Ep 552 - Wonmo Pyeongae Scholarship Institute Part 2
220430 Wonmo Pyeongae Scholarship Institute 187-32-14-40-552 - April 30, 2022
(Response to sharing) I think we need to have a kind of internal reconciliation ceremony (in our Unification community). We need to begin within ourselves first. We already know God. We already know the Divine Principle. Still something is going on. That is why we need to have reconciliation between black people and white people, between white people and yellow people. We are the ones who are promoting world peace. Without loving (our) enemy, how can we (create) the kingdom of heaven on earth? I really appreciate Rev. Oliver for initiating that kind of beautiful reconciliation ceremony.♦
Today I did not wear a mask. I (am) really trying to show my face (after mole surgery). I am really glad to see our brothers and sisters every morning.
Today I’d like to talk about the “Wonmo Pyeongae Scholarship Institute” from True Mother’s Anthology, Book 1.
Your purpose in studying and attending school should not be about entering a good university or securing a high-paying job. Your most important goal must be to complete the three great blessings given to us by God and become a person that practices loving God, loving people and loving your nation. Only when you gain knowledge, skills and ability on that foundation can you realize a great dream. The Wonmo Pyeongae Foundation will actively support you in aligning your dreams with those of Heavenly Parent so that you can become even more capable people. (2014.02.10, Cheon Jeong Gung)
Today, True Mother gave very important words about our life goals and vision. “Your purpose in studying and attending school should not be about entering a good university or securing a high-paying job. Your most important goal must be to complete the three great blessings given to us by God and become a person that practices loving God, loving people and loving your nation. Only when you gain knowledge, skills and ability on that foundation can you realize a great dream.”
What is the first blessing? It is to become a true self, true person, that is, a filial child. How can I become a filial child, a true self? That is the first blessing.
The second blessing is that couples become one and establish an ideal family. The second blessing begins from the unity between husband and wife.
The third (blessing) is to create an environment that makes heaven on earth by multiplying blessings around us from the individual to the family, from the family to the tribe, from the tribe to the nation and from the nation to the world. Multiply the blessing. Then finally we can establish God’s kingdom of heaven on earth.
Today I would like to share my own testimony with you.
There are things in my life that I cannot forget, (particularly) one important teaching of Rev. Yohan Lee when I was studying at Korean UTS. From the time we entered UTS until we graduated, he repeatedly spoke (about this) important content (so much) that we thought we would be brainwashed!
He told us theology students to always focus on how to become a true person, rather than setting our life goals on external advancement or position.
He continuously told us that our goal should be how to be a true person, true man or true woman. Again and again he repeated this.
If you have a goal to achieve an external position -- “I want to enter a great company and get a large salary; I want to be a politician; I want to become a wonderful businessman; I want to become a billionaire or a millionaire” or whatever -- those are just external things, Rev. Yo Han Lee said. The most important thing, whatever job we do, our Internal goal is how to become a true man or a true woman. In the beginning I did not realize that. But since he continuously told us this every day, I came to know that this is very important content. (Then) I changed myself; I changed my internal goal.
Looking back, those words of that time seem to have made me struggle to become a true person today. My whole life seems to be passing by, struggling to live by Rev Yohan Lee’s words to become a true person without seeking to gain any material or any higher position. Since that time, I don’t have any desire to promote my position. I don’t have any desire to acquire any materials because of his teaching and guidance.
Later when I studied Father’s words, wow! Father’s words are really powerful. Today when we read True Mother’s words, it reminded me again of Rev. Yohan Lee’s and True Parents’ guidance.
When we go to the spiritual world, what kind of job or position or power we had doesn’t matter. The spiritual world only cares (about) how much you became a true person, a true man or a true woman. Second blessing, how much you built an ideal family based on the unity between husband and wife? Third blessing, how much did you multiply the blessing? Ten people or twenty people or 30 people? (What kind of) contribution (did you make)? (Did you) finally create the foundation for the kingdom of heaven on earth? That is the third blessing.
As True Mother said, we must set our vision and goal to realize a true self and true family, and we must go further and become people who love the country, the world, and God.
You need to be grateful about the fact that you are living in the same environment as True Parents. Hence, you are happy people, and the more you share that happiness, the greater it becomes. True Parents are the True Parents of humanity. You are living in a time when the providential history of restoration through indemnity has been victoriously completed and the new Cheon Il Guk opened. Therefore, that there are people who do not know of True Parents at such a time is something we are responsible for. Regardless of where you are, remember that you are in an environment where you can stand as filial sons and daughters, Cheon Il Guk loyal citizens who testify about True Parents and spread their teachings. However, since you must still study, please make sure you diligently prepare yourselves, from your respective positions, to achieve our dream. (2015.02.28, CheongShim International Youth Center)
LIVING DIVINE PRINCIPLE: Principle of Creation 45 - Righteousness and Unrighteousness
Let’s study again the EDP content first.
Righteousness refers to the quality in a person which leads him to pursue goodness and further its purpose. Unrighteousness refers to that quality in a person which leads him to pursue evil and further its satanic purpose.
Let’s study Father’s word in more detail.
What Kind of Place is Heaven
<87-256> Now, when you wonder what kind of place is Heaven, it is a place of goodness and righteousness. In that world, it has that kind of environment. The environment is like that in that world. In that place, it is always filled with the things you like, the things that make you happy and the things that you love. Those things are always present there. So what kind of people can enter Heaven? The people who are able to adapt in Heaven’s environment. This is just the natural conclusion. So today, let’s have the desire to go in that kind of Heaven.
Heaven is a place of goodness and righteousness.
Heaven is always filled with the things you like, the things that make you happy and the things that you love.
So what kind of people can enter Heaven? The people who will be able to adapt in Heaven’s environment.
In other words, to go to heaven, you must be a good person. To be a good person, you must have the righteousness to be good in any circumstances. Things that change according to circumstances are not goodness.
Absolute goodness means what? Unchanging and always righteous. We can say that that kind of person is a really good guy. You are really a true man because you always keep going. no matter what, to keep your goodness and righteousness.
<87-258>The place we are living now is very different from Heaven. It is a world full of evilness and injustice. So how did these come about? It originated from our own selfish thinking. In other words, it was all because of the fall. It was when the archangel didn’t start to think centered on God’s viewpoint but thought centered on his own viewpoint; When he didn’t think of Adam and Eve and only thought from his perspective, this is the fall. Adam and Eve was supposed to think centered on God’s viewpoint as well, however they thought centered on themselves. The root cause of all evil and immorality is something we should know very well.
The world we are living in now is a world full of evil and injustice.
So how did this come about? It originated from our own selfish thinking. If you think of yourself first, you become unrighteous, and if you think of others first, you become righteous.
That is why it is important (to have) selfless thinking, thinking for the sake of others.
The reason that the archangel fell is that, first, he did not start to think centered on God’s viewpoint, and secondly, the archangel did not think centered on Adam and Eve.
That is why selfish thinking is really dangerous. It destroys everything.
Adam and Eve were supposed to think centered on God’s viewpoint as well, however they thought centered on themselves.
It is a fact that the origin of all evil and injustice begins with thinking centered on the self.
Anyone thinking centered on his own self first easily becomes an unrighteous guy. In order to become a righteous guy, (we) always need to think of others first.
As children you need to think of your parents first. As parents you need to think of your children first. As a human being you need to think first of Heavenly Father. Always think of others first. Then you can become a righteous man. If you think of yourself first, you easily become an evil person, an unrighteous person.
Brothers and sisters, can you tell right away if you’re a good person or an evil person yourself? Do you know or not? [We know]
So what is a good person? A good person is someone who doesn’t only think of himself and is ready to die for the greater good no matter how small it is. However, an evil person is someone who only lives and thinks centered on himself, and doesn’t care if others die on his expense. Where do you think you will go? To Heaven or Hell? If you don’t know this, then you don’t know how to live for Heaven and Heaven cannot bestow its mission for you.
How can you tell right away if you are a good person or an evil person yourself?
So what is a good person? A good person is someone who doesn’t only think of himself and is ready to die for the greater good, no matter how small it is.
However, an evil person is someone who only lives and thinks centered on himself, and doesn’t care if others die on his expense.
We need to know if we are thinking of ourselves (and) never thinking of the other’s point of view. How does evil begin? How does goodness begin? We can know about that.
TODAY’S YOUTH MINISTRY: How do you Deal With Pain?
Recently I have continuously talked about pain and suffering, right? We need to really understand pain and suffering. Any human being, sometimes spiritually or physically or materially, needs to go through a process of pain and suffering. Whenever we face this kind of problem then how do we deal with this pain and suffering?
1. Where do we usually make mistakes? When we enter the place of suffering and suffering, people lose their standards and make mistakes. Let's look at the three crosses, including the left and right crosses of Jesus, as one cross. While suffering, some have resentment and complaints, and some have a heart of gratitude. Some, like Jesus, comfort God through their own cross. In the place of suffering, if you say to God, “It is right for me to suffer because of the sins of my ancestors and because of my faults. But how much did God suffer to save such a human being?“ while comforting Him, that person will receive true salvation. Therefore, through the process of pain and suffering, it is decided whether I will gain salvation or death. This is a very precious word.
Where do we usually make mistakes? When people enter the place of pain and suffering, they think of themselves first. First of all, since the pain itself hurts, you try to get rid of it. As a result, they lose their standards and make mistakes without knowing the reason for the pain.
The three crosses of Jesus' course are content that allows us to examine ourselves (about) what kind of cross we should bear when we bear the cross of suffering. Will you complain like the thief on the left? Will you trust and follow the Lord like the thief on the right? Or will you comfort God and pray for all people like Jesus?
That is our portion of responsibility. Which cross will you choose? The left-hand (cross), the right-hand (one), or the central (one). Whenever we face that kind of suffering and pain that we almost cannot bear, (we can bear one of) three crosses.
Jesus was bleeding. The left- and right-hand thieves were bleeding. Everybody was going through incredible suffering. But internally how did they deal with it? The left-hand (thief) complained and accused. The right-hand (thief) really recognized who Jesus was and followed and trusted him and confessed. How about the central cross? How did Jesus bear the cross? In such a moment he forgave his enemies (and) comforted God.
When we face this kind of problem, think about it. Which cross should I bear? Whenever I have any pain, any suffering, which cross do I choose? This is my portion of responsibility.
If you comfort God in that kind of suffering, (God who is) really bleeding and bleeding on the cross, who has suffered more than you did, if you really choose the central cross which Jesus bore, then I am telling you, you will receive true salvation.
The thief on the right was saved by comforting Jesus, and because Jesus prayed for God and mankind while dying on the cross, God gave the benefit of giving spiritual salvation to all mankind.
Therefore, through the process of my pain and suffering, it is decided whether I will gain salvation or death.
That is our portion of responsibility. Your mindset, your attitude is important. If you really appreciate bearing the cross, you can get more power. Many people do not know this top secret actually. You will learn(?) through three crosses, right?
2. There are many countries in the world, but looking at the history of many countries, Korea can be seen as one of the countries that suffered injustice the most. Even now, the ceasefire line is blocked, and the families of the two Koreas cannot see each other and are suffering. But where is this appeal? They all have a heart of injustice and yet they cannot say anything, and especially the separated families are only suffering. Who is behind the injustice in this country? And who is behind the wronged people who suffer the pain of separated families? God is there. But how do we deal with them when we feel wronged or sad? A lot of people just want to avoid such a situation. Even if a physical disease occurs, the first thing to do is to think about how to cure it. I have to think about why this pain comes to me and the cause. Thinking that we have to meet God through suffering is real faith.
How do we deal with injustice, sorrow, and pain? A lot of people just want to avoid such a situation
Even if a physical disease occurs, the first thing to do is to think about how to cure it.
When pain comes to me, there must be a cause and a reason. It is very clear. Therefore, I have to think about the cause and reason of why this pain comes to me.
You need to (ask) this fundamental question: Why did this kind of suffering come to me? You need to know the cause and reason very clearly.
What is the cause and reason of God giving such suffering? We must fundamentally solve the problem while praying.
Ultimately, thinking that we have to meet God through suffering is real faith.
3. Whenever I encounter these difficulties and pains, I should think that I must know Heavenly Father and be really grateful for these difficulties and pains. Fallen human beings come to know God through the path of sorrow and suffering. Therefore, through the path of sorrow and suffering, human beings come to realize that this path is the way to heaven, the narrow path, the rough path, and the thorny path. We have now come to the age of embracing God's sorrow and becoming a filial son and filial daughter. Who is aware of God's sorrow? Everyone has their own circumstances, and they are bound by their own plans and goals, but they do not care about God's pain and sorrow. All of us who have joined the Unification Church today must know Heavenly Father's plight and become children who care about Heavenly Father. Then, the martyrs who came and went will try to solve the resentment they couldn't through us. We should have such a thorough mind.
We have to pray whenever we are met with difficulties and suffering. “Heavenly God! Please let me know You through this suffering! Through this hardship and difficulties, please give me a heart that can be more grateful.”
It is absolutely impossible for fallen human beings to know God on an easy, comfortable and peaceful place. Fallen human beings come to know God on the path of sorrow and suffering.
Therefore, the path for human beings to find God is the sorrowful and suffering path. It is not the wide path that secular people go on, but the narrow path, the rough path, and the thorny path.
We have now come to the age of embracing God's sorrow and becoming a filial son and filial daughter. Who is aware of God's sorrow?
Fallen human beings are all holding onto their own circumstances and bound by their own plans and goals, but they do not care about God's pain and sorrow.
Our Blessed families today have to know Heavenly Parent’s plight and True Parents’ suffering and become children who care about Heavenly Parent and True Parents.
4. Even if they were told to go into the lions' den, there were people in the past who had absolute faith under Heavenly Father's command. If you decide, “Since it is God's command, I will enter the lions’ den” eventually, God will take control of everything. God has done it all. If we make up our minds and put our hearts to it, God has done everything in the end. All you have to do is make a determination. Even when hardship comes, I say, “Yes, Father, God sent me this hardship, so I will be grateful. How sad are you so that You get me to know You through me, through this sorrow? This is how you must think. Then God says, “Yes, you are truly my child. Do not die.”
When we look at the central figures of the providence of restoration, the reason they could separate from the place of death and place of suffering was because they had only one lesson in their hearts. And that lesson is what True Parents always said “Those who seek to die will live, and those who seek to live will die.”
But the surprising thing is that when central figures in history just make a determination to die on the path of death, in the end, God controls everything. When they are determined to die, on that condition of such determination, they are separated from the path of death. Ultimately, God will come and settle all problems. If, (however,) you think of yourself on the path of suffering, you cannot be separated from the path of Satan.
But when I am really determined to die, I am separated from Satan. When Satan is first separated, God will be in charge of me 100%. The reason that I am not separated from Satan even on the path of suffering is because I still have fallen nature and I have self-assertion.
True Father said when I am 100% separated from Satan, God will absolutely come find me and have no choice but to intervene.
Therefore, be grateful on the path of suffering. Think of suffering as suffering given by God and an important opportunity to cleanse my fallen nature.
On the path of suffering, you should rather think of God’s suffering and of comforting God. My fallen nature is cleansed and I am separated from Satan in the place I comfort God.
5. When Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering, even though he was determined to kill his child, did Isaac die in the end? He took a knife and made up his mind to kill Isaac, but did he actually kill him? How many days did it take for Abraham to be determined to kill Isaac? He made such a determination over a 3-day course. God asked Abraham, “You, Abraham, will you really kill Isaac?” Then, Abraham responded “Yes, I really intend on killing him.” Then, God says to Abraham “Then prepare your knife and go,” and Abraham responds “Yes, I shall go.” So when Abraham was really about to kill Isaac, the angel of the Lord called out “Abraham! Abraham!” and stopped him from killing him. If something you determine is really clear like this, then God will do the work on top of that heart of determination.
This is really important content. When you really determine to die for God’s will, then your determination condition really separates (you) from Satan. Then God directly intervenes because you are separated from Satan. After separating from Satan, it is God’s portion of responsibility to intervene. That is why the Bible says, “(If you) prepare to die, you will live. (If you) prepare to live, you will die.”
When we (resolve) to separate from Satan, then God does everything.
6. When we look at the case of Abraham’s offering, we will realize: “We really only need to make a determination,” then “God will give us strength,” “God’s power is really shown.” However, we easily secretly change ideas and mistakenly think “I do Your work, and You do mine.” There are many cases when we try to do something ourselves without any determination in our hearts.
Dear brothers and sisters, please do not forget the secret to separating from Satan. “Those who seek to die will live, and those who seek to live will die.”
When suffering comes to me, if I seek to die, Satan will be separated. When I am determined to die, God will give me strength. When I am determined to die, God’s power will be shown all the time.
Ultimately, my portion of responsibility is to separate from Satan through the determination to die. Then, whether I succeed or fail is God’s work. Do not worry about whether or not you will succeed or not. Just be determined to die. Then God will take care of everything.
Today we are talking about how to deal with suffering and pain. I hope you learned something from today’s sermon.
LIVING TESTIMONY: I’m a Living Testimony that Anything is Possible
Today let's take the time to hear another living testimony of witnessing. Let’s welcome Kayun Hiraki from Korea.
(Testimony of Kayun Hiraki.)
Kayun Hiraki is Naoko Hiraki’s daughter (and) Takayo’s younger sister. All these family members are a witnessing family. Wow! What beautiful ladies!
I was really touched by her sharing. She said that Abel can be revived by Cain. These are powerful words. Without witnessing to Cain, there is no way to revive ourselves. That is why witnessing is our salvation. We can grow spiritually very quickly. We can understand God’s heart. Our heart becomes closer to Heavenly Father more and more. I am happy to hear the beautiful testimonies of many brothers and sisters. These (are indeed) living testimonies.
Next time I want to give you those who are really working hard with ACLC and YCLC. Some have really broken through helping Christian pastors (in) doing the 43-day condition. Someday I would like to invite some of them to give you such beautiful testimonies. When someone has recently received the blessing, they can give their own testimony about how the blessing was (for them). I think this living testimony session can inspire us all the time.
I love you.♦
(Response to sharing) Sometimes someone may all of a sudden ask you to share your reflection or appreciation. In any situation when someone all of a sudden asks you (to present something), don’t be nervous. At that time for one second you pray, “Heavenly Father, let God talk through my mouth.” You completely deny (yourself). “Let God talk.” When you have that heart, then God will share amazing things through your mouth.
Sometimes when I prepare a sermon and give a lecture, sometimes I am very tense and sometimes I feel separated(?), at that moment I completely deny myself. “I am not mine. Let God talk through my mouth.” Really deny yourself and empty (your) mind in any place or situation without worry. If you start to worry, you become nervous. Worry means you want to share your own intention, your own things. But if you deny yourself, God will surely intervene and share amazing things whenever you meet people, whenever you deal with any issues. This is really a beautiful thing!♦
NOTE: This lightly edited transcription may contain errors and omissions. Indecipherable or uncertain words and guesses are tagged with a “(?)” and indecipherable phrases, with an ellipsis “...”. First, second and third person pronouns have been left as spoken if the meaning is clear, and other apparently Korean English expressions have been preserved. Some repeated phrases have been eliminated. This text and the powerpoint slides from this speech are available as pdf files at the top of this text and at text.morndev.com & yong.hoondok.com. Audio only is available at anchor.morndev.com, spotify.morndev.com & audio.morndev.com. Notes or transcripts of Dr. Yong’s Morning Devotion speeches from November 11, 2020 through January 2, 2022 are available as five paperback books at cost at Lulu.com/Shop -- search for Dr. Chung Sik Yong -- and as PDF downloads free of charge at MDBooks.Hoondok.com.♦