Isaiah Chapter 57 speaks about: Where is the path of life? Where should we begin to understand the path of life? From death.

Many people do not understand the matter of life and death thoroughly enough. Therefore, when brothers and sisters encounter the passing of loved ones, I find it difficult to offer comfort. If I speak too harshly, I fear they will not be able to bear it; if I speak too lightly, they will not find release from it. In truth, when a person witnesses someone's death, they begin to awaken. Death stimulates people to think: What happens after a person dies? Then, they begin to seek the meaning of life. Once a person starts seeking, they will surely find it.

Therefore, the prophet Isaiah writes at the beginning of this chapter:

The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death. (Isaiah 57:1-2)

I have studied the matter of life and death extensively, because death brings particular clarity; otherwise, people become mired in confusion.

These past few days, I returned to my hometown to visit the father of an old classmate. This elderly man said: My days are numbered; I probably won't live past this year. Then, he abruptly changed the subject and began to list for me: So-and-so made this much money, and so-and-so made that much money... I thought to myself: If you won't live past this year, if your days are limited to just over three hundred, what is the point of valuing money so much? Can money extend your life? Actually, I do not quite understand that kind of thinking.

See Through Life and Death, and You Will Live Easily

If people do not see through life and death, they cannot live well. In fact, according to what this chapter says: After the righteous die, they rest in the grave, spared from evil. How wonderful is that!

Recently, I discovered a mystery: God has not allowed many people to be resurrected. Lazarus is one of the few examples. Isn't it good for people to be resurrected? To be able to spend more time with family, to be able to do more things? But why doesn't God do this more often?

Later, I discovered that exhaling one’s last breath is a very painful thing. Like a cicada shedding its skin, exhaling is arduous. One has to push breaths out one by one, taking about two hours to finish. In fact, Lazarus, in order to bear witness to God, experienced the pain of exhaling twice, which was very difficult! People living in the world will one day leave the world. Those people recorded in the Bible who were resurrected eventually died as well. God does not want people to experience that pain twice.

If you understand the matter of life and death clearly, you will live easily. Actually, living is simple; it is only because people do not want to die that they complicate things. What is the use of making money? Jesus said: Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions (Luke 12:15). Why do people have so many problems living today? It is because they are led by their desires and pierced through with pain.

If someone dies, you need not be sad. Because those who walk uprightly will rest in the grave. Some people say: I don't have time to serve; I need to rest. Actually, you will have plenty of time to rest after you die. If you see through the matter of life and death, the things you care about will be completely different. When I pray for the sick, I long for them to be healed. But a few times, I clearly heard God say to me: This person's time to die has come; I want to allow his family to see through life and death.

Understanding the path of life begins with seeing through life and death. If you see through life and death, you will live happily and joyfully; you will not be entangled. But if you do not see clearly, you will not take death to heart. An elderly person in his eighties is still thinking about making money. How foolish is that! I tried hard to preach the Gospel to him, but he said: I appreciate your sentiment, but my mind is not good, and I cannot understand. But this is not a matter of appreciating the sentiment or not! Nor is it a matter of having a good mind or not! This immediately shut me out.

If people do not take death to heart, they will scoff at those who do understand. But you—come here, you children of a sorceress, you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes! Who are you mocking? At whom do you sneer and stick out your tongue? (Isaiah 57:3-4) In fact, not only do they not understand us, but we also do not understand them. They not only scoff at us, but they are also greedy. As long as people are greedy, they will worship idols. Why do many businesspeople worship idols? It is because they are led by their desires and rely on idols and the power of people, thus falling into the logic of this life.

The Logic of This Life Leads People to Sheol

The logic of this life is completely different from the logic of eternal life. The logic of this life intentionally obscures the matter of life and death, preventing people from knowing the path of life. People then run frantically, only to run towards Sheol. If they do not see the situation clearly, they will bring good things to the king, and what happens then? They end up in Sheol. Although this path seems long and tiring, we must begin to see through this matter.

Today, they strike tigers and flies, and then they think of making a comeback, but as a result, they end up in Sheol, carrying the logic of this life miserably. They will encounter calamities, and they will plead for those idols to save them, but all this is in vain, it is emptiness. Idols cannot save people; the wind will scatter them. This life of people ends just like that.

Some time ago, I came into contact with some people. I used to have a neighbor whose son was doing renovations in another place. One day, he drank himself to death. If a person does not take the matter of death to heart in their life, it is very tragic. Living should be very simple; why make it so complicated!

If all labor is in vain, then what are we laboring for? Because my son needs money, and my grandson also needs money, and then they are trapped inside. This is living in the logic of this life.

When a person is swept away by calamity, they will not find peace, nor will they obtain tranquility. People want to live well, but as a result, they live in the logic of this life, and instead, they do not have peace or tranquility. They will also exhibit a kind of disobedience! You must recognize this and not run recklessly toward death. If a person knows that they will go to Sheol after death, they will turn back to God and walk the path of peace that God has prepared for us.

After we understand this, we will know that the kingdom of heaven is near, and you must repent. Whether you can wake up today depends on your choice. Why are there so many mentally ill people? It is because they have not understood the matter of living. Think about whether our efforts and rewards are commensurate. We must do things that are rewarding. Be sure to consider whether something is rewarding. Think about how abundant it is if you invest in this path of eternal life. Originally, the path we walk is the path of peace.

Keep Death in Mind

Go to the hospital today and take a look; people with all kinds of diseases are there. I don't want to live like that. For a while, I wanted to get into the nursing home business, so I went to investigate. I saw many elderly people there with tubes inserted, just to sustain life. It was different from my previous impression. Then I reflected: it's really tragic for life to end like that. I must be smarter. It's truly miserable when life comes to that.

So I searched the Bible to see if there was anyone like that. I found Enoch, who was taken away by God while still alive. I'm not living to make money; I want to live out God's glory. Even if I'm not like Enoch, I want to be like Moses, who was still healthy and vigorous at one hundred and twenty years old!

I must serve God well. I don't want to end up paralyzed in bed when I'm old, causing trouble for myself and others, becoming a burden on society, seen as a liability. Do you want to be a dignified person or a burden? Go to various hospitals and see; you'll know that's not the way.

I think the path of life requires a clear understanding of what happens after death. Brothers and sisters, we must know that it is the Spirit who gives life. When the spirit prospers, everything prospers. If we learn this concept, we will turn back to God, having a true God leading us on a prosperous path. We must see clearly and do everything possible to remove the stones in our path.

My younger brother thinks he needs to change; he believes he needs to change slowly. He still has human logic. Today, we begin to know God and clear away stumbling blocks. What's hindering you? It's the god of this world, the logical system of this life. When people know it's vanity, they will serve God well; when people don't know vanity, they will still be thinking about making money.

We must get out of the trap of money. Our hearts must awaken, and we must do everything possible to walk this glorious path. This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. God's glory will heal us. When God sees us walking the path of repentance, God will heal us. Why do I push everyone so hard into healing and deliverance? Because it is God's great grace.

Healing and Deliverance are Graces Given by God

What we promote greatly in our church are: first, the Word of God, and second, healing and deliverance. Healing is the grace God gives us. Our happiness, health, and the path of our life are all in God. Mental illness is healed in our midst. We have a sister here who suffered from mental illness. After an episode, she wanted to rush into the road and be hit by a car. Suddenly, a force pushed her to the middle of the road, and she was almost cursed to death by the driver. Whoever hit her would be unlucky! Brothers and sisters among us who suffer from mental illness must know that our path is all in God. Then we will inherit God's holy mountain and great cause.

Do you all know what God's holy mountain is today? It is actually a mountain founded on faith. When you start climbing desperately, you will find different truths of God on each level. The scenery is beautiful! The summit is the Father's garden of love. Therefore, the Bible says that you should ascend the mountain of the Lord, go to the house of the God of Jacob, and you will see that life is wonderful, with different wonders on each level.

But if you don't climb this holy mountain and cannot see life and death clearly, you will not be able to realize the grace that God has promised. In fact, on God's holy mountain, you can eat free lunch every day! Is it not God's will that you be healed and receive grace? This is much more precious than a free lunch! Draw near with faith, ascend the mountain of the Lord, and go to the house of the God of Jacob. This is the path of our life!

People live and then die. Even if they make a lot of money, but in the end, it brings a lot of pain, is that the way? I have found the way, which is to constantly climb the holy mountain of the Lord. When we constantly ascend and improve, life enters into brilliance. I will not use God's gifts to make money, although some people slander me for making money. I feel very sorry for them. But I still want to say: if someone has my ability, then he must be very powerful! In fact, many brothers and sisters among us already have this ability. How wonderful such a life would be!

Conclusion

In fact, there is no path of life outside the holy mountain. Although we face some unresolved problems in our lives, it doesn't matter. Life can actually be very simple. The most serious problem for people living is actually living for the sake of living. I really don't want to make money. My dream is to be a blessing to brothers and sisters.

I have a friend who is very rich. His son is studying for a doctorate in the United States but has a disease. I couldn't get in touch with him. A few days ago, I saw an old classmate in Mudanjiang with muscular atrophy. I prayed with him, and he was healed in two minutes, but he didn't come to the meeting. We must think about where the path of life is. People live and then die, and then go down to Hades. Is this the path of people living? If there really is hell, then do you want to suffer eternal torment? Actually, I haven't been to that place. But I definitely don't want to end up in that kind of situation. It's really better to go to heaven. If you have suffered all the hardships, then you really need to start changing!

Today, brothers and sisters, let us challenge ourselves again: what are people living for? Today, we must turn back to God, then your life will surely live in brilliance, living in peace and joy!