I

If I were to place some money in front of you right now and give you the freedom to choose—and if I did not condemn you for your choice—then most of you would choose the money and forsake the truth. The better among you would give up the money and choose the truth reluctantly, while those in-between would seize the money in one hand and the truth in the other. Would your true colors thus not become self-evident? When choosing between the truth and anything to which you are loyal, you would all choose in this manner, and your attitude would remain the same. Is that not so? Are there not many among you who have wavered between right and wrong?

II

In all of the struggles between positive and negative, black and white—between family and God, children and God, harmoniousness and rupture, wealth and poverty, status and ordinariness, being supported and being rejected, and so on—surely you're not ignorant of the choices that you've made! Between a harmonious family and a broken one, you chose the former, and you did so without any hesitation; between riches and duty, you again chose the former, even lacking the will to return to shore; between luxury and poverty, you chose the former; when choosing between your sons, daughters, wives and husbands, and Me, you chose the former; and between notion and truth, you still chose the former. Faced with all manner of your evil deeds, I have simply lost faith in you, I have simply been astounded. Your hearts are unexpectedly so incapable of being softened.

III

The heart's blood that I have expended for many years has surprisingly brought Me nothing more than your abandonment and resignation, but My hopes for you grow with each passing day, for My day has been completely laid bare before everyone. Yet now you're still pursuing dark and evil things, and refuse to loosen your grip on them. What, then, will be your outcome? Have you ever given careful consideration to this? If you were asked to choose again, what then would be your position? Would it still be the former? Would you still bring Me disappointment and wretched sorrow? Would your hearts still only possess a modicum of warmth? Would you still be unaware of what to do to comfort My heart?

from The Word, Vol. 1. The Appearance and Work of God. To Whom Are You Loyal?