He who is God’s incarnation shall hold the substance of God, and He who is God’s incarnation shall hold the expression of God. Since God becomes flesh, He shall bring forth the work He must do, and since God becomes flesh, He shall express what He is, and shall be able to bring the truth to man, bestow life upon man, and show man the way. Flesh that does not contain the substance of God is surely not the incarnate God; of this there is no doubt. To investigate whether it is God’s incarnate flesh, man must determine this from the disposition He expresses and the words He speaks. Which is to say, whether or not it is God’s incarnate flesh, and whether or not it is the true way, must be judged from His substance. And so, in determining whether it is the flesh of God incarnate, the key is to pay attention to His substance (His work, His words, His disposition, and many more), rather than external appearance. If man sees only His external appearance, and overlooks His substance, then that shows the ignorance and naivety of man. External appearance does not determine substance; what’s more, the work of God has never conformed with the conceptions of man. Did not the outward appearance of Jesus conflict with the conceptions of man? Were not His appearance and dress unable to provide any clues as to His true identity? Was not the reason why the earliest Pharisees opposed Jesus because they merely looked at His external appearance, and did not take to heart the words that He spoke? It is My hope that the brothers and sisters who seek the appearance of God will not repeat the tragedy of history. You must not become the Pharisees of modern times and nail God to the cross again. You should carefully consider how to welcome the return of God, and should have a clear mind of how to be someone who submits to the truth. This is the responsibility of everyone who is waiting for Jesus to return with the clouds. We should rub our spiritual eyes, and not fall prey to the words full of flights of fancy. We should think about the practical work of God, and should take a look at the real side of God. Do not get carried away or lose yourselves in daydreams, always looking forward to the day that the Lord Jesus suddenly descends among you on a cloud to take you who have never known Him or seen Him, and do not know how to do His will. It is better to think upon practical matters!

—The Word, Vol. 1. The Appearance and Work of God. Preface

I

God’s incarnation shall embody God’s substance and expression. And when He’s made flesh He’ll bring forth the work He’s been given to express what He is, bring truth to all men, give them life and show them the way. Any flesh that doesn’t embed His substance surely is not God incarnate.

II

Confirm God’s flesh and the true way by His disposition, words and works. Focus on His substance instead of His appearance. It is ignorant and naive to focus on God’s external appearance. The outward doesn’t determine the inward, and God’s work does not conform to man’s conceptions. Didn’t Jesus’ appearance differ from what the people expected? Didn’t His image and dress disguise His identity? Wasn’t that why the Pharisees opposed Him? They focused on how He looked and paid no attention to what He said.

III

God hopes the brothers and sisters seeking His appearance won’t repeat history. Don’t follow the Pharisees and nail God to the cross once more. So carefully consider how you will welcome His return. Have a clear idea of how you’ll submit to truth. It’s the duty of everyone who’s waiting for Jesus’ return.

Adapted from The Word, Vol. 1. The Appearance and Work of God. Preface