I

Only when your relationship with God is normal

can you be made perfect by Him;

only then can God’s pruning, discipline, and refinement

achieve their intended effect in you.

That is to say, if man can keep God in their hearts

and don’t pursue personal gain

or give thought to their individual prospects or their flesh,

but instead bear the burden of life entry,

do their best to pursue the truth, and submit to God’s work—

if you can do this, then the goals you pursue will be correct,

and your relationship with God will become normal.

II

Making right one’s relationship with God

can be called the first step of entry into one’s spiritual journey.

Although man’s fate is in God’s hands and is predestined by God,

and cannot be changed by man,

whether you can be made perfect by God or be gained by Him

depends on whether your relationship with God is normal or not.

There may be parts of you that are weak or rebellious—

but as long as your views and your intentions are correct,

and as long as your relationship with God is right and normal,

then you are qualified to be made perfect by God.

III

If you don’t have the right relationship with God,

and act for the sake of the flesh or your family,

then regardless of how hard you work,

it will be for nothing, it will be for nothing.

If your relationship with God is normal,

then everything else will fall into place.

God looks at nothing else,

but only at whether your views in your belief in God are correct:

whom you believe in, for whose sake you believe, and why you believe.

If you are able to see these things clearly

and practice with your views well disposed,

then you will make progress in your life,

and you will also be guaranteed entry onto the right track.

from The Word, Vol. 1. The Appearance and Work of God. How Is Your Relationship With God?