It has taken man until this day to realize that what man lacks is not only the supply of spiritual life and the experience of knowing God, but—what is even more vitally important—changes in his disposition. Due to man’s complete ignorance of the history and ancient culture of his own race, the result is that man knows nothing at all about God’s work. All men hope that man can be attached to God deep within his heart, but because man’s flesh is excessively corrupt, both numb and obtuse, this has caused him to know nothing at all of God. In coming among man today, God’s purpose is none other than to transform people’s thoughts and spirits, as well as the image of God in their hearts that they have had for millions of years. He will take this opportunity to make man perfect. That is, He will, by means of man’s knowledge, change the way people come to know Him and their attitude toward Him, enabling man to make a triumphant new beginning in coming to know God, and so achieve the renewal and transformation of the human spirit. Dealing and discipline are the means, while conquest and renewal are the goals. Dispelling the superstitious thoughts man has held about the vague God has forever been God’s intention, and lately this has also become a matter of urgency to Him. Would that all people might take the long view in considering this situation. Change the way in which each person experiences so that this urgent intention of God may soon reach fruition and so that the last stage of God’s work on earth may be perfectly brought to completion. Give God the loyalty that it behooves you to give Him, and for the last time render comfort to God’s heart. Among the brothers and sisters, would that none should shirk this responsibility, or merely pretend to go through the motions. God comes in the flesh this time in answer to an invitation, and in pointed response to the condition of man. That is, He comes to supply man with what man needs. No matter what man’s caliber or breeding, He will, in summary, enable him to see the word of God and, from His word, see the existence and the manifestation of God and accept God’s perfection of him, changing the thoughts and notions of man so that the original countenance of God is firmly rooted in the depths of man’s heart. This is God’s only wish on earth. No matter how great the inborn nature of man, or how poor man’s essence, or what man’s behavior in the past was really like, God pays no regard to these. He only hopes for man to make completely new the image of God he has in his inner heart and to come to know the essence of mankind, and thereby arrive at the transformation of the ideological outlook of man, and to be able to long for God from the depths and awaken an eternal attachment to Him: This is the one demand that God makes of man.

—The Word, Vol. 1. The Appearance and Work of God. Work and Entry (7)

God’s Only Wish on Earth

I

It is on invitation that God comes in the flesh this time, in light of man’s condition, to supply man with what is needed. He’s coming to cause each man, whatever caliber or breeding, to see the word of God and to see in it God’s existence and God’s manifestation, to accept God’s perfection by words. God hopes man will change their thoughts and conceptions, so the true countenance of God will be firmly set in the depths of man’s heart. This is God’s only wish on earth.

II

Great might be man’s nature, and poor man’s essence might be, God pays no regard to it, no matter what their past deeds were. He hopes that man can renew the image of God in their hearts. God hopes man will change their thoughts and conceptions, so the true countenance of God will be firmly set in the depths of man’s heart. This is God’s only wish on earth.

III

He hopes that man will come to know the essence of mankind, and they will change their outlook. He hopes they will deeply long for Him, and have an eternal attachment to Him. This is all that God asks of man. God hopes man will change their thoughts and conceptions, so the true countenance of God will be firmly set in the depths of man’s heart. This is God’s only wish on earth.

Adapted from The Word, Vol. 1. The Appearance and Work of God. Work and Entry (7)