s states, or resolve people’s difficulties, then people will not want to listen to them. So, which is more important: the truth or people’s own conditions? (The truth is more important.) Pursuing the truth and understanding the truth are the most important things. So, no matter what defects you have in terms of your humanity or your innate conditions, you must not be constrained by them. Instead, you should pursue the truth, and make up for your various defects by understanding the truth, and if you discover some shortcomings in yourself, you should hurry to correct them. Some people don’t focus on pursuing the truth, and instead always focus on resolving the difficulties, flaws, and defects in their humanity, and rectifying the problems with their humanity, and it turns out that they put in several years of effort without getting clear results, and consequently they feel disappointed with themselves, and think that their humanity is too poor and that they’re irredeemable. Isn’t this very foolish?

Some people appear gentle, tolerant, and forbearing; they speak with refinement and carry out work as quickly and as vigorously as a lightning bolt and with a commanding presence. Their humanity seems quite perfect, and they have the standard demeanor of a leadership figure. However, they understand no truths whatsoever, they try to use doctrines to resolve every kind of problem, and they are incapable of doing any substantive work or implementing work arrangements. Are they not useless? These are standard Pharisees. Outwardly, Pharisees are impeccably dressed, dignified, and poised; they are cultivated, well-versed in etiquette, polite, loving, tolerant, and patient. Their deportment is exceptionally proper, and they speak to others with particular gentleness, modesty, and humility. You can’t see any imperfections, cracks, or defects in them. Judging by their humanity, they seem particularly reliable, insightful, refined, and graceful, just like the cultured and elegant gentlemen spoken of by Chinese people. Their humanity appears perfect, and outwardly, no fault can be found with them, but do they understand God’s intentions? Do they understand the principles for doing all kinds of things? These people can speak for hours at every gathering, and those who don’t understand the truth prostrate themselves in admiration, thinking that they speak in a very eloquent manner, and express themselves in a very clear and logical way. But those who do understand the truth know after listening to these individuals that what they speak is all doctrine, and that it doesn’t resolve people’s actual difficulties by targeting their problems. These individuals disregard what people’s real difficulties actually are, and only know how to preach empty doctrines and speak endlessly about lofty and hollow theories. After speaking, they even feel quite pleased with themselves, thinking they understand the truth and possess the truth reality. In fact, what they seek is merely to disguise the outward appearance of their humanity to make it seem perfect and elegant, making it appear lofty and grand. However, their essence and corrupt dispositions that resist God haven’t changed in the slightest. Their notions about God, their rebelliousness toward Him, their misunderstandings, guardedness, and suspicions regarding God, and especially their unreasonable demands and extravagant desires toward God fill their entire minds. They do not pursue the truth at all, nor do they accept the truth at all. So, to describe their humanity as “perfect” is using “perfect” in a derogatory sense, because no humanity is perfect; their “perfection” is purely a facade and a disguise. Humanity without defects does not exist; it is a facade, do not believe them. The more perfect someone appears on the outside, the more you must guard against them, observe them, and discern them. How do you discern them? Interact with them more, talk with them more, and see if they understand themselves. Suppose that they say, “I am a devil, I am a Satan, I resist God, I am corrupt! I am a sinner, an arch-sinner, God does not find me pleasing, God detests me!” or, “I am blind and foolish, poor and pitiful! I am filthy, I am unclean!” Are there any actual facts in these words? Is there any substantive understanding? (No.) They have no understanding whatsoever of their own corrupt dispositions; they don’t even acknowledge the fact that they have corrupt dispositions. They just learn to speak some empty words and some theories. These empty words and theories are not understanding that comes from what they have felt or experienced in the depths of their hearts; they are just nice-sounding words, they are all a facade that they’re presenting. If you then ask them to talk about their own experiences, how they came to understand their own corrupt dispositions, and what pruning they have undergone and which of God’s words they have then read to resolve their corrupt dispositions, they act as if they didn’t hear you, and again speak a pile of useless words: “My caliber is poor, I was born a sinner, I’m a lowly person in a dung heap, I’m unworthy of God’s salvation! I have corrupt dispositions, and I’m not able to bear testimony to God wherever I am; I just like having status.” If you ask how they have tried to resolve this, they will still give you an unrelated answer in response: “People shouldn’t have status; once people have status, they’re finished. Pursuing status is an extravagant desire. Just try to be the least significant person, and no matter where you go, sit on the lowest stool, sit in the most inconspicuous place. People must be humble; this is called humility.” Have they undergone any substantive change? Have they had any real experiences? (No.) Neither of these things has happened. Do they have any understanding of their own corrupt dispositions? (No.) They have no understanding of them. So, do they accept the truth or God’s words? (No.) People who do not acknowledge that they have corrupt dispositions never accept the truth. If they did accept the truth, they would compare their every word and action and their revelations of corruption against God’s words. When they revealed corruption, they would reflect on themselves, asking themselves why, within such-and-such a context, they revealed corruption, and what they were thinking and what they were governed by at the time. Through the exposure of God’s words and making comparisons, they would discover that this is a corrupt disposition, and that they are not as sanctified or pure as they imagined, that it turns out that they too possess deceitfulness, selfish intentions, ambitions, and desires, and that they simply are not people who possess the truth reality. Have they had such experiences? No. They have said many words, but there is not a single fact which proves they acknowledge that they have corrupt dispositions. They have believed in God for so many years, yet they have no experience whatsoever of the truth. They only speak doctrines, only ponder how to put up a facade and adorn themselves to cover up the flaws and defects of their humanity. They adorn themselves with the external behaviors, actions, facial expressions, bearing, and demeanor of false spirituality, while keeping their corrupt dispositions tightly, firmly, and securely bundled up inside them. They do not accept in the slightest any of the various issues or statements that God exposes concerning man’s corrupt dispositions, nor do they take note of them or take them to heart; they just put effort into the outward appearance of their humanity. If you then ask them to talk about their understanding of God’s words, whether they have any true understanding or appreciation of His words of chastisement and judgment, His words that expose mankind’s corrupt dispositions, or His words on God’s disposition, they avoid these practical topics and again spout a stream of spiritual theories: “God is the Creator, God holds sovereignty over all things, God’s deeds are wondrous! God is worthy of being praised and extolled, God is unique, God’s authority and power are supreme!” People say, “Then talk about your own experience. In what matter did you see God’s disposition and God’s holiness?” They reply, “God is too great, man is too insignificant, man is unworthy! In God’s eyes, man is inferior even to the ants on the ground. God exalts man!” Do they have any of this kind of understanding? (No.) They have no understanding of this sort whatsoever. What kind of person is this? (A hypocritical Pharisee.) This is a hypocritical Pharisee. They do not accept the truth in the slightest; God’s words and the truth are merely slogans and doctrines in their eyes. They do usually read God’s words, write spiritual devotion notes, and attend gatherings and pray-read God’s words—they perform all these procedures without missing a single one or leaving any out. So, what have they absorbed from reading these words of God? What have they gained? They do not read God’s words to understand the truth, much less to match His words to their own corrupt dispositions, their notions and imaginings, or their distorted thoughts and views, so that they can resolve their problems, and come to have a path to follow in their practice. They read God’s words to equip themselves with doctrines so they can lecture and teach others lessons at gatherings. What they say differs each time, and they can talk continually for a long time, selecting different words of God to fellowship on for different people, aiming to make others esteem and worship them. Some people are particularly adept at disguising themselves—how despicable can they even get? When they listen to words that I’ve spoken and find them useful, they memorize them, and then look for opportunities to show off during gatherings. In particular, when they are among groups of new believers—people who haven’t heard many sermons, and who can’t remember God’s words even if they have read some—they exploit this opportunity and begin to show off and flaunt themselves among those newcomers. After listening to them, everyone thinks, “This person has been enlightened by the Holy Spirit, they are spiritual.” Using such means to flaunt themselves in order to gain others’ esteem and worship—is this not despicable? Is this not misleading people? (Yes.) This is misleading people.

If, throughout your life, you seek the truth principles and seek God’s words as the basis to resolve your corrupt dispositions and the things in you that are incompatible with the truth, then in the end you will surely be someone who attains salvation. But suppose that, throughout your life, you focus your efforts on and seek paths for resolving the flaws and defects of your humanity, devising all kinds of means to rid yourself of any flaws and defects, so that you may become someone who is different from the rest, perfect, and faultless. Some people even say, “I want to become a pure person, a lofty and grand person, someone who transcends all normal humanity.” Let Me tell you: By doing this, you have failed! No matter what flaw or defect of your humanity you try to resolve, it has nothing to do with your salvation, because you are not pursuing the truth to resolve your corrupt dispositions. If you do resolve the defects and flaws of your humanity, then at most this just means that no flaws of humanity can be seen in you from the outside, and you appear to be perfect and refined on the surface. Forget about the fact that the flaws and defects of your humanity are fundamentally impossible to change; even if they were changed, your greater flaws and defects—your corrupt dispositions—are still hidden within you! The more you put up a facade and pursue a perfect humanity that’s devoid of any defects, the more your corrupt dispositions will deeply and tightly entangle and bind you, making you even more arrogant, deceitful, wicked, and intransigent. And what is the consequence of this? It makes you drift further from the truth and from the path of pursuing the truth. Ultimately, elimination will be your outcome, and you will be done for. There is no chance that God will make an exception and save you just because you are outwardly perfect or appear to be a pure person. On the contrary, the more you pursue a perfect humanity without any defects, the more God will detest you and not work on you. However, some people often feel remorse and sadness because they reveal corrupt dispositions. While feeling remorse, they develop the resolve to pursue the truth, they are able to suffer hardship and pay a price to gain the truth, they persist in reading God’s words daily, and pray to God and seek the truth in all matters. In this way, they become increasingly clear about the truth, gradually achieving some entry, gains, and actual living out with respect to all aspects of the truth. Ultimately, when faced with all kinds of people, events, and things, they have corresponding truth principles to practice and to carry out vetting with. After many years of experience, through God’s chastisement and judgment, pruning, and also through the price they have paid in pursuing the truth, they gradually come to have the truth as their life within them. Their hope of salvation grows ever greater, and the likelihood of them rebelling against and betraying God becomes ever smaller. Although the defects and flaws of their humanity and their inherent conditions basically remain unchanged, their corrupt dispositions steadily subside, they resist and rebel against God less frequently, they are increasingly liked by God, increasingly edifying to others, and increasingly fit for use. If people like this continue down this path, then they will surely be those who attain salvation; these are the ones God’s work intends to save. Observe the people around you. See who always persistently puts effort into appearances, into the defects, flaws, and weaknesses of their humanity, doing their utmost to cover up and disguise themselves to gain others’ esteem, admiration, and worship, and to have status in people’s hearts—people of this type are Pharisees. Pharisees have only one final result: to perish together with the mouse. So I say that people of this type are done for and eliminated.

From beginning to end, the work God does is not to change the defects and flaws in people’s humanity, it is only to restore the conscience and reason of normal humanity. What God wants to change is people’s corrupt dispositions. Of course, God also often speaks of getting rid of people’s corrupt dispositions and thereby enabling them to attain salvation. So, on what foundation is the restoration of normal humanity built? It is built on the foundation of people having cast off their corrupt dispositions. People’s normal humanity gradually being restored means that their conscience gains feeling, their reason becomes increasingly normal, and they are able to do right things and say right words from the perspective of normal humanity; they do not cause disruptions or disturbances, their speech and actions are not impulsive, blind, or impetuous, but are based entirely on the principles of God’s words, their reason is particularly normal, and their humanity is particularly upright and kind. So, on what basis can these things be achieved, and this degree of restoration be reached? It is achieved on the basis of people’s corrupt dispositions being changed, on people casting off their corrupt dispositions through practicing the truth and accepting God’s judgment and chastisement. However, if your corrupt dispositions are not changed or cast off, then even if your humanity is relatively good and you possess some conscience and reason, without the truth as your life, your conscience and reason cannot take charge, and you will still often be influenced, instigated, and incited by your corrupt dispositions to do things that go against your conscience and reason. Therefore, even if you possess a bit of a sense of justice, it is merely a kind of wish and resolve. You merely have a bit of kind humanity, but because your corrupt dispositions are your life and control you from within, what you can achieve is merely not doing evil and not taking the initiative to cheat and harm others, which is already doing quite well. In other words, you can only ensure that you do not do evil when your own personal interests are not affected, and once your personal interests are affected, your corrupt dispositions will emerge to suppress your conscience and reason, making you defend your own interests and rights, and thus it will be very difficult for you to let conscience and reason take charge. Why is that? It is because the truth is not your life; rather, Satan’s corrupt dispositions are your life. Therefore, you can only reveal a bit of the conscience or reason of your humanity when your interests are not being harmed. As soon as your interests are harmed or threatened, your corrupt dispositions will immediately emerge to suppress your conscience and reason, making you do things that go against conscience and reason—that is, things that go against morality and moral justice—and you may even be capable of doing anything. Of course, it can be said that all these actions go against the truth; this is inevitable. Therefore, what a person lives out does not depend on the conditions of their humanity, but on what their inner life essence is. If they truly have the truth as their life, then their life contains the truth, God’s words, and the way of fearing God and shunning evil. Then their conscience and reason of normal humanity will remain in an optimal state and be able to function, enabling them to practice the truth and act according to the principles. However, if a person’s life essence is their corrupt dispositions, then their conscience and reason are reduced to the lowest standard, that is, they merely do not fall below the lowest boundary of humanity. What is this lowest boundary? “I will not attack unless I am attacked; if I am attacked, I will certainly counterattack”; “A tooth for a tooth, an eye for an eye”; “Give others a taste of their own medicine.” What else? “Better to be a true villain than a fake gentleman.” This is the lowest boundary for how many nonbelievers conduct themselves. For a nonbeliever, being able to practice this way is already pretty good. What have you understood from this? If you do not pursue the truth, your corrupt dispositions will not be cast off, your life essence will not change, and if your life essence does not change, then your conscience and reason of normal humanity will not be restored in essence, and will only, in form, not fall below the lowest boundary of humanity. However, if your corrupt dispositions have been cast off and the essence of your life has changed, then the conscience and reason of your normal humanity will, to a certain extent, be optimized and elevated. What does “optimized” and “elevated” refer to here? It means that your conscience and reason come to function normally—it’s not the case that they merely do not cross the lowest boundary, instead they reach the standard of practicing the truth. So-called good people among nonbelievers merely exhibit some conscience and reason, do not commit obvious evil acts, and do not cross the lowest boundary of moral justice. This is already doing quite well; they can be considered very good people. However, people who have the truth as their life go beyond this; they have the ability to discern right from wrong, and can identify various kinds of right and wrong, and identify various types of people. So what is their basis? It is the truth principles. They possess the truth principles—isn’t this much higher than the standard of conscience and reason? (Yes.) Because they understand the truth and have the truth as their life, and the basis by which they identify various matters is much higher than the standard of ordinary corrupt people, they will persist in acting according to the truth principles when facing complex matters. After grasping the truth principles, their minds will not be muddled and their thinking will be clear. What does clear mean? It means rational. No matter how complex the matters they encounter are, the truth principles for practice are engraved in their hearts; they have grasped the truth accurately and thoroughly, and it has already become their life. In the face of all kinds of complex people, events, and things, they have a basic criterion, which is to adhere to the truth principles. These truth principles enable them to see through to the essence of various complex things and to what the reality of the issue is; they can identify these things. This is their rationality. Is this rationality not higher than that of ordinary people? (Yes.) Then, having reached this level, has their rationality not been elevated and optimized? (Yes.) This kind of normal humanity is what God wants; God does not want muddled people. Some people say, “I’m guileless and cowardly, and I’m always being bullied,” while others say, “My caliber is really poor, and I don’t have any ability or talent.” God says that these things are not important, and that what’s important is whether you understand the truth principles. If you understand the truth principles, and you speak and act according to the standards and principles of being an honest person, then even if nonbelievers mock you as foolish, it is not true foolishness. Why? It is because, once you understand the truth principles, your reason becomes sound and optimized, higher than that of ordinary people. When you encounter any matter, you do not get muddled; you have the correct principles, stance, and goals as the basis for handling it. Your mind is lucid and your thoughts are clear. You act, striving to meet those principles and standards, and you certainly do not go against God’s intentions; you surely act in line with His intentions. After you have handled the matter, regardless of whether people saw through it at the time, once enough time has passed and people understand, they will all be thoroughly convinced, and know that how you handled it was highly beneficial. So, what is the root cause of achieving such an effect? It is that you have the truth as your life. Only then can your rationality enable you to have accurate judgments, accurate characterizations, and accurate conclusions about anyone and anything, as well as accurate principles of practice, and of course, accurate principles for helping and guiding people. Has your rationality not been elevated and optimized then? What does normal humanity derive such rationality from? (The truth.) People who have the truth as their life are the humankind God wants. Perhaps you are foolish, guileless, cowardly, and incompetent, maybe you are unpopular and are bullied by people in the world, but none of this matters; this is not what God looks at. Perhaps you are very capable in the world, particularly adept at reading people, discerning trends, and trimming your sails to the wind, but this is also useless; it does not equate to your rationality being sound. Only when you have accepted the truth, understood the truth, and have grasped, practiced, and gained experience of all truths, and the truth has become your life, can your identification, judgment, and decision-making regarding various matters be accurate.

Regarding conscience—what have we previously said it refers to? It is the sense of justice and kindness of normal humanity. A person must be upright and kind to be said to have a conscience. So, how can the uprightness and kindness of normal humanity be optimized and elevated after one comes to believe in God? This must be built upon the foundation of understanding the truth. That is, after a person understands the truth, the criteria by which they conduct themselves and act will be a positive goal, which will have a positive effect, value, and significance for themselves and for everyone else. Once they understand the truth, they will view and handle everything based on the truth principles taught by God. In the eyes of others, such a person is quite upright. What does uprightness mean? Upright means not erring to the left or to the right, not erring toward impetuousness, feelings, private interests or relationships, or personal intentions, but rather practicing toward the most correct, most proper goal, one that is most worthy of people’s respect, admiration, and high regard—or, it can be said, practicing toward a goal that God sees as good and approves of. Is this not superior to “uprightness” as viewed by ordinary corrupt mankind? (Yes.) What does this uprightness mean? It is completely in accordance with the truth principles, entirely based on God’s words, and built upon the foundation of conscience. When a person understands the truth, they possess the ways and principles to solve problems and handle matters, so isn’t this person’s conscience quite perfect? Hasn’t it been optimized? (Yes.) Then shouldn’t a true person, a true created being, possess such a conscience? Shouldn’t they possess uprightness in this sense? (Yes.) A true person should possess uprightness in this sense that accords with the truth, instead of what people speak of—being resolutely upright and impartial, open and aboveboard, or “a real man hides nothing and always stands by his actions.” That is impetuousness, it has no actual content, and it is entirely feigned by people. Uprightness has the truth as its basis; there are actual lived-out practices to it. It means that a person with normal humanity has the truth as their source and starting point, and is able to treat and handle various matters according to God’s words—this is called uprightness. Kindness, even more so, goes without saying; at the very least, it surpasses the standard of conscience and reason. Within kindness, there is no hypocrisy, much less viciousness. It is acting entirely based on ways that are beneficial and edifying to people, and that simultaneously conform to God’s requirements; it is acting entirely based on the goal and criteria of fearing God and shunning evil, satisfying God, and following God’s way. This is the kindest, most wonderful thing under heaven, in the whole universe. A person who has God’s words or the truth as their life definitely has the kindest heart, because they are able to accept the truth, and this completely meets the standard God requires of people. Since they possess this kind of humanity, it is appropriate to say they are upright, and it is also appropriate to say they are kind. This is because they are able to accept and practice the truth, and they don’t go by their feelings or have ambitions or desires in the performance of their duty, and they do not harbor within them the poisons of traditional culture, and their standard for measuring morality and humanity is not adulterated by any of Satan’s philosophies, thoughts, or views—it completely conforms to the truth. So tell Me, isn’t the humanity that contains such conscience and reason already very optimized? (Yes.) Because this kind of person possesses the truth, and because the essence of the life they live out is the truth, their humanity that possesses such a life essence is perfect. If you don’t like hearing the word “perfect,” then I can also call it “optimized.” At the very least, in God’s eyes, they are optimized and are loved by God. God uses the little bit of awareness of conscience, reason, and sense of shame that people have to work His words and the truth into them. When the truth of God’s words is worked into you, not only are your conscience and reason not weakened or concealed, but instead they become more normal and optimized. Such is the mankind that God wants. Let’s not say perfect, let’s say optimized. Why not say perfect? If I say perfect, some people who lack spiritual understanding will say, “Didn’t You say not to be perfect people?” So I have to avoid this word, in case some people misunderstand. Actually, if something is optimized in God’s eyes, then among created mankind it can be said to be perfect. This perfection is not the perfection in people’s imaginings, but rather a beautiful and good thing, a force of justice, and also a positive thing, worthy of people’s praise, yearning, cherishing, respect, and treasuring. Therefore, if you want your conscience to not merely get stuck at not crossing the lowest boundary of humanity in your self-conduct, but want to make your conscience more sensitive, more aware, and make your reason meet God’s requirements, then you only have one path. This path is not overcoming the various flaws and defects of humanity, but pursuing the truth, putting effort into the various truths that God teaches people, and understanding what God’s required standards are for you when it comes to various people, events, and things, and how you should view, treat, and handle these people, events, and things. God has required principles and standards for all these aspects. What is your task? It is to practice toward this direction, this goal, according to these standards. First, seek and understand what the standards for practicing the truth are. Next, make demands of yourself according to the standards that God requires, while at the same time letting go of the various thoughts, views, rules, regulations, and so on in your notions and imaginings that do not conform to God’s words or the truth. Then, let God’s words little by little become your principles of practice. While learning to let go, don’t forget: The purpose of letting go is not to make you an empty-hearted person; God wants your life to have content. What does this content refer to? It refers to God’s required principles for various matters. Of course, God does not want people to turn the various principles of practice into empty theories, only talking about them but not putting them into practice. Instead, He hopes that people can firmly turn these truth principles into a part of their life, and bring God’s words into their real lives. Take doing a duty, for example—what standard does God require of people in this regard? It is for them to conduct themselves in a down-to-earth manner and according to their proper station. That is, in doing your duty, you must be down-to-earth, you must not be perfunctory or cursory, you must not go through the motions, or perform it for others to see, and you also must not show off; of course, what’s even more important is that you must act according to the truth principles. You should act in the way that God tells you to, and you should refrain from doing the things that God tells you not to do. If you cannot completely refrain from doing those things, then start with doing them less, rebel against your own desires and your own preferences, and gradually come to refrain from doing them entirely—isn’t this easy to achieve? (Yes.) In the process of pursuing salvation, you should resolve and let go of the various corrupt dispositions exposed by God’s words. Of course, letting go of these corrupt dispositions is not the ultimate goal. The ultimate goal is, on the precondition of letting go of these corrupt dispositions, to accept God’s words and God’s requirements. Accepting them is not for the sake of changing your mood, nor is it for the sake of enabling you to live with dignity; it is for the sake of casting off your corrupt dispositions. This is the ultimate goal, as you can only attain salvation after you have cast off your corrupt dispositions.

The greatest obstacle for people to attain salvation is their corrupt dispositions. Your low education, old age, or clumsy manner of speaking and lack of ability to express yourself—none of these are the greatest obstacles to salvation. Your poor professional skills in your duty and your inability to get the hang of it—this is also not the greatest obstacle to your salvation. Then what is the greatest obstacle to salvation? It is your corrupt dispositions. Of course, the various corrupt dispositions of man that are exposed in God’s words aren’t easy for people to resolve. This is not because people are unwilling to let go of their corrupt dispositions, nor because their thoughts and views are outdated, and, of course, it is even more so not because of defects or flaws in their humanity, nor because people are numb, slow to react, and so on—none of these are the root of the problem. Then why is it? It’s simply because people’s corrupt dispositions have taken root in their hearts, people cannot cast them off just because they wish to, and so their corrupt dispositions often come out to cause disturbances and make trouble while they are doing their duties. For example, suppose you are a church leader, and you did something wrong and were pruned. In that case, you should accept it, admit you did something wrong, be willing to repent, and reverse that wrong approach and act according to the truth principles. This is a very simple matter, but you can’t do it. You ponder, “Was I pruned like this because they find me displeasing and want to dismiss me?” Complaints and misunderstandings arise in your heart, and you even try to argue with God, “Since You find me displeasing and want to dismiss and eliminate me, then okay, let’s get this straight. I started believing in God at eighteen, I’ve been a leader all these years, forsaking family and career, giving up marriage and family—how will these be accounted for?” The more you calculate, the more worked up you become. Is this merely being unable to let go? No. Why can’t you let go of these things? There is a root problem here. When you are pruned, you feel wronged, complain and feel defiant in your heart, and you also try to argue and justify yourself, and even ask others to stick up for you. Why do you act like this? (Because we have corrupt dispositions.) There is only one reason, one root cause: You have unresolved corrupt dispositions. Some of you will say, “Is it because my innate caliber and ability are insufficient and I can’t do the work?” It’s possible that, for some of you, this is one of the reasons; because of poor caliber you are incompetent for the work, and you also don’t understand the truth, so you do things that cause disruptions and disturbances. Is this really just because your caliber is poor? That’s only one aspect. The root problem is that there is an issue with your conscience. This issue with your conscience is directly related to your corrupt dispositions. You did things that caused disruptions and disturbances and were pruned—how should you approach this? How do you approach the matter of you being incompetent for the work? If you can practice the truth, these are not problems, and you can approach them correctly. But how do most people behave when they encounter these things? They try to argue, they complain, become negative, and they even speak impetuously, “Isn’t it just because you think my caliber is poor and I’m not capable? Didn’t God give me this caliber? Yet you complain that I can’t do the work! If you find me displeasing, you should have said so earlier!” If somewhat harsher words are used while they are pruned, they think, “Is my hope of gaining blessings gone? My status in this life is at risk, and perhaps I have no hope in the world to come either.” Do they have any intention of seeking the truth? Can they submit in their hearts? It’s not easy for them to submit. All these manifestations, in the final analysis, are because people have corrupt dispositions. Your caliber is poor and you are incompetent for the work—that is just one of humanity’s natural flaws or defects; that is not a problem. Even if your natural flaws and defects are great and you are incompetent for the work, God feels no distaste or detestation toward you at all. But, besides being incompetent for the work, you don’t recognize your own problems, and you also complain, feel resistant, and in the end become negative and abandon your duties—what is this? This is corrupt dispositions. This is what you need to resolve. Right? (Yes.) After your corrupt dispositions are resolved, you will become fit for use in work that your caliber and the conditions of your humanity are competent for. But, if you don’t resolve your corrupt dispositions, and you cannot practice according to the truth, cannot submit to pruning, or submit to being exposed, then no matter how good your caliber, how superior the conditions of your humanity, you will not be fit for use. Understood? (Understood.) Tell Me, what was the point of what we fellowshipped on just now? (In believing in God, the most important thing is to know one’s own corrupt dispositions. The emphasis should be on resolving one’s corrupt dispositions, not outward defects or deficiencies of one’s humanity. When we encounter situations, we always get caught up in external matters, we are fundamentally unable to resolve essential problems, and we are also unable to achieve submission to pruning or submission to the environments God sets up.) If your corrupt dispositions are resolved, and in the matters you encounter, you can grasp the truth principles, and you know how to handle them according to the principles, then you will be fit for use in doing your duty. Regardless of whether your caliber is high or low and regardless of how much talent you have, if your corrupt dispositions are not resolved, then no matter what position you are placed in, you will not be fit for use. Conversely, if your caliber and abilities are limited, but you understand various truth principles, including the truth principles you should understand and grasp within the scope of your work, and your corrupt dispositions have been resolved, then you will be a person fit for use. Understood? You might need to digest these words for a while to fully understand them.

Currently, most people still rely on gifts and abide by regulations in doing their duty. As long as they don’t sin or do evil, they believe that they have fulfilled their duty. They don’t focus on pursuing the truth and reflecting on themselves to resolve their corrupt dispositions. Most people just get caught up and bogged down in approaches and behaviors, but don’t focus on seeking the truth and acting according to the principles. They are satisfied with just doing what they can, trying not to cause disruptions or disturbances, or to sabotage things, and that’s it. Most people haven’t yet encountered pruning or exposure, nor experienced chastisement and judgment, much less the stage of severe trials, so most people’s corrupt dispositions haven’t begun to change. This isn’t good news, but it is a fact. I’ll give an example, and then you’ll know what’s going on. You see, most people doing duties now are ordinary followers; they do not have status, and they have not got to the point where they’re performing an item of work while having status and power. The basic principle most people practice is to be obedient and submissive. They think that, in any case, the leaders are fellowshipping according to the Above’s work arrangements, so they just do what the leaders ask, in the way the leaders ask them to do it, and think that there is no need to discern right or wrong or to investigate whether it conforms to the truth, and that as long as they don’t make mistakes, it’s fine. Is this having the truth principles as one’s life? (No.) Then under what circumstances can it be ascertained if you have the truth as your life? It’s when you are chosen as a leader to do church work; this reveals people the most. Whether you have principles in handling matters and how much of your corrupt dispositions you reveal can prove whether you have the truth reality, and whether you are suitable to be a leader or worker. If you reveal corrupt dispositions, how should you treat this? Should you open yourself up and fellowship the truth, or conceal and disguise yourself? This is also when people are most revealed. Most people in the church are unable to view things according to the truth principles; instead, they view and comment on things according to their own notions and imaginings, and based on their preferences. Most people think, “As long as I don’t make major mistakes in my duty, and I keep the work moving along like this, that’s enough. If I make a major mistake and I’m isolated for self-reflection or moved to a B group, then that’s just my bad luck.” What does this situation illustrate? Although you are able to be obedient and submissive in the process of doing your duty, doing whatever is asked, this doesn’t mean you have the truth as your life, and it doesn’t mean you are a person who submits to God. When you are chosen as a leader and attain that status, you will be revealed. Why? Once you have status, you will do whatever you please, take charge of everything, assert complete dominance, and establish an independent kingdom; you will act based on impetuousness, based on your corrupt dispositions, and based on your own desires and ambitions. So, you are still not fit for use. Up to now, it can be said that ninety-nine percent of people are in this kind of state and condition. Although most people have done their duty for many years and outwardly have become relatively obedient and well-behaved, does this mean they no longer have corrupt dispositions? (No.) Their behavior is no longer dissolute, outwardly they are well-behaved, and they appear to have a bit of the decorum of a saint, but their corrupt dispositions haven’t changed in the slightest because they don’t actively seek the truth to resolve their own corrupt dispositions. When problems arise in their work, whether they are pruned by the leaders or the Above, at most they think, “Fine, if they tell me to correct it, I’ll correct it. I’ll just endure a bit more hardship, spend a bit more time, and hurry up and redo it.” They merely have this kind of attitude and mentality. This doesn’t represent submission to the truth, and it doesn’t represent true submission. Where does this mentality come from? It comes from the fact that, in their belief in God, people have a positive yearning, yearning to be good people, yearning to be up-to-standard created beings. This wish brings about this kind of mentality in people’s daily lives and in their performance of their duty; in human terms, it is: “Don’t cause trouble, let’s all behave.” What does “behave” refer to? Is this a truth principle? This just gets you to obey, abide by rules, and not cause trouble. This is the minimum requirement for people, and it falls short of being a truth principle. Then what is the truth principle? It is that you must actively seek God’s intentions. When you reveal corrupt dispositions, when you have selfish desires or reveal impetuousness, when corrupt dispositions cause a state to arise in you, you must actively compare these manifestations to God’s words. With God’s enlightenment, guidance, help, support, and even the stern judgment and chastisement of God’s words, little by little, you change your attitude toward God’s words, your degree of acceptance of God’s words gets higher and higher, and you increasingly acknowledge and say Amen to God’s words. Then you accept God’s words into yourself, let go of fallacious thoughts and views, and no longer hold onto the inheritance of man; you are able to accept the truth, and you are able to handle the people, events, and things around you, and change your perspective, stance, and viewpoint toward people, events, and things, according to God’s words and the truth principles. This is the path to resolving your corrupt dispositions. Then do you now have this kind of proactive practice? I think that ninety-nine percent of people do not. Most people’s experiential testimony articles are about experiencing an environment that forced them to act in a certain way and achieving “submission to God” in their actions. They feel quite pleased with themselves, thinking they have the truth reality. Although you wrote a testimony article, it is actually about boasting, testifying for yourself, and establishing yourself: “Look, I have a testimony. I didn’t let God down. I held fast to my duty in this environment!” Some other people’s experiential testimony articles are about how, after being pruned, they reflect and come to a realization, realizing that they were perfunctory and didn’t satisfy God, and are now willing to repent. Even though there is a period of showing repentance, where it seems they are no longer being perfunctory, have their corrupt dispositions changed? No. Behind the scenes, they are still so arrogant and overbearing. The standpoint, perspective, and viewpoints from which they view and deal with people and things are not based on God’s words at all. So their corrupt dispositions have not begun to change at all! So, what is the change you speak of? It is merely a change in behavior, lifestyle, and perhaps the tone, manner of expression, and style in which you interact with others and handle matters. Your faith has also strengthened; you are able to seek the truth after undergoing many instances of being pruned in various environments, and now understand many truths, and your resolve to follow God is firmer than before—these aspects have all changed. These changes make people more confident in gaining salvation, more willing to pursue the truth, and more hopeful and optimistic about following God. Whatever trials or tribulations come their way, they won’t become so negative that they abandon their faith. However, these are merely changes in what is outwardly lived out in normal humanity. These relatively positive and proactive thoughts and views gradually occupy people’s hearts. These changes are signs that their hearts are being awakened and revitalized. That is, people become more proactive and aspiring, and yearn more for positive things, becoming more confident in pursuing God’s words, His work, and His requirements. Naturally, they also have a clearer concept about the most important work God is doing—the work of saving people. Based on these conditions, many people do their duties in a more down-to-earth way, in a more rule-abiding manner, and more obediently than before. The efficiency of their duties improves, particularly in technical work, which progresses faster now. They are not as sluggish as they were before, when tasks that should take a few days would drag on for a week or more—now there are results in just a few days. Of course, this is good news. But what is the bad news? It is that what you reveal and exhibit are merely changes in behavior, thought, and mindset, and some signs of relatively positive, proactive, optimistic elements in your subconscious being awakened. However, these signs do not mean that your corrupt dispositions have begun to change. This news is not very good, is it? (No, it’s not.) Although it’s not very good, this is an inevitable process for corrupt humankind to achieve salvation. People are this pitiful and poor, this immature, and the speed of their life entry and casting off corrupt dispositions is this slow. The fundamental reason for this slow speed is that such a mankind lacks the faculty to accept the truth, and that they are this numb to the truth, positive things, and anything that comes from God.

Some people have believed in God for over ten, twenty, or thirty years, yet only now realize that after all these years, they have merely changed somewhat in their outward behavior and experienced a slight awakening in their hearts, but there has not been a fundamental change in their corrupt dispositions. Some, seeing some behavioral changes in themselves, think that this is a change in life disposition and even boast to others, “Look, hasn’t my life disposition changed?” In reality, you have only changed in behavior; you don’t have the actual manifestations of dispositional change and have not lived out normal humanity. How, then, can one tell if there has been a change in your disposition? This is not face-reading; one can’t tell by looking at your outward appearance, nor by listening to what you say, much less by hearing you express your resolutions and wishes—resolutions and wishes are the hollowest things. How can one tell, then? One can tell by looking at whether, without anyone urging, supervising, or even supporting and helping you, you have the path and ability to view and handle every matter according to God’s words, and whether you have God’s words as your life within your heart to restrain you in everything you do. If you haven’t reached this level, then let’s talk about a lower one: whether you have the awareness to use God’s words as the principle for everything you do and say. If you cannot achieve this, then unfortunately, you do not have the truth as your life. Your corrupt dispositions are still your life; they can still control you anytime, anywhere, dominating your consciousness and your thoughts and views. Anytime, anywhere, you will treat and handle any person, event, or thing based on your own emotions, mood, wants, judgment, perspective, and preferences. You are still in great danger; you still cannot fulfill your duty independently, and you are not able to live independently—you always have to rely on others, and without others’ support, you will fall. This means your stature is too small; it proves you have not gained the truth as your life. What does it mean to have not gained the truth as life? It means you merely have one or two principles restraining you from doing bad things or making major mistakes. That is, when your rationality is normal, and no one is instigating you or egging you on, you absolutely will not intentionally blaspheme God, curse God, or disrupt and disturb the church’s work. However, the fact that you will not do so intentionally doesn’t mean you are incapable of doing so; you may not do it proactively, but you can still do it passively. What does passively refer to here? It means your corrupt dispositions can emerge at any time to control you and make you say and do anything, and cause you to view a person or matter with fallacious viewpoints at any time, and then to use your corrupt dispositions to handle a matter or deal with a type of person. For example, suppose you’ve done something wrong and think you cannot let the Above, the leaders, or anyone else know it. Regardless of the reason behind this, in any case, you have your own devilish ideas, so you conceal it and say nothing. Are your corrupt dispositions in charge here, or is the truth in charge? Clearly, your corrupt dispositions are in charge. Your corrupt dispositions dominate you, making you conceal it and say nothing, and you cannot break free. What does being unable to break free mean? It means that although you are willing to practice the truths you understand, you lack the strength to do so; you simply cannot overcome your corrupt dispositions. This means that you are in trouble; you cannot practice the truth. If you want to conceal things and deceive others, you absolutely are capable of committing acts of concealment and deception, especially toward the Above, reporting only good news but not bad, even deceiving those above and concealing things from those below. You say, “I really love the truth, and I am a person who practices the truth. I carefully take notes on, ponder, and summarize every truth God speaks, and then practice it in real life.” You think this way, you have this wish, but it doesn’t mean you have practiced the truth. Why? Because you have many fallacious thoughts and views within you that have already occupied your heart. Consequently, corrupt dispositions have become your life. Your corrupt dispositions are in charge, dominating your thoughts and actions. Even if you want to practice the truth, it’s useless; you can’t bring yourself to do it. Therefore, if your corrupt dispositions are not resolved, even if you are doing your duty, it’s impossible for you to come to act according to the principles—it’s already quite good if you can refrain from proactively and openly judging, resisting, or blaspheming God. However, with corrupt dispositions ruling in your heart, you can’t help but rebel against and resist God. Perhaps you think that you only try to deceive and hide things from the Above and deceive God in situations where you are passive or in moments of desperation, and that you only suppress people or reveal impetuousness in moments of desperation. Is it really because of temporary moments of desperation? No, it is the result of your deep-rooted corrupt dispositions being in charge. It is inevitable. Why is it inevitable? Because the truths you understand are merely a kind of willingness, a kind of belief to you; they have not yet become your life. Regardless of whether you have knowledge or whether your caliber is high or low, at the very least, the truth has not become your life. That is, the truth is not in charge within you; what is in charge within you are satanic dispositions and Satan’s philosophies. When you are dominated by satanic dispositions, you are living by satanic dispositions, and you are still living under Satan’s influence. When your interests and pride are not harmed, when your status, fame, and gain are not involved, you are willing to practice a bit of the truth. But as soon as your fame, gain, status, or destination are involved, your corrupt dispositions grip and control you firmly and tightly. You still have no true submission to God; you are still one hundred percent likely to betray God and the truth. Judging from these phenomena, have your corrupt dispositions been resolved? Have they been cast off? Has the truth become your life? When something happens, if the truths you understand cannot overcome your corrupt dispositions, cannot overcome your choices and wants, cannot overcome your desires, ambitions, status, and reputation, then the truths you understand are not your life. When the truth becomes your life, you can naturally overcome these corrupt dispositions. If you cannot overcome your corrupt dispositions, it shows that the truth is not yet in charge within you, and that it has not yet become your life. You say you love the truth, but this is just your yearning and your wish; it doesn’t represent your life. People with normal humanity all have positive yearnings. Does yearning to be a good person mean that you are a good person? (No.) Does loving the truth, fairness, and righteousness mean that you possess the truth, fairness, and righteousness? No—you don’t possess these things, you merely yearn for them. What does yearning refer to? (A person’s wonderful wish.) Right, it’s just a wish. It has nothing to do with how you actually conduct yourself, does it? (No.)

Do you now have the truth as your life? (No.) How can one tell if you have the truth as your life? One can tell by looking at whether the truths you understand can overcome your corrupt dispositions when your interests conflict with the truth, when your interests are about to suffer losses or be threatened. If they can, then you are a person who has the truth as your life. If they cannot, it proves your stature is very small. How small? You don’t have the truth as your life. This is the reality. Some people say, “If we don’t have the truth as our life, then why can we still forsake everything to do our duties in God’s house? Why can we still suffer and pay a price for God?” Some even say, “I already possess some devotion; I have already been made an overcomer.” Actually, such statements are adulterated with people’s notions and imaginings. It’s not wrong for people to have resolutions and aspirations. People’s yearning for the light, for justice, and also their yearning to pursue the truth, to attain salvation, and so on—these wonderful wishes can change some of their awareness, the direction of the path they walk, and of course, some of their behaviors, and outwardly, some aspects of their bearing and their way of living. What does change refer to here? For example, suppose that you currently have faith, your state is very good, you are not negative, and your duty is going particularly smoothly. Consequently, you feel that you are especially loyal, and that you have hope of realizing your wish to attain salvation, and you are fine with enduring any hardship. But good times don’t last. In the process of doing your duty, you encounter some setbacks and failures, get pruned, take many detours, and are even misled and suppressed by antichrists, suffering many grievances. You then feel discomfort in your heart. You don’t understand the truth, you don’t know why these things happened, and you don’t get any answers from praying to God, so you feel distressed. To a great extent, the occurrence of these things inflicts a certain blow and devastation upon your resolution of yearning for the truth and the light. After suffering this devastation, you no longer want to do your duty, feeling that it is pointless. What’s going on here? How did you change so rapidly? Why are you like a completely different person from before? If you had stature, and had the truth as your life, your devotion wouldn’t change. But because you don’t have the truth as your life, your inner state, mentality, and your drive to believe in God and expend yourself are always unstable and fluctuating between hot and cold. During periods when everything goes smoothly and you’re in a good mood, you have drive, you have a lot to say during prayer, are willing to read God’s words, you work very hard in your duty, and are fine with being busy or tired, and with enduring any hardship. But as soon as things become slightly unfavorable, you become negative and weak, losing the drive to do your duty. When you miss one meal or sleep a little less, you feel it’s an immense hardship, and complaints arise in your heart: “Why should I suffer? I don’t even earn money from doing my duty, it’s not worth it!” See, your mentality is completely different. Why has such a big change occurred? It’s because you don’t have the truth as your life, and your corrupt dispositions still exist within you. When people are enthusiastic, they feel they have no ambitions or desires, or demands of God. In reality, their corrupt dispositions are still in charge inside of them; these things remain unchanged. When people are positive, they are very enthusiastic and particularly driven, and no one can hold them back. When they are negative, they are like puddles of mush, unable to be pulled up by anyone. They always go to extremes, and they are completely unstable. This shows they lack something in their normal humanity. What do they lack? They lack the truth as their life—that’s what it is. Your state fluctuates between hot and cold, negative one moment and positive the next. What causes this? It’s your corrupt dispositions causing trouble. Today they make you think one thing, tomorrow another thing; in any case, these thoughts always align with your wants, your impetuousness, and your current state, mood, and emotions. But it’s different when people have the truth within them. If the truth becomes your life, it will always enable you to have an accurate and true definition of what you do, which will never change. You won’t run hot and cold, and you won’t become negative and deflated due to one failure and fall, or due to a little pruning or a bit of a setback. Nor will you be so positive that you act like a zealous youth, staying awake for three days and nights. Instead, you will have normal rationality. Right? (Yes.) Once people understand the truth and the truth becomes their life, they become clear on visions. They know why they need to follow God, why they need to do their duty, what results they should achieve in the performance of their duty, and the purpose, significance, and value of enduring these hardships. They understand all these truth principles thoroughly in their hearts, without confusion or turbidity. And so, they suffer willingly and without complaint, they have rules and principles in everything they do, and they never lose faith in God; when they feel negative, they don’t complain about God or abandon Him, and when they feel positive, they have no extra demands of God, and their state is very normal. Are you like this now? (No.) What should be done then? (From now on, we should focus on pursuing the truth to resolve our corrupt dispositions; there is no other path.) There is no path other than pursuing the truth. Let Me tell you: If you do not pursue the truth, and corrupt dispositions always remain in charge as your life, then you will not have a good destination; at best, you will end up as a laborer. But if you pursue the truth, your hope of attaining salvation will be great, and the blessings you ultimately receive will also be great. If you pursue the truth, you will be free from the bondage of corrupt dispositions, corrupt dispositions will no longer be your life, and consequently you will truly see hope of attaining salvation. If you don’t pursue the truth, and your corrupt dispositions remain unresolved, and you want to rely solely on self-restraint and willpower to do good things and not commit evil, then it’s hard to say whether you can even make it to the end of the path. Understood? (Understood.) What is the greatest problem people need to resolve in believing in God? (Corrupt dispositions.) Resolving corrupt dispositions is the most crucial thing. Don’t think, “I’m now doing a duty full-time in God’s house, expending myself full-time, so I’m an overcomer!” God speaks of making a group of overcomers—what is meant by overcomers? “These are they which follow the Lamb wherever He goes” (Revelation 14:4). These are overcomers in the simple sense of the word. One cannot be satisfied with just being an overcomer. Being an overcomer in this simple sense doesn’t mean one’s corrupt dispositions have been cast off, and it doesn’t mean one has the truth as their life. Those who are ultimately saved are not just overcomers—it’s not as simple as that. Overcomers are merely those who overcome the secular world, Satan, evil trends, and evil regimes—this is what overcomers are. If you merely understand some truth principles, and you can temporarily overcome the flesh and feelings, or are not constrained by various baseless rumors, or are not disturbed by evil people or disbelievers, this still doesn’t fully meet the standard of an overcomer. Having only these few minor experiences is not of great value. What is valuable? Having the truth as one’s life is the most valuable thing. How can one make the truth their life? There is only one path: You must read God’s words more, and practice and experience God’s words more. Only in this way can you gain the truth from God’s words and come to have the truth as your life. If you use the truth to guide your whole life, your day-to-day, and the principles by which you act and conduct yourself—if you practice in this way—you will have the truth reality. When you possess the truth reality, your old satanic dispositions will be shunted aside. Before you decide how to act, first ponder, “What I think doesn’t represent the truth principles. I must see what God’s words say.” If you ponder this way every time, and if you speak and practice according to God’s words every time, won’t the truth come to enter your life little by little? Many little drops make an ocean. Let the truth enter your heart bit by bit to change your day-to-day, your views, your current status of existence, and your state. As your state gradually changes and develops in a good direction, the likelihood of you doing evil and causing disruptions and disturbances will keep decreasing, the likelihood of you showing off will keep decreasing, while your testimonies of practicing according to the truth principles will keep increasing. When critical matters of right and wrong arise, the truth principles overcome your satanic corrupt dispositions, and your personal wants, preferences, and plans. Only then will you be a true overcomer, someone who has the truth as their life, and someone who can attain salvation. Otherwise, if you merely act based on your preferences, thinking, “Acting this way is good, I do these things gladly and willingly and I have no complaints,” what use is that? You have no complaints, but what are the principles of your practice? Your practice comes entirely from the preferences of your corrupt dispositions, from erroneous thoughts and views, from selfish intentions, from ambitions and desires, from feelings, and from impetuousness—it is completely guided by your corrupt dispositions. This is a life that reveals corrupt dispositions, not a life that reveals the truth. God not only does not remember it, but He will also condemn it. You must try everything you can to make it so that what you live out, the words you speak and things you do, and the thoughts and views you reveal all conform to the truth; to make it so that those fallacious thoughts and views produced by corrupt dispositions become fewer and fewer in your heart; and to make it so that what you think in your heart and your views on matters are all related to the truth, and all conform to the truth. You must pursue and focus on this aspect, and then there will be more and more changes inside of you, and your state will get better and better. Nowadays, many people can speak words and doctrines, articulating them clearly and logically, but when it comes to speaking about the truth reality, they have nothing to say, and they are unable to express even a bit of practical understanding. What’s going on here? (We don’t have the truth.) Your life is still the life of corrupt dispositions, the life of Satan, and it is not the life of the truth.

Have you understood what we have just fellowshipped? If you truly recognize that your corrupt dispositions haven’t been cast off yet and that you still live by corrupt dispositions, will you become negative? (Just now, when I heard God say our corrupt dispositions haven’t changed, I felt a great sense of dissonance in my heart, thinking that I’ve been constantly eating and drinking God’s words all these years, and have focused on practicing the truth in particular situations—so how come my corrupt dispositions still haven’t changed? I felt a bit disappointed and negative. But through God providing guidance and fellowshipping bit by bit, I understood that I only exhibit some external good behaviors, but my corrupt dispositions are still in charge within me; there indeed hasn’t been any change. God said that when doing things, people must first ponder, and that no matter how good their ideas are, they don’t represent the truth principles, and that they must see what the truth in God’s words says, and train in seeking the truth and practicing according to God’s words every time they do something, and then slowly their state will change. After I heard God’s fellowship, I seemed to see hope again, and I felt there was a path, and was no longer negative.) Being negative is wrong; you should not be negative under any circumstances. Casting off corrupt dispositions is the great matter of attaining salvation. The more something is a corrupt disposition, the more you must focus on resolving it. You must go all out and devote your full attention to it. You cannot be negative, and you cannot give up. Although you are now beginning to focus on pursuing the truth, sometimes you still don’t know how to practice. Talking to you now about the path of practice is more beneficial for your life entry, and at the same time, it can cause a sense of crisis to arise in you, and enable you to focus on the truth, and to understand the truth and enter the truth reality as soon as possible. Don’t be complacent, and don’t be satisfied with your current situation. You have merely become obedient and well-behaved, and are a bit more sensible than before, but you are still far from casting off your corrupt dispositions! The facts are plain to see, so what use is there in being negative? Being negative cannot solve actual problems. You should find where the problem stems from and start trying to resolve it from there. It’s not too late to start now. When will it be too late? It will be too late when God’s work ends. Do you have the resolve to enter the truth reality and to come to gain the truth as your life? (We now have this resolve.) Actually, entering the truth reality is not difficult. Think about it, many words of fellowship on the truth have been spoken, and they are very detailed and specific. There seems to be a lot of content, but the principles do not change, and the path of practice does not change. When you reveal a corrupt disposition, consciously seize that idea or thought, and ponder in your heart, “This is a corrupt disposition, so how should I resolve it? I haven’t resolved it before. I’ve believed in God for so many years, but I’ve only focused on outward actions and on showing off, and I’ve never pondered on the fact that I still have corrupt dispositions. Today I suddenly discovered I have such a thought inside me. Where did this thought come from? From a corrupt disposition. Then how should this corrupt disposition be resolved?” Pray to God and seek the truth, and also ask people around you who’ve had experiences; they will lead you to seek the truth and resolve the problem. When everyone is together, you must support and help each other, and be understanding toward each other. Everyone’s stature is the same, and no one should look up to or down on anyone else. If everyone helps and supports each other like this, and everyone’s stature gradually grows, and in the end, you all attain salvation and enter the kingdom together, wouldn’t that be good? (Yeah.) Alright, let’s end our fellowship here for today. Goodbye!

September 9, 2023