Considering mankind’s inherent traits, that is, mankind’s true face, being able to carry on until now has truly not been easy, and only through this has God’s great power become truly apparent. Considering the substance of the flesh, as well as the fact that, until now, man has been corrupted by the great red dragon, how would he have been able to continue standing to the present day, if not for the guidance of the Spirit of God? Man is unworthy to come before God, but for the sake of His management and in order to bring His great work to fruition before too long, God loves mankind. Truth be told, God’s love for mankind is something no man could ever repay within his lifetime. Perhaps there are some who wish to repay God’s grace by sacrificing their lives, but I tell you: Man is unworthy of dying before God, and so his death would be in vain. This is because, to God, the death of a man is not even worthy of mention, not worth a single penny, like the death of an ant on the ground. I advise humanity not to place too high a value upon themselves, and not to think that dying for God carries great weight, like that of Mount Tai. Actually, the death of a man is but as light as a feather, not worthy of mention. But then again, the flesh of man is doomed to die by nature, and so ultimately the physical body must come to an end on the earth. This is a true fact, which no one can deny. This is a “law of nature” which I derive from the totality of human life experience, and so God has defined man’s end in this way, without one’s realizing it. Do you understand? No wonder God says, “I despise mankind’s rebelliousness. I do not know why; it seems as if I have hated man since the beginning, and yet I feel deep sympathy for him. Thus have people always had two attitudes toward Me—for I love man, and I also hate him.”

Who does not praise God for His presence or His appearance? At this time, it is as if I have completely forgotten the impurity and unrighteousness within man. I take mankind’s self-righteousness, self-importance, disobedience, defiance, and all of their rebelliousness and push it all to the back of My mind, and forget about it. God is not constrained because of these instances of what mankind is. Since I “share the same affliction” as God, I also free Myself from this trouble, lest I be further constrained by man. Why go to all this bother? Since man is not willing to join God’s family with Me, how could I use My power to force them? I do not do things that are oppressive to man, and no wonder, because I was born into the family of God, and so of course man and I are always different. This has led to the state of abject defeat that he finds himself in today. But I continue to give a wide berth to the weaknesses of man; what choice do I have? Is this not because I am powerless? No wonder God seeks to “retire” from the “work unit” of mankind, and moreover demands a “pension.” When I speak from the perspective of a man, man does not listen, but has man ever ceased to rebel even when I speak from the perspective of God? Perhaps the day will come when God does suddenly “retire” from the “work unit” of mankind, and when that time comes, God’s word will become even more fierce. Today, it may be because of Me that God speaks in this way, and, if that day comes, God will not be like Me, gently and patiently “telling stories to kindergarteners.” Perhaps what I say is not quite fitting, but God is willing to loosen His hold on man a bit only on account of God incarnate; otherwise, the prospect would be too horrible to contemplate. Just as God said, “I once loosened My grip on people to a certain extent, allowing them to freely indulge in their fleshly desires—and because of this they dared to behave in an unbridled manner, without any restraint, from which it can be seen that they do not truly love Me, for they are all living in the flesh.” Why does God say “indulge in their desires,” and “living in the flesh” here? Truth be told, man will naturally understand words like these without My interpretation. Perhaps there are some who will say they do not understand, and I say this is a case of asking when one already knows the answer, of putting on an act. A few words of reminder: Why does God say, “All I ask of man is that he cooperate with Me”? Why does God also say that human nature is difficult to change? Why does God despise human nature? And what exactly are the things of human nature? What are the things outside human nature? Is there anyone who has contemplated these questions? Perhaps this is a new subject to man, yet still I implore man to give it proper consideration, otherwise man will always offend God with phrases such as “human nature is difficult to change.” What good does it do to go against Him in that way? In the end, is it not just asking for trouble? Will it not come to the same end as an egg thrown at a stone?

In truth, all the trials and the temptations to which man is subjected are lessons that God requires man to learn. According to God’s intention, man can achieve these things, even if he has to sacrifice that which he loves, but, because man always loves himself, he fails to truly cooperate with God. God does not ask much of man. All He asks of man is meant to be achieved easily and happily; it is just that man is unwilling to suffer hardships. Just as, being somebody’s child, one can fulfill their duty by living frugally and saving up to take care of their parents. Yet they fear that they may not eat well enough, or that their own clothing will be too plain, so, for one reason or another, the debt they owe their parents for their loving care is completely forgotten, as if the work of caring for them can wait until the child has made a fortune. I see in this that men have in their hearts no filial love for their parents—they are all unfilial sons. Perhaps My statement is too extreme, but I cannot speak inanity in the face of facts. I cannot “emulate others” in resisting God for the sake of satisfying Myself. It is exactly because no one on earth has a filial heart that God said: “In heaven, Satan is My enemy; on earth, man is My foe. Because of the union between the heaven and earth, I hold them all guilty, unto the ninth degree of kinship.” Satan is an enemy of God; the reason God says so is because it does not repay God for His great favor and kindness, but rather “paddles against the current,” and, in doing so, does not fulfill its duty to show filial devotion to God. Are people not also like this? They show no filial respect to their “parents” and never repay the debt they owe their “parents” for their loving care. This suffices to show that the people on earth are the kin of Satan in heaven. Man and Satan are of one heart and mind in opposing God, so it is no wonder God will implicate them unto the ninth degree of kinship and pardon none. In the past, God had His prostrate servant in heaven manage mankind, but it did not obey, instead indulging its own temper and rebelling. Are rebellious humans not also striding forward along this path? No matter how much God tightens the “reins,” people will simply not be shaken and cannot turn from their course. In My view, if humanity continues in this way, they will cause their own ruin. Perhaps now you understand the true meaning of these words of God: “People are incapable of severing their lingering ties to their old nature.” God has reminded man on several occasions: “Because of man’s rebelliousness, I leave him.” Why does God say this once and again? Could God really be so heartless? Why does God also say “I am not one of the human race”? Over so many idle days, is there anyone who has given careful thought to these detailed issues? I urge mankind to apply themselves with greater vigor to the words of God and not to treat them perfunctorily; to do so would bring no benefit to you, or others. It is best not to say that which does not need to be said, and not to think about that which does not need to be contemplated. Would this not be simpler? What wrong can come from such a practice? Before God proclaims the end of His work on earth, no one shall stop “moving”; no one shall wash their hands of their duty. Now is not the time; do not presume to act as a guide for God, or a vanguard. I think it is too early to stop now and cease moving forward—what do you think?

God brings humanity into the midst of chastisement, and He brings them into an atmosphere of death, yet, conversely, what would God have man do on earth? Surely, man’s purpose is not to serve as a wardrobe in God’s house—something that cannot be eaten or worn, but only looked at. If that were so, why employ so many complex processes to make people suffer so much in the flesh? God says, “I escort man to the ‘execution ground,’ for man’s offense is sufficient to merit My chastisement.” Does God let people walk to the execution ground by themselves at this time? Why does no one “beg for their mercy”? So, how should man cooperate? Can man truly act as God does when He makes His judgments, without the influence of emotion? The effectiveness of these words mainly depends on how man acts. When a father brings home money he has earned, if the mother does not know how to cooperate with him or how to manage the household, then what state would that home be in? Look at the state of the church now: What, as leaders, do you feel about it? You may as well hold a meeting to discuss your individual reflections. If things at home have been spoiled by the mother, what will the children in such a family look like? Like orphans? Or beggars? No wonder God said: “People all think that Mine is a divine nature that lacks ‘caliber of intellect,’ but who can grasp that I am able to see through everything in My humanity?” For such an obvious situation, there is no need for God to speak from His divinity. As God has said, “There is no need to use a sledgehammer to hit a nail.” Perhaps, at this time, there are those who have some practical experience with God’s aphorism of “Among men, there is no one who loves Me.” At this point, it is just as God has said: “It is only because they have arrived at the present state of affairs that people all reluctantly bow their heads—but in their hearts, they remain unconvinced.” These words are like a telescope. In the not-too-distant future, man will have walked into another situation. This is called incorrigibility. Do you understand? That is the answer to these two questions of God: “Do people not refrain from sin only because they fear I will go away? Is it not true that they do not complain only because they fear chastisement?” In fact, people at the present stage are all somewhat slack, as if overcome with weariness. They are not at all in the mood to heed God’s work, but are concerned solely with making arrangements and provisions for the sake of their own flesh. Is this not so?