Pyeong Hwa Gyeong (115) Book 7. The World of the Culture of Heart CHAPTER 4. Building a World of Heart-Centered Culture
1. Reflecting on the forty years since the founding of the Association
The founding of our church was not for the attainment of some personal goal of mine. It was done solely to fulfill God’s Will on earth. As I look back, I recall the tremendous persecution I encountered as I walked many different thorny paths.
Not even my parents, my brothers and sisters, or my relatives could understand them. I have vivid memories of false accusations from various groups and nations. The most painful aspect was the opposition from members of the established churches whom God had prepared. Even today some of them raise totally unfounded criticisms. Truly I have surmounted many hurdles. During all these difficulties I am so grateful for God’s protection and guidance, out of His deep love.
What is the duty of saints who are responsible for God’s providence of salvation? What is God’s purpose in raising saints? The saints for whom God is searching are not those who will be honored in history after they die. God is looking for saints who can save this evil world, and who can, in this age, transform it into the world of goodness for which God is longing.
God is looking for saints who will plunge headlong into the sorrowful world of sin in order to wipe clean the slate of the world’s sinful history. He is looking for saints who take it upon themselves to solve the problems God is most concerned about, saints who will fulfill the providential Will by firmly standing up against the evils of this world. Therefore, the path of such saints cannot be smooth, and it is inevitable that persecution and misunderstanding follow them.
I pledged to God that I would accomplish His Will for Him during my lifetime, and whether awake or asleep I focused on that thought alone. I renewed this pledge countless times, and continually disciplined myself to keep going, even while in the bowels of prison and under severe torture that put me on the verge of death |