4) Church, Denominational and Group Representatives God's words
18. John Smyth (c. 1554 - 1612, reputed founder of the General Baptists)
Did Smyth lead such a meaningless life?
I don't know what to say first. The Unification Principle contains so many stunning facts. I feel quite agitated by hearing such deeply moving education. My mind is all mixed up and I don't know how to express this state of disorder. I, Smyth, thought that I had never once in my entire life been negligent in serving and attending God. When I heard about the Unification Principle, however, I came to realize that Smyth had been so disconnected from God in his life of faith.
I feel so ashamed and regretful. I am seized with various thoughts and depressed. All of a sudden, the pain of penitence overwhelms me over having had such a wrong idea of God. I am tormented with remorse.We have been totally ignorant of God. The Unification Principle is certainly a new truth and a new Gospel, but then what was the Bible teaching us until now? Even if we admit that we were not able to receive the benefit of the providence of this age, were we that ignorant that our life of faith in our own age was utterly unrelated to the new truth and Gospel of this Completed Testament Age? I heard that God is the Parent of humankind, but it made me somewhat sorry to think that God's love to us had been partial.
How much did we endeavor to live a true life? How much did we endeavor to serve God? We strived to serve God with our whole body and heart, but after all is said and done was it in vain? Did Smyth lead such a meaningless life? God desires that man be regenerated by conforming to the new truth of the Unification Principle. What reward or punishment will God give to the countless people responsible for each religious denomination in the spirit world? I really want to know whether they really can't receive any of God's favor.
This regretful feeling lurking in my heart makes Smyth sad continuously. I am definitely confident that the Unification Principle today is a new Gospel and a revelation of God to humankind. This makes Smyth even more painful. The entirety of humanity must be clearly aware of their life after death and prepare themselves. The Parent of humankind, Reverend Sun Myung Moon, how many hardships did you suffer until you found this truth of God, and until you achieved the final victory on the bloody battlefield? Reverend Sun Myung Moon, I pay my great homage and thanks to you. I feel bitter regret about my past religious life.
I feel even more sorrowful because my religious life was based on a merely superficial understanding of God. From now on, I will take a proper view of God and faith and then attempt to reestablish my life on that basis. The Unification Principle is definitely the truth of the Completed Testament Age. However, as a person responsible for a religious body, I misguided countless people by a mistaken view of life after death. How can I be responsible for the spirits of those people? I'd rather defend myself by saying that it was inevitable in those times when the new truth was absolutely inaccessible to us.
Reverend Sun Myung Moon, just tolerate and embrace everyone with your magnanimous heart! Our original intention was to serve God well, but to our grief, our life and ignorance resulted in offending the will of God. I pray that God will forgive everything. I always feel grateful for this new truth and for God's grace that permits us to know the Savior, Messiah of humankind before anyone else. Please tolerate all religious believers here in the spirit world and permit us to know how to give positive support to God's providence. And please allow us to receive the Blessing. I really want to receive the Blessing, even if it sounds like an immoderate desire. I express my heartfelt thanks.
John Smyth 11. 4. 2001 |