I

What does this word, “faith,” refer to?

Faith is the genuine belief

and the sincere heart that humans should possess

when they cannot see or touch something,

when God’s work does not align with human notions,

when it is beyond human reach.

This is the faith that God speaks of.

People are in need of faith

during times of hardship and refinement,

and faith is something that is followed by refinement;

refinement and faith cannot be separated.

No matter how God works,

and no matter your environment,

you are able to pursue life and seek the truth,

and seek knowledge of God’s work,

and have an understanding of His actions,

and you are able to act according to the truth.

Doing so is what it is to have true faith,

and doing so shows that you have not lost faith in God.

II

If you are able to persist

in pursuing the truth through refinement,

if you are able to truly love God

and do not develop doubts about Him,

if no matter what He does

you still practice the truth to satisfy Him,

and if you are able to seek in the depths for His will

and be considerate of His will,

only then does it mean that you have true faith in God.

Only then does it mean that you have true faith in God.

In the past,

when God said that you would reign as a king,

you loved Him,

and when He openly showed Himself to you,

you pursued Him.

But now God is hidden, you cannot see Him,

and troubles have come upon you—

do you then now lose hope in God?

So, you must at all times pursue life

and seek to satisfy God’s will.

This is called genuine faith,

and this is the truest and most beautiful kind of love.

from The Word, Vol. 1. The Appearance and Work of God. Those Who Are to Be Made Perfect Must Undergo Refinement