God Is the Source of Life for All Things (I)

An Overview of God’s Authority, God’s Righteous Disposition, and God’s Holiness

When you have finished your prayers, do your hearts become quiet in the presence of God? (Yes.) If a person’s heart can become quiet, they will be able to hear and understand the word of God and they will be able to hear and understand the truth. If your heart cannot become quiet, if your heart is always adrift, or always thinking of other things, this will affect you when you attend gatherings to hear the word of God. What is at the heart of the matters we have been discussing? Let us all think back a little on the main points. Regarding knowing God Himself, the unique, in the first part, we discussed God’s authority. In the second part, we discussed God’s righteous disposition, and in the third part, we discussed God’s holiness. Has the specific content we discussed each time left an impression on you? In the first part, “God’s authority,” what left the deepest impression on you? Which part had the strongest impact on you? (God first fellowshipped the authority and might of the word of God; God means what He says, and what He means shall be done. This is the inherent essence of God.) (God’s command to Satan was that it may only tempt Job, but may not take his life. From this we see the authority of God’s word.) Is there anything else to add? (God used words to create the heavens and earth and all things, and He spoke words to make a covenant with man and to put His blessings upon man. These are all examples of the authority of God’s word. Also, the Lord Jesus commanded Lazarus to walk out from his tomb, which shows that life and death are under God’s control, that Satan has no power to control life and death, and that whether God’s work is done in flesh or in Spirit, His authority is unique.) This is an understanding you gained after hearing the fellowship. Speaking of God’s authority, what is your understanding of the word “authority”? Within the scope of God’s authority, what do people see of what God does and reveals? (We see God’s almightiness and wisdom.) (We see that God’s authority is ever-present and that it truly exists. We see God’s authority on a macro level holding sovereignty over all things, and we see it on a micro level taking control of each individual human life. God arranges and holds sovereignty over the six junctures of human life. Furthermore, we see that God’s authority represents God Himself, the unique, and no created or non-created being may possess it. God’s authority is a symbol of His identity.) “A symbol of God’s identity and God’s status”—these words are currently somewhat of a doctrine to you. Do you have any essential understanding of God’s authority? (God has watched over us and protected us since we were young, and we see God’s authority in that. We were not aware of the dangers that lurked over us, but God was always protecting us behind the scenes. This is also God’s authority.) Very good. Well said.

When we spoke about God’s authority, what was our focus, our main point? Why did we need to discuss this? The first purpose in discussing this was to establish in people’s hearts God’s identity as the Creator and His status among all things. This is what people can first be brought to know, to see, and to feel. What you see and what you feel come from God’s actions, God’s words, and God’s control of all things. As for what true understanding people gain from all that they see, appreciate, and know of God’s authority, we have already covered it in our discussion of the first purpose. The second purpose was to let people see God’s power and wisdom through all that God has done and said and controlled with His authority. It was to allow you to see how powerful and how wise God is in His control of everything. Was this not the focus and the main point of our prior discussion of God’s unique authority? Not much time has passed since that discussion and yet some of you have forgotten this, which proves that you have not gained a deep understanding of God’s authority. It could even be said that man has not seen the authority of God. Do you now have some understanding? When you see God exercising His authority, what do you truly feel? Have you truly felt God’s power? (Yes.) When you read His words about how He created all things, you feel His power and you feel His almightiness. When you see God’s sovereignty over the fate of man, what do you feel? Do you feel His power and His wisdom? If God did not possess this power, if He did not possess this wisdom, would He be competent to hold sovereignty over all things and over the fate of man? God possesses this power and this wisdom, so He has this authority, and it is unique. Among all things, have you ever seen a person or thing with power like God’s? Creating the heavens and earth and all things, controlling them and holding sovereignty over them, holding sovereignty over and leading all of humanity, and being present everywhere at all times—is there anyone or anything with such power? (No, there is not.) Do you now understand the true meaning of God’s unique authority? Do you now have some realization of this? (Yes.) This concludes our review of the topic of God’s unique authority.

In the second part, we talked about God’s righteous disposition. We did not discuss much within this topic, because, at this stage, God’s work consists primarily of judgment and chastisement. In the Age of Kingdom, God’s righteous disposition is revealed clearly and concretely. He has spoken words He has never spoken from the time of creation; and in His words all people, all who read and experience His word, have seen the revelations of His righteous disposition. So, what was the main point of our discussion about God’s righteous disposition? Do you have a deeper comprehension of it and an experiential understanding of it? (God burned Sodom because the people at that time were deeply corrupt and provoked God’s anger. From this, we see God’s righteous disposition.) First, let’s take a look: If God had not destroyed Sodom, would you be able to know of His righteous disposition? You still would. You can see some of it in the words God has expressed in the Age of Kingdom, and in the judgment, chastisement, and curses He has directed at man. Can you see God’s righteous disposition in His salvation of Nineveh? (Yes.) In the current age, people can see some of God’s mercy, lovingkindness, and tolerance, and people can see it, too, in God’s change of heart that follows man’s repentance. Having raised these two examples to introduce our discussion of God’s righteous disposition, these revelations of God’s righteous disposition are quite clear to see, yet in reality, the revelations of God’s righteous disposition essence aren’t limited to what is recorded in these two Bible stories. From God’s words and His work that you have seen and experienced, what is God’s righteous disposition as you see it? Speak from your own experiences. (In the environments God set up for people, when people are able to seek the truth and act in accordance with God’s intentions, God guides them, enlightens them, and enables them to feel brightened in their hearts. When people rebel against God and resist Him and do not act in accordance with His intentions, then there is great darkness inside them, as if God has forsaken them. Even when they pray, they do not know what to say to Him. But when they put aside their own notions and imaginings and become willing to cooperate with God and strive upward, then they gradually become able to see God’s smiling countenance. From this we experience the holiness of God’s righteous disposition. God appears to the holy kingdom, but He hides Himself from the land of filth.) (I see God’s righteous disposition in the way He treats people. Our brothers and sisters are different in stature and caliber, God’s requirements for each of us are also different, and we are all able to receive the enlightenment of God to varying degrees. In this, I see God’s righteousness, because we humans are not capable of treating man in this way, but God is.) Now, you all have some practical knowledge that you can articulate.

Do you know what knowledge is the key to understanding God’s righteous disposition? There is much that may be said from experience on this topic, but first there are a few main points that I must tell you. To understand God’s righteous disposition, one must first understand God’s joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness: what He hates, what He loathes, what He loves, to whom He is tolerant and merciful, and on what type of person He bestows mercy. This is one main point. One must also understand that no matter how much God loves man, no matter how much mercy and lovingkindness He bestows upon people, God’s identity and status do not tolerate offense from any person, nor does His dignity. Even though God loves people, He does not pamper them. He gives people His love, His mercy, and His tolerance, but He never coddles them. God has His principles and His boundaries. Regardless of how much love you feel God has given you, regardless of how deep that love feels to you, you must never treat God as if He were a human being. While it is true that God treats people as His dearest loved ones, if you view God as human, as a human being that is equivalent to a created being, or as a friend or an object of idolization, then God will hide His face from you and forsake you. This is His disposition, and no person is allowed to be careless about this issue. So, we often see words such as this spoken by God about His disposition: It does not matter how much you have traveled, how much work you have done, or how much suffering you have endured; if you offend God’s disposition, He will exact retribution on each of you based on what you have done. What this means is that God treats people as His dearest loved ones, yet you must not treat God as a friend or a relative. Do not treat God as your buddy. No matter how much you feel that God loves you and is tolerant of you, you must never treat God as your friend. This is God’s righteous disposition. Do you understand? Do I need to say more about this? Do you have any prior comprehension of this matter? Generally speaking, this is the easiest mistake for people to make, regardless of whether they understand this matter in terms of doctrine or whether they have never before contemplated this issue. When people commit an offense against God, it might not be because of one matter or one thing they said, but rather because of an attitude they hold or a state they are in. This is a very frightening thing. Some people believe that they have knowledge of God, that they have some understanding of Him, and that they also satisfy God somewhat with their actions. They begin to feel that they should be equal to God and that they can get overly familiar with God. These types of feelings are terribly wrong. If you do not have a clear and deep understanding of this, then you will very easily commit offenses against God and His righteous disposition. You understand this now, yes? Is not God’s righteous disposition unique? Could it ever be the equivalent of the personality or the character of a person? It never could. So, you must not forget that, no matter how God treats people or how He regards people, God’s status, authority, and identity do not ever change! For mankind, God’s identity is always that of the One who is sovereign of all things—the Creator.

What have you learned about the holiness of God? In that part about “God’s holiness,” besides the fact that Satan’s wickedness is used as a foil, what was the main content of our discussion about the holiness of God? Is it not what God has and is? Is what God has and is unique to God Himself? (Yes.) It is that which created beings do not possess. This is why we also say the holiness of God is unique. This is something that you should be able to understand. We held three meetings on the subject of the holiness of God. Can you describe in your own words, with your own understanding, what you believe God’s holiness is? (The last time God gathered with us, we knelt before Him. God fellowshipped the truth to us about prostrating and kneeling to worship Him. We saw that kneeling to Him before meeting His requirements was not in accordance with His intention, and from this we saw the holiness of God.) Very true. Is there anything else? (In God’s words to mankind, we see that He speaks plainly and clearly. He is straight and to the point. Satan speaks in a roundabout way and is full of lies. From what happened last time when we prostrated and knelt before God, we saw that all of His speech and actions are principled. He is always clear and unequivocal when He tells us how we should act, how we should observe, and how we should practice. But people are not this way. Since mankind’s corruption by Satan, they have acted and spoken with their own personal motives and objectives and their own personal desires in mind. From the way God looks after, watches over, and protects mankind, we see that all that God does is positive and clear. It is in this way that we see the revelations of the essence of God’s holiness.) Well put! Does anyone else have anything to add? (Through God’s exposure of Satan’s wicked essence, we see God’s holiness, we gain more knowledge of Satan’s wickedness, and we see the source of mankind’s suffering. In the past, we were unaware of man’s suffering under the power of Satan. Only after God exposed this did we see that all the suffering that comes from the pursuit of fame and gain is the work of Satan. Only then did we feel that the holiness of God is the true salvation of mankind.) Is there anything else to add to that? (Mankind, which is corrupt, does not have true knowledge of or love for God. Because we don’t understand the essence of God’s holiness, and because, when we prostrate and kneel before Him in worship, we do so with impure thoughts and ulterior motives and purposes, God is displeased. We can see that God is different from Satan; Satan wants people to adore and flatter it, to prostrate and kneel to worship it. Satan has no principles. From this too, I am made aware of God’s holiness.) Very good! From what we have fellowshipped about God’s holiness, do you see God’s perfection? Do you see how God is the source of all positive things? Are you able to see how God is the embodiment of truth and justice? Do you see how God is the fount of love? Do you see how all that God does, all that He expresses, and all that is revealed from Him is flawless? (We do.) These are the main points of what I have said about the holiness of God. Today, these words may seem like mere doctrine to you, but one day in the course of your experiences, when you witness the true God Himself from His word and His work, you will say from the bottom of your heart that God is holy, that God is different from mankind, and that His heart, disposition, and essence are all holy. This holiness allows man to see God’s perfection and to see that the essence of God’s holiness has no flaw. The essence of His holiness determines that He is God Himself, the unique, and it also allows man to see and verify that He is the unique God Himself. Is this not the main point? (It is.)

Today we have conducted an overview of several topics from previous fellowships. This concludes today’s overview. I hope that all of you will take to heart the main points of each item and topic. Do not think of them as doctrine; when you have some spare time, read and look over them often and ponder them. Remember them in your heart and bring them into reality—then you will truly appreciate each aspect I spoke of, revealed from God Himself: the practical revelation of God’s disposition, and the revelation of what He has and is. However, if you only jot them down in your notebook and usually never read them, look through them, or ponder them, then you will never gain them for yourself. You understand now, yes? After having fellowshipped on these three topics, once people have gained a general understanding—or one might also say a bit of a specific understanding—of God’s identity, essence, and disposition, will their understanding of God be complete? (No.) Now, in your own understanding of God, are there any other areas where you feel you need a deeper understanding? That is to say, now that you have gained an understanding of God’s authority, His righteous disposition, and His holiness, perhaps His unique identity and status are established in your mind; yet it remains for you to understand, appreciate, and deepen your knowledge of His deeds, His power, and His essence through your own experience. Now that you have listened to these fellowships, in your hearts such a faith can be more or less established: God truly exists, and it is a fact that He rules over all things. His righteous disposition tolerates no offense from anyone; His holiness is a certainty that no one may question. These are facts. These fellowships allow the identity and status of God to have a foundation in the heart of man. Once this foundation has been established, people still need to understand more.

Story 1: A Seed, the Earth, a Tree, the Sunlight, the Birds, and Man

Today I will fellowship about a new topic with you. What is this topic? Its title is: “God Is the Source of Life for All Things.” Does this topic sound slightly too big? Does it feel a little beyond your reach? This topic may strike people as somewhat remote, but “God Is the Source of Life for All Things” must be understood by all who follow God, because it is closely linked with and inseparable from each person’s knowledge of God and their being able to satisfy and fear Him. That is why this topic is being brought up for fellowship. Previously, people may have had some simple knowledge of this kind of topic, or some conscious awareness of it. Such knowledge consists of some simple or shallow understanding. Perhaps some have had special experiences and hold a deep realization of this topic in their hearts, but such prior knowledge, whether deep or superficial, is one-sided and not sufficiently specific. So, this is why I have brought this topic up for fellowship: to help you arrive at a more specific and deeper understanding. I will use a special method to fellowship with you about this topic, a method we have not used before, one that you may find a bit unusual, or a bit uncomfortable. No matter what the method is, you will know what I mean once you have heard it. Do you like stories? (We do.) Well, it seems My choice to tell stories is a good one, since you all like them so much. Now, let us begin. There is no need for you to take notes in your notebooks. I ask that you quiet your hearts and not fidget. You may close your eyes if you feel you may be distracted by your surroundings or the people around you. I have a wonderful story to tell you. This is a story about a seed, the earth, a tree, the sunlight, the birds, and man. The story I am about to tell, who are its main characters? (A seed, the earth, a tree, the sunlight, the birds, and man.) Is God one of them? (No.) Even so, I’m sure you will feel refreshed and relaxed once you’ve heard this story. Now, please listen quietly.

A small seed fell to the earth. A great rain fell, and the seed grew a tender sprout, while its roots delved slowly into the soil below. The sprout grew tall in time, enduring cruel winds and harsh rains, witnessing the changing of the seasons as the moon waxed and waned. In the summer, the earth brought forth gifts of water so that the sprout might endure the season’s scorching heat. And because of the earth, the sprout was not overwhelmed by heat, and thus the worst of the summer heat passed. When winter came, the earth enveloped the sprout in its warm embrace, and earth and sprout held one another tightly. The earth warmed the sprout, and thus it survived the season’s bitter cold, unharmed by wintry gales and snowstorms. Sheltered by the earth, the sprout grew brave and happy; nurtured selflessly by the earth, it grew healthy and strong. Happily it grew, singing in the rain, dancing and swaying in the wind. The sprout and the earth cleave to one another …

Years passed, and the sprout grew into a towering tree. It stood strong upon the earth, with stout branches tipped with countless leaves. The tree’s roots still dug into the earth as they had before, and they now plunged deep into the soil below. The earth, which had once protected the tiny sprout, was now the foundation for a mighty tree.

A ray of sunlight shone down on the tree. The tree swayed its body, stretched its arms out wide, and breathed deeply of the sunlit air. The ground below breathed in time with the tree, and the earth felt renewed. Just then, a fresh breeze blew forth from among the branches, and the tree trembled in delight, rippling with energy. The tree and the sunlight cleave to one another …

People sat in the cool shade of the tree and basked in the brisk, fragrant air. The air cleansed their hearts and lungs, and it cleansed the blood within them, and their bodies were no longer torpid or constrained. People and the tree cleave to one another …

A flock of little chirping birds alighted on the branches of the tree. Perhaps they landed there to evade a predator, or to breed and raise their young, or perhaps they were just resting for a while. Birds and the tree cleave to one another …

The roots of the tree, twisted and tangled, dug deep into the earth. With its trunk, it sheltered the earth from the wind and rain, and it stretched out its limbs to protect the earth beneath its feet. The tree did so because the earth was its mother. They foster and sustain each other, and they shall never part …

And so, this story ends. The story I told was about a seed, the earth, a tree, the sunlight, the birds, and man. It had only a few scenes. What feelings did it leave you with? When I speak in this way, do you understand what I am saying? (We understand.) Talk about your feelings. What did you feel after hearing this story? I shall first tell you that all the characters in the story can be seen and touched; they are real things, not metaphors. I want you to consider what I said. There is nothing esoteric within My story, and there are a few sentences that constitute the story’s main points. (The story we heard paints a beautiful picture. A seed comes to life and as it grows, it experiences the four seasons of the year: spring, summer, fall, and winter. The earth nurtures the sprouting seed as a mother would. It warms the sprout in winter so that it may survive the cold. After the sprout has grown into a tree, a ray of sunshine touches its branches, bringing it much joy. I see that among the multitude of God’s creation, the earth too is alive, and that it and the tree cleave to each other. I also see the great warmth that sunlight bestows on the tree, and I see birds, common creatures though they are, coming together with the tree and with human beings in a picture of perfect harmony. These are the feelings I had in my heart as I heard this story; I realize that all these things are indeed alive.) Well said! Does anyone have something else to add? (In this story of a seed sprouting and growing into a towering tree, I see the wonder of all things created by God. I see that God made all things foster and sustain one another, and that all things are connected and serve one another. I see God’s wisdom, His wonder, and I see that He is the source of life for all things.)

Everything I just spoke of is a thing you have seen before. You know what a seed is, don’t you? It grows into a tree, and though you may not be able to see every detail of the process, you know that it happens, do you not? You know, too, about the earth and the sunlight. The image of birds perched on a tree is something everyone has seen, yes? And have you seen people cooling themselves in the shade of a tree? (Yes.) So, when all of these things are in a single image, what feeling does that image produce? (A feeling of harmony.) In such an image, does every single thing existing within it come from God? (Yes.) Since they come from God, God knows the value and significance of the earthly existence of all these different things. When God created all things, when He arranged and created each thing, He did so with intent; and when He created those things, each was imbued with life. The environment He created for the survival of mankind, as just described in our story, is one where seeds and the earth cleave to each other, where the earth can nurture seeds and seeds are bound to the earth. This relationship was ordained by God at the very beginning, at the time of His creation. A scene of a tree, sunlight, birds, and humans is a depiction of the living environment God created for mankind. First, the tree cannot leave the earth, nor can it be without sunlight. So, what was God’s purpose in creating the tree? Can we say that it is only meant for the earth? Can we say that it is only meant for the birds? Can we say that it is only meant for people? (No.) What is the relationship between them? The relationship between them is one of mutual fostering, sustenance, and inseparability. That is to say, between the earth, the tree, the sunlight, the birds, and people, there is a relationship of depending on one another for survival and nurturing one another. The tree protects the earth, and the earth nurtures the tree; the sunlight provides for the tree, while the tree gains fresh air from the sunlight and lessens the scorching heat of the sun upon the earth. Who benefits from this in the end? It is mankind, is it not? This is a principle and an original intention of God’s creation of the environment which mankind inhabits. Even though this image appears to be a simple one, it has within it God’s wisdom and His intention. Mankind cannot live without the earth, or without trees, much less without the birds and the sunlight. Is this not so? Though this is just a story, it serves as a microcosm of how God created the heavens and earth and all things to bestow upon mankind an environment in which he may survive.

It was for mankind that God created the heavens and earth and all things, as well as an environment to inhabit. First, the main point our story addressed is the mutual fostering and sustenance of all things; the mutual dependence of all things for survival. Under this principle, the living environment for mankind can be protected, and mankind can thus continue to survive. Because of this living environment, mankind can thrive and multiply. The image we saw was one of a tree, the earth, sunlight, birds, and people together. Was God in this image? One did not see Him there. But one did see the law of mutual fostering and sustenance between all things; in this law, one can see the existence and sovereignty of God. God uses such a principle and such a law to sustain the survival and existence of all things. In this way, He provides for all things and for mankind. Is this story connected to our main theme? On the surface, it seems to have no connection, but in reality, the laws God created for all things, and even His sovereignty over all things, are of vital importance to, and inseparable from, the fact that God is the source of life for all things. Now you appreciate some of this, don’t you!

God commands the laws by which all things operate; He commands the laws by which all things live; He commands all things, and allows them to both foster and sustain each other, so that they do not perish or disappear. Only thus can mankind live on; only thus can they live under God’s guidance in such an environment. These laws of operation are under God’s sovereignty, and nobody can interfere with them, nor can they change them. Only God Himself knows these laws and only God Himself manages them. When the trees will sprout; when it will rain; how much water and how many nutrients the earth will give to the plants; in what season the leaves will fall; in what season the trees will bear fruit; how many nutrients the sunlight will give to the trees; what the trees will exhale after having been fed by the sunlight—all these things were predetermined by God when He created all things. No one can break these laws. The things that God created, whether living or, in the eyes of man, non-living, sit in His hand, where He controls them and holds sovereignty over them. No one can change or break these laws. This is to say, when God created all things, He predetermined all of this: Without the earth, the tree could not set down roots, sprout, and grow; if the earth had no trees, then it would dry out; the tree should become the home of the birds and a place where they may shelter from the wind. Can a tree live without the earth? Absolutely not. Could it live without the sun or rain? It could not, either. All of these things are for mankind, for mankind’s survival. From the tree, man receives fresh air, and man lives upon the earth, which is protected by the tree. Man cannot live without sunlight or various living beings. These relationships are complex, but just remember this: This law created by God for all things is that they foster and sustain each other, and depend on each other for survival. In other words, every single thing He created has value and significance in its existence. If God created something without significance, God would have it disappear. This is one of the methods God uses to provide for all things. What do the words “provide for” refer to in this story? Does God water the tree every day? Does the tree need God’s help to breathe? (No.) “Provide for” refers here to God’s management of all things after their creation; it is enough for God to manage them after establishing the laws. Once a seed is planted in the earth, the tree grows by itself. The conditions for its growth were all created by God: sunlight, water, soil, air, and the surrounding environment, wind, frost, snow, rain, and the four seasons; these are the conditions that the tree needs in order to live, and these are things that God prepared. So, is God the source of this living environment? (Yes.) Does God have to count each leaf on the trees every day? No! Nor does God need to help the tree breathe or to wake up the sunlight every day, saying, “It is time to shine on the trees now.” He does not have to do that. The sunlight shines on its own when it is time for it to shine, in accordance with the laws; it appears and shines on the tree and the tree absorbs the sunlight when it needs to, and when it does not, the tree still lives within the laws. You may not be able to explain this phenomenon clearly, but everyone can see and acknowledge this fact. All you need to do is recognize that the laws that govern the survival of all things come from God, and know that the growth and existence of all things are under God’s sovereignty.

Now, does this story contain what people refer to as a “metaphor”? Is it a personification? (No.) What I have said is fact. Every sort of living thing, everything that has life, is under the sovereignty of God; each living thing was imbued with life when it was created; this life comes from God, and each living thing follows its own life course and its own rules. This does not require man to alter it, nor does it require man’s help; it is one of the ways in which God provides for all things. You understand, do you not? Do you think it is necessary for people to have knowledge of this? (Yes.) So, does this story have anything to do with biology? Is it related in some way to a field of knowledge or a branch of learning? We are not discussing biology, and we certainly are not conducting biological research. What is the main idea of our talk? (God is the source of life for all things.) What have you seen within creation? Have you seen trees? Have you seen the earth? (Yes.) You have seen the sunlight, have you not? Have you seen birds perched in the trees? (We have.) Is mankind happy to live in such an environment? (Yes.) That is to say, God uses all things—the things He created—to maintain and protect the home which mankind inhabits, thereby providing for mankind and for all things.

How do you like the style of this talk, the way I am fellowshipping? (It is easy to understand, and there are many real-life examples.) Speaking in this way ensures these words do not come across as hollow, doesn’t it? Then is this story necessary for people to understand that God is the source of life for all things? (Yes.) In that case, let us move on to our next story. The next story is a bit different in content, and the focus is a bit different as well. Everything that appears in this story is something people can see with their eyes in God’s creation. I will still narrate it to you in the form of a story. Listen quietly and ponder what I am talking about. After the story, I will ask you some questions to see how much you have understood. The characters in this story are a great mountain, a little stream, a fierce wind, and a gigantic wave.

Story 2: A Great Mountain, a Little Stream, a Fierce Wind, and a Gigantic Wave

There was a little stream that meandered to and fro, finally arriving at the foot of a great mountain. The mountain blocked the tiny stream’s path, so the stream said to the mountain in its weak, little voice, “Please let me pass. You are standing in my way and blocking my path forward.” “Where are you going?” the mountain asked. “I am looking for my home,” the stream responded. “Alright, go ahead and flow right over me!” But the tiny stream was too weak and too young, so it had no way to flow over such a great mountain. It could only continue to flow there against the foot of the mountain …

A fierce wind swept by, carrying sand and detritus to where the mountain stood. The wind bellowed at the mountain, “Get out of the way!” “Where are you going?” the mountain asked. “I want to go over to the other side of the mountain,” howled the wind in response. “Alright, if you can break through my waist, then you can go!” The fierce wind howled again and again, but no matter how much it roared and struggled, it could not break through the mountain’s waist. The wind grew tired and stopped in its tracks, and settled down to rest. Meanwhile, on the other side of the mountain, gentle breezes blew in one after another, pleasing the people there. This was the mountain’s greeting to the people …

At the seashore, the ocean spray rolled gently against the rocky shore. Suddenly, a gigantic wave arose and roared its way toward the mountain. “Move over!” shouted the gigantic wave. “Where are you going?” the mountain asked. Unable to stop its advance, the wave bellowed, “I am expanding my territory! I want to stretch out my arms!” “Alright, if you can pass over my peak, I will let you through.” The great wave retreated some distance, then once again surged toward the mountain. But no matter how hard it tried, it could not get over the mountain’s peak. The wave could only roll slowly back out to sea …

For thousands of years, the little stream trickled gently around the foot of the mountain. Following the mountain’s directions, the little stream made its way back home, joining a river, which in turn joined the sea. Under the mountain’s care, the little stream never lost its way. The stream and the mountain fostered and sustained each other, kept each other in check, and existed in a state of mutual dependence for survival.

For thousands of years, the fierce wind howled, as was its habit. It still came often to “visit” the mountain, with great swirls of sand spun into its gusts. It threatened the mountain, but never broke through its waist. The wind and the mountain fostered and sustained each other, kept each other in check, and existed in a state of mutual dependence for survival.

For thousands of years, the gigantic wave never stopped to rest, and it marched relentlessly forward, continuously expanding its territory. It roared and surged time and again toward the mountain, yet the mountain never moved an inch. The mountain watched over the sea, and in this way, the creatures in the sea were able to multiply and thrive. The wave and the mountain fostered and sustained each other, kept each other in check, and existed in a state of mutual dependence for survival.

So our story ends. First, tell Me, what was this story about? To begin, there was a great mountain, a little stream, a fierce wind, and a gigantic wave. What happened in the first passage, with the little stream and the great mountain? Why have I chosen to talk about a stream and a mountain? (Under the mountain’s care, the stream never lost its way. They depended on each other for survival.) Would you say the mountain protected or obstructed the little stream? (It protected it.) But did it not obstruct it? It and the stream watched out for each other; the mountain protected the stream and obstructed it, too. The mountain protected the stream as it joined the river, but also obstructed it to keep it from flowing where it would and causing floods all around, so that this little body of water would not bring disaster to the people. Is this not what the passage was about? Thanks to the mountain’s protection and the mountain acting as a barrier to the stream, the homes of the people were protected. The little stream then joined the river at the foot of the mountain and flowed on into the sea. Is this not the law that governs the stream’s survival? What enabled the stream to join the river and the sea? Was it not the mountain? The stream relied on the mountain’s protection and its obstruction. So, is this not the main point? Do you see in this the importance of mountains to water? These mountains great and small, did God have His purpose in making them? (Yes.) This short passage, with nothing but a little stream and a great mountain, lets us see the value and significance of the existence of these two things created by God; it shows us, too, the wisdom and intention in His rule over them. Is that not so?

What was the story’s second passage about? (A fierce wind and the great mountain.) Is wind a good thing? (Yes.) Not necessarily—sometimes the wind is too strong and causes disaster. How would you feel if you were made to stand in the fierce wind? It depends on its strength. If it were a level three or four wind, it would be tolerable. At most, a person might have trouble keeping their eyes open. But if the wind grew fiercer and became a tornado, would you be able to withstand it? You would not. So, it is wrong to say that the wind is always good for people, or that it is always bad for them, because this depends on its strength. Now, what is the mountain’s function here? Is its function not to filter the wind? What does the mountain reduce the fierce wind to? (A breeze.) Now, in the environment that humans inhabit, do most people experience gales or breezes? (Breezes.) Was this not one of God’s purposes, one of His intentions in creating mountains? If fierce winds, sweeping up sand and stones, always befell people, unimpeded and unfiltered, what would man’s living environment be like? Wouldn’t sand and stones be flying everywhere, making it impossible for people to stay on the ground? They might be struck by stones or get sand in their eyes so they cannot see, they might be swept off their feet or carried into the air by the wind, or houses might be destroyed; all manner of disasters could happen. Yet is there value in the existence of fierce wind? I said it was bad, so one might feel it has no value, but is that so? Does it not have value once it has turned into a breeze? What do people need most when they feel that weather is humid or that the air is stifling? They need a light breeze to blow on them gently and slowly, refreshing them and clearing their heads, sharpening their thinking, beautifully restoring and improving their state of mind. Now, for example, you all sit in a room with many people and stuffy air—what do you need most? (A light breeze.) When people go to a place where the air is particularly turbid, the air there has some dirty things in it. This causes one’s thinking to slow, one’s circulation to reduce, and one’s clarity of mind to diminish. However, a bit of movement and circulation freshen the air, and people feel differently in fresh air. Though the little stream could cause disaster, and the fierce wind could cause disaster, the mountain’s existence turns these dangers into things that benefit people. Is that not so?

What was the story’s third passage about? (The great mountain and the gigantic wave.) The great mountain and the gigantic wave. This passage is set at the seashore at the foot of the mountain. We see the mountain, the ocean spray, and a gigantic wave. What is the mountain to the wave in this instance? (A protector and a barrier.) It has a dual nature, as both a protector and a barrier. As a protector, its purpose is to keep this sea from disappearing, so that the creatures that live in it may multiply and thrive. As a barrier, its purpose is to keep the waters of this sea—this body of water—from overflowing and flooding everywhere, causing harm and damage to people’s homes. So, we can say that the great mountain is both a protector and a barrier to the gigantic wave.

This is the significance of the mutual fostering and sustenance, mutual keeping in check, and dependence on each other for survival that exists between the great mountain and the little stream, the great mountain and the fierce wind, and the great mountain and the gigantic wave. These things, which God created, all have a rule and a law for their survival. So, what deeds of God did you see in this story? Has God ceased to manage all things since He created them? Did He set the laws and determine the ways that all things function, only to leave them to their own devices after that? Is that what happened? (No.) Then what did happen? God is still managing them. He manages the water, the wind, and the waves, not allowing them to run rampant, not allowing them to cause harm or damage to the homes people live in. Because of this, people living on the land can continue to multiply and thrive. This means that when He created all things, God determined their laws for survival. When God made each thing, as well as ensuring it would benefit mankind, He also had to manage it, so that it might not trouble mankind or cause him disaster. Were it not for God’s management, would the waters not flow without restraint? Would the wind not blow without restraint? Would they be governed by laws? If God did not manage them, no laws would govern them, and the wind would blow wildly and the waters would be unrestrained and cause floods. If the gigantic wave had been higher than the mountain, would the sea be able to exist? It would not. If the mountain were not higher than the wave, the sea would not exist, and the mountain would lose the value and significance of its existence.

Do you see God’s wisdom within these two stories? God created everything, He is sovereign over everything, He manages everything, and He makes provision for everything. Within all that exists, He scrutinizes every move, word, and action of everything. So, too, does God scrutinize every corner in which mankind lives. Therefore, everything that God created, He knows its function, nature, laws for survival, the significance of its survival, and the value of its existence inside out and with absolute clarity. Everything created by God—do you think He needs to examine the laws that govern it all? Does God need to study human knowledge or science to examine and understand them? (No.) Is there one among mankind with the learning and erudition to understand all things as God does? There isn’t, is there? Are there any astronomers or biologists who truly understand the laws by which all things live and grow? Can they truly understand the value of the existence of each thing? (No, they cannot.) This is because all things were created by God, and no matter how much, or how deeply, or for how long mankind studies this knowledge, they will never be able to fathom the mystery or the purpose of God’s creation of all things. Is that not the case? Now, from our discussion thus far, do you feel that you have gained a partial understanding of the true meaning of the phrase: “God Is the Source of Life for All Things”? (Yes.) I knew that when I mentioned this topic—God Is the Source of Life for All Things—many people would immediately think of “God is truth, and God uses His word to provide for us,” and nothing beyond that level of the topic’s meaning. Some might even feel that God’s provision of human life, of daily food and drink, and every daily necessity does not count as His providing for man. Are there not some who feel this way? In order to allow mankind to survive and live normally, God created all of this; is His intent not obvious? God maintains the environment in which people live and He provides all of the things needed by mankind for their survival. Furthermore, He manages and holds sovereignty over all things. All of this allows mankind to live, thrive, and multiply normally; it is in this way that God provides for everything and for mankind. Do people need to recognize and understand these things? Perhaps some may say, “This topic is too far from our knowledge of the true God Himself, and we do not want to know this because we do not live by bread alone, but instead live by the word of God.” Are these words correct? (No.) Why are they incorrect? Tell Me, can you have a complete understanding of God if you only have knowledge of the things God has said? If you only accept God’s work and accept God’s judgment and chastisement, can you have a complete understanding of God? To understand God you only need to know a part of God’s disposition, a part of God’s authority, then you will have achieved an understanding of God—is this statement correct? (No.) God’s deeds began with His creation of all things, and they continue today—God’s deeds are present at all times, from moment to moment. If one believes God exists only because He has chosen a group of people to perform His work upon and to save, and that nothing else has anything to do with God, neither His authority, His identity, nor His deeds, then can one be considered to have a true knowledge of God? When someone who supposedly has knowledge of God one-sidedly confines His deeds to one group of people, is this a true knowledge of God? Does such knowledge not deny God’s creation of all things and His sovereignty over them? Some people do not wish to engage with this point, instead thinking to themselves, “God’s sovereignty over all things, I haven’t seen it. It is so far removed from me, and I don’t care to understand it. God does what He wants, and it has nothing to do with me. I only accept God’s leadership and His word so that I can be saved and made perfect by God. Nothing else matters to me. The laws God created for all things and what He does to provide for all things and for mankind have nothing to do with me.” What kind of talk is this? Is this not utterly rebellious? Are there any among you with an understanding like this? I know, even without your saying so, that a great many of you here have these thoughts. By-the-book people like this look at everything from their own “spiritual” point of view. They want only to limit God to the Bible, limit God by the words He has spoken, to doctrines derived from the literal written word. They do not wish to know God more and they do not want God to split His attention by doing other things. This type of thinking is childish, and it is also excessively religious. Can people who hold these views know God? It would be very difficult for them to know God. When you first heard and came into contact with these two aspects of the two stories which I told today, you might have felt that they were a bit profound or a bit abstract, difficult to comprehend and understand. It might be difficult to connect them with God’s deeds and God Himself. However, all of God’s deeds and all He has done among all things and among mankind should be known, clearly and accurately, by every person, by everyone who seeks to know God. This knowledge will give you certainty and belief in the true existence of God. It will also give you accurate knowledge of God’s wisdom, His power, and the manner by which He provides for all things. It will allow you to clearly realize that God’s existence is true, not fictional, not a myth, not nebulous, not a theory, and certainly not a sort of spiritual anchor, but a real existence. Furthermore, it will allow people to know that God has always provided for everything and for mankind; God does this in His own way and in accordance with His own rhythm. So, it is because God created all things and gave them laws that they are each able, under His preordination, to perform their allotted tasks, fulfill their responsibilities, and perform their own roles; under His preordination, each thing has its own use in service of mankind and the space and environment mankind inhabits. If God had not done so and mankind had no such environment to inhabit, then believing in God or following Him would be impossible for mankind; it would all amount to nothing more than empty talk. Is that not so?

Let us look again at the story of the great mountain and the little stream. What is the function of the mountain? The mountain nurtures all things on it, so its existence has inherent value, and it also obstructs the little stream, preventing it from flowing as it will, so that it does not bring disaster to the people. Is that not the case? The mountain exists in its own way of being, allowing all things upon it to be nurtured—the trees and grasses and all the other plants and animals on the mountain. It also guides the course of the little stream’s flow—the mountain gathers up the waters of the stream and they flow naturally around its foot so that they may flow into the river and eventually the sea. These laws did not occur naturally, but were put in place especially by God at the time of creation. As for the great mountain and the fierce wind, the mountain, too, needs the wind. The mountain needs the wind to caress the living things that live upon it, while at the same time restricting the fierce wind’s force so that it does not blow wantonly. This law embodies, in a certain respect, the duty of the great mountain; so, did this law regarding the mountain’s duty take form on its own? (No.) It was made by God. The great mountain has its duty and the fierce wind has its duty as well. Now, let us turn to the great mountain and the gigantic wave. Without the mountain’s existence, would the water find a direction of flow on its own? (No.) The water would flood. The mountain has its own existential value as a mountain, and the sea has its own existential value as a sea; however, under circumstances in which they are able to exist together normally and do not interfere with one another, they also confine one another—the great mountain confines the sea so that it does not flood, thereby protecting the people’s homes, and confining the sea also allows it to nurture all things that dwell within it. Did this landscape take form on its own? (No.) It too was created by God. We see from this image that when God created all things, He ordained where the mountain would stand, from where the stream would flow, where the fierce wind would rise, from where it would begin to blow and where it would blow to, and how high the gigantic waves should be. All of these things contain God’s intentions and purpose—they are God’s deeds. Now, can you see that God’s deeds are present in all things? (Yes.)

What is our purpose in discussing these things? Is it to make people research the laws God created for all things? Is it to encourage interest in astronomy and geography? (No.) Then what is it? It is to make people understand the deeds of God. In God’s deeds, people can affirm and verify that God is the source of life for all things. If you can understand this, then you will be truly able to confirm God’s place in your heart, and you will be able to confirm that God is God Himself, the unique, who created the heavens and earth and all things. So, is it useful to your understanding of God to know the laws for all things and to know God’s deeds? (Yes.) How useful is it? First of all, when you have understood the deeds of God, can you still be interested in astronomy and geography? Can you still have the heart of a skeptic and doubt that God created all things? Can you still have the heart of a researcher and doubt that God created all things? (No.) When you have confirmed that God created all things and understood some of the laws God created for all things, will you truly believe in your heart that God provides for all things? (Yes.) Does “provision” here have a particular significance, or does its use refer to a specific circumstance? “God provides for all things” is a phrase with very broad significance and scope. God does not merely provide people with their daily food and drink; He provides mankind with everything they need, including everything that people can see, but also things that cannot be seen. God upholds, manages, and holds sovereignty over this living environment which mankind needs. That is to say, whatever environment mankind needs for each season, God has prepared it; whatever type of air and temperature are suitable for human survival, He manages that, too. The laws that govern these things do not occur by themselves or at random; they are the result of God’s sovereignty and His deeds. That is, the source of all of these laws and of the survival of all things is God Himself. Regardless of whether or not you believe it, whether or not you can see it, or whether or not you can understand it, this remains an established and unassailable fact.

I know that the vast majority of people only have faith in the words and work of God that are included in the Bible. Among a small minority, God has revealed His deeds, allowing people to see the value of His existence. He has also let people have some understanding of His identity and confirm the fact of His existence. However, many more people are vague and unspecific regarding the fact that God created all things and that He manages and provides for all things, and even maintain an attitude of doubt. This attitude causes them to consistently believe that the laws of the natural world formed spontaneously, that the changes and transformations of the natural world, some of its phenomena, and all of the laws that govern it arose out of nature itself. That is to say, people cannot conceive in their hearts of how God created all things and holds sovereignty over them; they cannot understand how God manages and provides for all things. Under the limits of this premise, people cannot believe that it is God who created and holds sovereignty over all things, that it is God who provides for all things. Even those who believe are limited in their belief to the Age of Law, the Age of Grace, and the Age of Kingdom: They restrict God’s deeds and His provisions for mankind solely to His chosen people. This is something I am most loath to see, and something that causes so much pain, because even as mankind enjoys all that God brings, they deny all He does and all He gives them. People only believe that the heavens and earth and all things are governed by their own natural laws and their own natural rules for living, and that they are without any sovereign to manage them or any sovereign to provide for them and keep them. Even if you believe in God, you cannot believe that all these are His deeds. This is therefore the biggest blind spot of every believer in God, everyone who accepts God’s word, and everyone who follows God. So, as soon as I begin discussing something that is unrelated to the Bible or so-called spiritual terminology, some people become bored or weary or even uncomfortable. They feel that My words seem disconnected from spiritual people and spiritual things. That is a terrible thing. When it comes to knowing the deeds of God, though we do not mention astronomy, nor do we research geography or biology, yet we must understand God’s sovereignty over all things, we must know of His provision for all things, and that He is the source of all things. This is a necessary lesson and one that must be studied. I believe you have understood My words, yes?

Even though the content of the two stories I just told was a bit unusual, and the way they were told and expressed was also a bit unusual, I just wanted to use straightforward language and a simple approach to help you gain and accept something more profound. This was My only goal: to help you see, or even believe, through these little stories and the pictures they paint, that God holds sovereignty over everything. The goal of telling these stories is to allow you to see and know the infinite deeds of God within the finite confines of a story. As to when this goal will be fully realized and achieved in yourselves—that depends on your own experiences and your own pursuit. If you are someone who pursues the truth and seeks to know God, then these things will serve as an ever more forceful reminder; they will grant you a deep awareness, a clarity in your understanding, which will gradually draw close to God’s actual deeds, with a closeness that will be without distance and without error. However, if you are not someone who seeks to know God, then these stories cannot do you any harm. Just consider them simply as stories.

Have you gained any understanding from these two stories? Firstly, are these two stories set apart from our previous discussion of God’s concern for mankind? Is there an inherent connection? In these two stories can you see God’s deeds and the comprehensive arrangements He makes for mankind? Is it true that everything God does and every thought He has are for the sake of mankind’s survival? (Yes.) Are God’s painstaking intentions for mankind not very evident? Mankind does not have to do anything. God has prepared for people the air—all they need to do is breathe it. The vegetables and fruits they eat are readily available. From north to south, from east to west, each region has its own local produce. Different regional crops, fruits, and vegetables have all been prepared by God. In the greater environment, God made all things foster and sustain each other, keep each other in check, and depend on each other for survival. This is His method and His law to maintain the survival and existence of all things; in this way, mankind has been able to grow safely and serenely within this living environment, to multiply from one generation to the next, even unto the present day. This is to say, God brings balance to the natural environment. If God were not sovereign and in control, then the environment, even had it still been created by God, would be beyond anyone’s ability to maintain and keep in balance. In some places there is no air at all, so mankind cannot survive in such places; this is God not allowing you to go to them. So, do not go beyond the proper limits. This is for mankind’s protection—there are mysteries within. Each aspect of the environment, the length, breadth, height, and depth of the earth, every creature on the earth—both living and dead—were prepared and conceived by God long ago. Why this thing is needed, why that thing is not needed, the purpose of having this thing here and that thing there: God considered all of this for mankind long ago, so there is no need for people to consider it. There are some stupid people who always think of moving mountains, but instead of doing that, why not move to the plains? If you do not like mountains, why do you live near them? Is that not stupid? What would happen if you moved that mountain? Hurricanes and huge waves would come and people’s homes would be destroyed. Would this not be foolish of them? People are capable only of destruction. They cannot even maintain the only environment they have in which to live, and yet they want to provide for all things. This is impossible.

God has mankind manage all things and be their master, but does man do a good job? Man always destroys things. He is simply unable to keep everything God made for him in its original condition—instead he has destroyed God’s creation. Mankind has moved the mountains, reclaimed land from the seas, turned the plains into deserts where no man can live, made industry in the desert, and built nuclear bases there. He has sown destruction everywhere. Now rivers are no longer rivers, the sea no longer the sea…. Once mankind has broken this balance and these laws, his day of disaster and perishing is not far away; it is inevitable. When disaster comes, mankind will know the preciousness of everything God made for him and how important it is to mankind. For man, living in an environment whose winds and rains come in their time is like living in paradise. People do not realize that this is a blessing, but the moment they lose it all, they will see how rare and precious it is. So what can be done to salvage all of this? What could people do if God did not wish to recreate it? Do you have a solution? Actually, there is a solution, it is very simple—when I tell you what it is, you will know immediately that it is feasible. How is it that man has found himself in his current state of existence? Is it not because of his greed and destruction? If man ends this destruction, will his living environment not gradually right itself? If God does nothing, if God no longer wishes to do anything for mankind—that is to say, if He does not intervene in this matter—then mankind’s best solution would be to halt all the destruction and allow their living environment to return to its natural state. Putting an end to all this destruction means putting an end to the plunder and devastation of the things God has created. Doing so would allow the environment in which man lives to recover gradually, while failure to do so would result in an ever deteriorating environment for life whose destruction would worsen with time. Is My solution simple? It is simple and feasible, is it not? Simple indeed, and feasible for some people—but is it feasible for the vast majority of people on earth? (It is not.) For you, at the very least, is it feasible? (Yes.) What is your response based on? Could it be said that it is based on a foundation of understanding God’s deeds? Could it be said that it is based on submission to God’s sovereignty and arrangement? (Yes.) There is a way to change things, but that is not the topic we are discussing now. God is responsible for the survival of every single human, and He is responsible to the very end. God provides for you, and even if, in this living environment which is destroyed by Satan, you have been sickened or subjected to pollution or violation, it does not matter—God will provide for you, and God will let you live on. You should have faith in this. God will not lightly allow a human being to die.

Have you now come to feel something of the importance of understanding that “God is the source of life for all things”? (Yes, we have.) What feelings do you have? Tell Me. (In the past, we never thought to connect the mountains, seas, and lakes with the deeds of God. It was not until hearing God’s fellowship today that we understood these things have God’s deeds and wisdom within them; we see that in the beginning, when God created all things, everything had His preordination and His good intentions. All things are mutually fostering and sustaining, and mankind is the ultimate beneficiary. What we heard today feels very fresh and novel—we have felt how practical God’s deeds are. In the real world, in our daily lives, and in our encounters with all things, we see that this is so.) You have truly seen, have you not? God does not provide for mankind out of thin air; His provision is not just a few short words. God has done so much that is real, and even the things you do not see are all for your benefit. Man lives in this environment, within all things that God created for him, and is mutually dependent with all things for survival. For example, plants exhale gases that purify the air, and people breathe the purified air and benefit from it; yet some plants are poisonous to people, while other plants counteract the poisonous plants. This is a wonder of God’s creation! But let us leave this topic for now; today, our discussion was mainly of man and all things depending on each other for survival, and how man cannot be separated from all things. What is the importance of God’s creation of all things? Man cannot live without all things. Take the simplest example: Man cannot do without air—if you were placed in a vacuum, you would soon die. This is a very simple principle that shows man cannot exist separately from all things. So, what attitude should man have toward all things? One that treasures them, protects them, makes efficient use of them, does not destroy them, does not waste them, and does not change them at will, for all things are from God, all things are His provision to mankind, and mankind must not fail to take them seriously. Today we have discussed these two topics. Go back and ponder them carefully and contemplate them well. Next time, we will discuss some things in detail. This concludes today’s gathering. Goodbye!

January 18, 2014