God created this world and brought man, a living being unto which He bestowed life, into it. Next, man came to have parents and kin, and was no longer alone. Ever since man first laid eyes on this material world, he was destined to exist within the ordination of God. The breath of life from God supports each and every living being throughout growth into adulthood. During this process, no one feels that man is growing up under the care of God; rather, they believe that man is doing so under the loving care of his parents, and that it is his own life instinct that directs his growing up. This is because man knows not who bestowed his life, or from whence it came, much less the way in which the instinct of life creates miracles. He knows only that food is the basis on which his life continues, that perseverance is the source of his existence, and that the beliefs in his mind are the capital upon which his survival depends. Of God’s grace and provision, man is utterly oblivious, and thus does he fritter away the life bestowed upon him by God…. Not a single one of this humanity that God cares for day and night takes it upon themselves to worship Him. God only continues to work on man, for whom He holds out no expectations, as He has planned. He does so in the hope that one day, man will awaken from his dream and suddenly realize the value and meaning of life, the price God paid for all that He has given him, and the eager solicitude with which God waits for man to turn back to Him. No one has ever looked into the secrets governing the origin and continuation of man’s life. Only God, who understands all of this, silently endures the hurt and the blows that man, who has received everything from God but is not thankful, gives Him. Man enjoys all that life brings as a matter of course, and, likewise, it is “a matter of course” that God is betrayed by man, forgotten by man, and extorted by man. Could it be that God’s plan is truly of such importance? Could it be that man, this living being that came from the hand of God, is truly of such importance? The plan of God is assuredly of importance; however, this living being created by the hand of God exists for the sake of His plan. Therefore, God cannot lay waste to His plan out of hatred for this human race. It is for the sake of His plan and for the breath He exhaled that God endures all torments, not for the flesh of man but for the life of man. He does so in order to take back not the flesh of man but the life He breathed out. This is His plan.

—The Word, Vol. 1. The Appearance and Work of God. God Is the Source of Man’s Life

I

God created this world and brought man into it, a living being to whom God gave life. Then man had parents and kin, no longer alone, destined to live in God’s ordainment. It’s the life breath from God that supports each living being throughout their growth into adulthood. During all this process, they believe that it is just thanks to their parents’ love and care. Not one single man whom God cares for day and night takes initiative to worship Him. God continues to work just as He’s planned on man, who seems to be beyond any hope. And He hopes that one day, man will wake from his dream, see the value and purpose of life, understand what it cost God to give man everything, how He longs for man’s return to Him. Yes, He longs for man’s return to Him.

II

None believes that man lives and grows up under God’s care. They think man’s growth is from life’s instinct. For they don’t know who gave life or from whence it came, how life’s instinct creates miracles. Oh, they think that the food that they eat sustains life, that man lives because he perseveres, that man exists by beliefs; they are blind to God’s providence. They then squander the God-given life. Not one single man whom God cares for day and night takes initiative to worship Him. God continues to work just as He’s planned on man, who seems to be beyond any hope. And He hopes that one day, man will wake from his dream, see the value and purpose of life, understand what it cost God to give man everything, how He longs for man’s return to Him. Yes, He longs for man’s return to Him. Not one single man whom God cares for day and night takes initiative to worship Him. God continues to work just as He’s planned on man, who seems to be beyond any hope. And He hopes that one day, man will wake from his dream, see the value and purpose of life, understand what it cost God to give man everything, how He longs for man’s return to Him. Yes, He longs for man’s return to Him.

—Follow the Lamb and Sing New Songs