Number One

We continually hear the joyful news from all around the world that our church has received awards as a result of the righteous acts of the members. I believe that soon we will see the perfect fulfillment of the prophecy that God will give the people of Zion honor and praise among all people of the earth.

As we continue to receive awards on this earth, which is only a copy and shadow, I am even more excited about the rewards in Heaven, which God promised us. God certainly said, “I have rewards for you.” When viewed from space, the earth appears as a tiny dot among numerous planets. Therefore, the awards we receive on this earth, regardless of how great they are, can never compare to the rewards we will receive in the eternal Kingdom of God. We, the people of Zion, should diligently run towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward.

God Is Number One

To be “number one” means to be the best. Who is number one for us? It is our God.

The Bible describes God as the “Most High.” God is the Supreme Being, who is the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the high and lofty One (1 Ti 6:15; Isa 57:15). God created all things and governs them. He Himself gives life and breath to all people. Surely God is worthy enough to be called Number One.

It is necessary for us to put God first in our life of faith. If we do not make God our number one priority, we will unknowingly fall prey to the wrong mindset, just as Judas Iscariot did. We will come to mistakenly think, “God will tolerate me even if I do not fully obey His word.” God has told us to forsake our thoughts and return to Him, because His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts, just as the heavens are higher than the earth (Isa 55:6–9).

He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” Mt 15:13–14

Jesus said, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots.” It is only the holy will of God that will stand forever. Everything that God has not planted, everything that is of human origin, will be destroyed in the end; however, whatever God has planted will remain forever.

“Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” Ac 5:38–39

If something is from God, it will never fail. God’s word never fails or perishes. Can humans destroy the world of God by their own power? Anything that is from God, who manages the entire universe and knows the end from the beginning, cannot fail, no matter what hindrances may come from humans. As God’s children, we should always remember the greatness of God who said, “Apart from Me there is no God,” and, “Apart from Me there is no savior” (Isa 43:11; Isa 45:5).

The Highest Position

We are the children of God who is Number One. From the perspective of God in Heaven, we are number one. God loves and cares for us more than anyone else. Just as parents love their children the most, our God who is Number One loves us the most. What else could we possibly want? The Bible says that no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him. We must all enter the amazing and gracious world that God has prepared for us, ensuring that no one falls behind.

If we cherish this hope and realize its value, we can always live a joyful life despite difficulties; however, unless we realize it, we can’t help but live a painful life, failing to consider how blessed we are. We must have spiritual eyes.

Most people do not realize the spiritual world, and they aspire to hold higher positions of authority and acquire more wealth than others on this earth, expecting to be able to enjoy it. We ourselves are God’s children who will reign forever in the everlasting Kingdom of Heaven. God is preparing these tremendous and eternal blessings for all of us.

. . . There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. Rev 22:4–5

I once visited the United Kingdom to receive the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, by the grace of Heavenly Father and Mother. At that time, I was invited to the Queen’s garden party at the palace, where I was able to see the eldest son of the Crown Prince up close. There was nothing special about his appearance, even though he was a member of the royal family. Despite this, many people envied him and treated him with respect.

He is envied and respected by people simply because he is the grandson of the Queen. How much greater must the glory of the heavenly princes and princesses be, whom God loves, in the vast universe, the celestial world? We have become God’s children through the gospel of the New Covenant. Our position as God’s children is something that even the angels envy, and it is a blessing that we must never lose.

We are taking part in the greatest work. The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a set of 17 goals that aim to ensure the happiness of all people. To achieve these goals, many people within each country are working hard in various fields, and as a result, some of them are even awarded for their efforts. Then, how much greater and more valuable is the work of preaching the gospel to lead people to eternal life and happiness, which we are fulfilling now?

We should not focus only on the things of this earth, but graciously accept the holy will of God who manages the great universe. We need to be more diligent in this work, which is the greatest work God has commanded us to do. When we do so, all people will be able to walk toward the eternal world which God has prepared for all of us.

The Greatest Teaching

God’s words are the greatest teachings that will stand forever. Many people in the world respect the words spoken by famous people such as Goethe, Voltaire, and Socrates; however, the greatest teachings in the entire universe, well beyond this earth, are the words of God.

The church we are now attending is the very church that has been established by God who is Number One. The truth we are now learning is the greatest teaching because it has been given by God, who is the greatest One in the whole universe. We must study God’s word every day to gain wisdom and knowledge. We also need to put God’s word into practice, instead of only listening to it, ensuring we live according to God’s word as the people of Zion.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Mt 7:21

Only those who follow the will of God can enter the eternal Kingdom of Heaven. Satan has devised numerous strategies to hinder people from going to Heaven. Only God knows the way to Heaven. It is impossible for us to enter Heaven without following God’s methods and directions. Jesus has said that only those who understand the will of Heavenly Father correctly and put it into practice can enter the everlasting Kingdom of Heaven.

Through the teachings of the Bible, God who is Number One has provided the children of Heaven the best path to follow, which enables them to fully obey the will of Heavenly Father and Mother and enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The Bible says, “No one in heaven or on earth or under the earth can open the scroll or even look inside it” (Rev 5:1–5). When we read a book, we can easily figure out the author’s intentions; however, the Bible is different from other books. Many people find it hard to understand the Bible, regardless of how many times they may read or study it. The Bible records the things that the heavenly royal priests must learn. God has placed the strongest security system on the Bible, ensuring that not everyone will be able to access it. Since God, who is Number One, has put His greatest purpose and will in the Bible, people are unable to understand the words of the Bible with their own wisdom and knowledge. As prophesied, though seeing, they do not really see. The Bible is such a mysterious book.

God has come to this earth in the flesh to reveal the mysteries of the Bible to His children, which other people of the world cannot see or understand with their hearts, despite physically seeing the same words. God has come and given us the greatest teaching according to the prophecy that “He will teach us His ways” (Mic 4:1–2).

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. Rev 22:18–19

There is no other way for us to be saved except through God’s teachings. That is why the Bible tells us not to add to or take anything away from God’s word. If anyone adds or subtracts a single thing from God’s word, he will be excluded from the Kingdom of Heaven. Every teaching in the Bible is the way to Heaven, which God has opened for us. Keeping this fact in mind, we should not turn to the right or to the left, but only follow the path Father and Mother are leading us on, which guarantees that we will enter the eternal Kingdom of Heaven without fail. I give thanks once again to Elohim God for giving us the words of eternal life and allowing us to live in God’s word.

The Most Complete Beings Through the New Covenant

Those who believe that God is the greatest One in the whole universe never neglect God’s teachings. Only when we fully realize that God is the Supreme Being can we understand just how great and valuable the path we are now walking on is, and how great and valuable we will become through it.

“Then will all your people be righteous and they will possess the land forever. They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor. The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation. I am the Lord; in its time I will do this swiftly.” Isa 60:21–22

The words of the Bible are the teachings that Almighty God, who is looking ahead to our future, has given us for our future happiness. Through the teachings of God, we are being recreated as the most valuable type of spiritual beings who will live forever in the Kingdom of God. The Bible says that those who are the work of God’s hands will display His splendor. Let’s see how God recreates them.

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’ ” . . . While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Mt 26:17–19, 26–28

Jesus gave His disciples the Passover bread, saying, “This is my body,” and offered the Passover wine to them, saying, “This is my blood of the covenant.” God has promised us eternal life by breaking His body, an immortal being, and allowing us to eat it, and by shedding His holy blood and allowing us to drink it. Through the New Covenant, God has given birth to us. God has made us the most complete beings by putting His flesh and blood inside of us, whereby He fulfilled His own words, “They are the work of my hands.”

“Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Co 6:17–18

The Apostle Paul, who wrote 2 Corinthians, was a saint under the New Covenant, who kept the Sabbath and the Passover. In these verses, we can also see the words of God Almighty, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters.” The children of Heaven are God’s masterpiece that He has made by His own hands.

Follow the Guidance of God, Who Is Number One, in Order to Enter Heaven

Before the Israelites were allowed to enter the land of Canaan flowing with milk and honey, God trained them to obey His commandments in the desert. He rained down manna from Heaven upon them for six days, and on the seventh day He did not send them any manna. On the sixth day He rained down a double portion of manna, enough for that day and the following day as well. The Israelites learned the will of God who said, “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy,” in their everyday lives for 40 years. As a result, they were allowed to enter the land of Canaan.

God used the same method for the Passover. He saved His people by letting them keep the Passover holy, but He punished the Egyptians who did not celebrate it and brought judgment on all the gods of Egypt. This fact was deeply inscribed in the minds of the Israelites. Before they entered Canaan, God also let them keep the Passover holy. It was only after they celebrated the Passover that they were able to enter the land.

God taught His people to obey all of His commandments first and then allowed them to enter the land of Canaan. In the same way, we too must first faithfully follow every teaching God has given us on this earth, in order to be deemed worthy enough to enter the eternal Kingdom of Heaven. God is the Supreme Being, and God’s words are the greatest teachings. Our position as God’s children is the highest position throughout all creation. Preaching is the most valuable work in the world, which God Himself did regularly as an example for us. In order for us to inherit the eternal Kingdom of Heaven as the royal priests, God has allowed us to walk the path of preaching, which is a path that only the children of Heaven can follow.

It is not easy to acquire the best things; however, God is always helping those who do His will. That’s why our Church of God has been able to preach the gospel to Samaria and even to the ends of the earth, despite many difficulties.

We believe God’s word, and if we fully follow God’s word, we will be set high above all the nations of the earth. This is because God is Number One. There is nothing more precious than God’s word and no greater teacher than God. God’s word is essential for our lives on this earth, as it is only through God’s word that we can go to the eternal Kingdom of Heaven. Keeping this fact in mind, let us follow God wherever He leads us, not neglecting a single part of God’s word. By doing so, we can be fully changed and born again as the people of God day by day, and month by month.

Our God is Number One. Let us take pride in the fact that we are God’s children whom God, who is Number One, loves the most. I earnestly ask all of you, the heavenly family members, to obey the teachings of Heavenly Father and Mother just as they are recorded in the Bible. Let us set our minds on the eternal things instead of only focusing on the things of this earth, that we may all enter the eternal Kingdom of Heaven together.