Heaven's Side and Satan's Side (1)
Reverend
Sun Myung Moon
February
20, 1983, Belvedere, Translator - Bo Hi Pak
Religious people
generally do not take seriously the idea of a Heavenly side and a satanic side
in this world. This is simply because many people are not sure of themselves
and whether there really is a God and a Satan. However the Unification Church
is clearly making a declaration about the existence of both God and Satan.
What would God and
Satan themselves say about their own existences? Certainly they are sure that
they exist. Also they would be clear about claiming what belongs to each of
them. Would both God and Satan claim the good things or the bad ones? They
would both want the good things. What is it that Satan looks upon as most
desirable in this world? According to Oriental philosophy, the universe is
composed of Chun, which is the heavens; Chi, which
is the earth; and In, which is mankind. The population of the
Heavenly Kingdom as well as earthly kingdoms is composed of human beings; thus
these elements include everything in the universe. It is the common goal of
both God and Satan to have dominion over everything in the universe-heaven,
earth, and mankind.
Both God and Satan
are pulling the three elements toward their own sides. Satan wants to make the
heavens into his own kingdom, all the kingdoms of earth under him, and all
mankind under his domain. God wants to do the same thing. If Satan and God
really had the same goal, they should have no quarrel with each other; but that
would mean that there was no distinction between Satan and God. However, even
the fact that there is a terminology regarding the different sides signifies
that there are differences between God's goal and Satan's goal.
What is the clear
definition of Satan's side and what is the goal of Satan? Likewise what is
God's side and God's goal? If we draw three concentric circles, one represents
man, one Heaven, and one the earth. From the center, two completely opposite
directions came into being, one representing God's side and the other, Satan's
side. If God is the God of goodness, what can be said about Satan? He is the
"god" of evil. From Heaven's side, we term certain things evil but
from the satanic point of view, the same things are good and the opposites are
evil. From God's point of view, Satan is evil. From Satan's viewpoint, God is
evil. Does Satan have the right to claim that, however? Does he have the right
to claim his side as good?
Do you think God
knows clearly that He is good? Does Satan know clearly that he is evil? That is
a very fundamental question. We must start out with a fundamental definition of
good and evil. What is good? Is eating a meal "good?" Is wearing a
good suit "good?" Good is related to original value, the originally
intended value. What is that origin? Let us take the example of a plant. Its
origin is a seed which was borne by another plant's fruit. These are real,
substantial origins which really existed.
Goodness always
brings protection to that original form. What is evil? Evil is the power which
tries to obstruct and destroy the original form. For example, when a little
sprout is coming up from the seed, the evil force will try to stop it by taking
away the dirt or moisture. When the tree tries to put forth flowers, evil would
bring about cold weather or something to kill the flowers in order to prevent
the fruit from coming into being. That is an illustration of evil going against
an entity's original form.
What is the
definition of God? God is a personality and a character. In our universe God
brings protection to all the originally created forms of the creation. All of
the things of creation need to grow toward their goals, so God is the source of
their warmth and love and protection allowing them to achieve their originally
intended goals. When I hug someone, he must feel good from it. Why? Because a
hug means warmth, love and protection. Likewise, if I hit that person, he would
feel hurt and shocked because that is a destructive action. In this context,
hugging someone is a good action while hitting someone is an evil action. Thus
the definition of goodness is to bring protection, warmth and love to the
original form so that form can blossom into its original design or purpose. The
definition of evil is that force which tries to bring destruction and
disturbance to the original form or purpose.
When we draw a
vertical line in the center of a circle, God's side is always moving toward
normalcy and growth. Satan's side moves away from normalcy and toward
diminishing goodness. The characteristic of God is to always try to build
toward the better, while Satan is always bringing the lesser, destructive
results. Thus the elements Chun, Chi, and In,-heaven, earth, and
man-are the sum of the universe. Which of these are in the position to be the
central point of the universe? Certainly, the focal point of existence, the
central point, is mankind.
What are the
components of mankind? They are men and women. Let us also say that God exists.
What kind of a God is a good God? The definition of a good God is one who gives
protection for the development of all the original forms to their fruition.
There is another "god," as well, one who is pulling the universe in
the opposite direction, toward destruction. That "god" is Satan and
his forces are the satanic forces. In our universe, the three critical
"actors" are God, Satan, and mankind. What is the common desire of
both God and Satan? Do you think Satan wants to possess God? Does God want to
possess Satan? No, they each want to possess man.
Within this universe
the most precious creation is mankind. However, above man there is an even
greater Being, the Creator, namely God. Why doesn't Satan want to have
possession of God, since He is greater than man? Satan is a greedy being, so
why wasn't he ultimately greedy and pursuing God as his object of possession?
The reason is that God has no capacity to be corrupted- He is eternal,
unchanging, unique. Therefore, no matter how much power Satan may gain, he
could never change God and bring Him under his control. God is beyond Satan's
realm.
Why didn't God seek
to gain possession of Satan, with all his power? Both are rulers. God is eternal
and unchanging while Satan is always changing and is very temporal. God is
unique and Satan is not; God is eternal, Satan is temporal; God is unchanging,
Satan is always changing to suit himself. Why, then, do God and Satan both
pursue mankind as their possession? It is because mankind is capable of
relating to both God and Satan. Men have the characteristics of changeability
as well as unchangeability so both God and Satan have the hope that men will
come to their sides.
Is the person who changes
from morning to night more open to God's side or Satan's side? Is the person
who is always the source of conflicts in his home more susceptible to God or to
Satan? Is the person who is totally immersed in his daily affairs and doesn't
even think about eternity or gain any kind of long-term vision-is he more
susceptible to God or to Satan? Let's look at the man who is a husband and a
father with many responsibilities at home. Suppose he continually neglects his
wife and children and goes off to the local bar and gets drunk, even trying to
forget about his home life seeking only momentary pleasures. Is that person
more susceptible to Satan or to God? Do you think such a person who likes to
drink and get drunk is a happy person? During the time when he is drinking, he
may be very happy. He might even jump up on top of the bar and start to dance
because he wants to express his joy. However, such joy will never last. It has
no element of the future, of eternity. The next day he will suffer because he
used up all his money at the bar and there will be no peaceful relationship
with his family. Therefore his momentarily happy acts of drunkenness will bring
him to eventual destruction.
We need to evaluate
the world in which we live as well as the society and the nation. Are they more
susceptible to Satan or to God's side? Those who think we have a society which
is on Satan's side, raise your hands, please. Now, those who also have the
conviction that they are one of Satan's men and women, raise your hands, please.
You have said that you are living in a satanic society, but you have also said
that you are not a satanic person. Are you telling me the truth? Aren't you
contradicting yourself? You feel you are separate from Satan, but honestly
examine yourself. Don't you have a susceptible attitude toward Satan? Aren't
you more changeable than unchangeable'' How much do you change from morning to
night, from day to day? Do you think God takes delight in something one minute
and the next day He changes and feels unhappy about it? Or is God's joy an
everlasting joy?
God is always
presenting His eternal, unchanging, unique character. The forces opposing Him
are saying, "I will challenge you and make you change." Throughout
human history there have been many human dramas in which women have enticed men
from their homes and caused problems within the society and nation. Among
women, who is more susceptible to being used in this way-the homely ones or the
more beautiful ones? Certainly, it is the beautiful ones. However, men can also
become useful instruments for Satan. Now that the blessing has been given to
most of the members, I observe that you men are the ones who are shaking like
willows-from one side to another each day. When the Unification Church men have
changeable minds, is that a good time for Satan to visit? Yes, it is. That
means God will have to leave you and you will be opening the door to Satan.
Where can God visit?
He can go wherever His character can be seen-wherever He sees an eternal,
unique, unchanging character. When those characteristics are missing, God's
presence departs. This is the reason why God emphasizes the need for absolute
faith which is eternal, unchanging, and unique. God wants to create an absolute
reality, and that must start from absolute faith. God needs absolute faith on
the part of man.
I want you to
understand very clearly that this is the formula; also this is the covenant
between God and Satan. They have agreed upon one thing: Satan promised God that
anybody on earth who manifests His character through absolute, unchanging,
unique faith will belong to God. God is in a sad position, in a way, because
Satan is always accusing people before Him, "You think John Doe is a man
of God? You are proud of him now but how can you guarantee that for the rest of
his life he will not change?" God cannot say for sure because He doesn't
know what John Doe will do ten years from now. Satan always has the upper hand
because men are always doing more good for Satan than for God. God is always
worried and concerned about men and wishing for the best but in many cases
people bring more disappointment than satisfaction to Him.
Do you think Reverend
Moon has just come up with his own brilliant idea, or am I speaking about the
truth based upon eternal law and principle? You don't want to hear this kind of
sermon this morning, do you? Aren't you saying, "Father, why can't you
make our lives a little easier? After listening to this sermon, I know I have
to continue working until my death! You have tied me up!" Many of you have
thought, "Gee, I thought the blessing would be nothing but sweet
candy," but now you are blessed with spouses from totally different
cultures and you are thinking, "Now I wish I hadn't gone through with
this." Is that more akin to Satan than to God? Certainly, to Satan.
Another way of
thinking which some of you have is, "I thought Father was wonderful, that
Divine Principle was great, but then I have heard Father speaking over and over
again at Belvedere and all he does is accuse American women and Western
civilization. What can I do?" Once you are wondering what to do, you are
already hooked by Satan. You may laugh at my example, but there is a very
important implication here.
Now you can
understand that God's character is eternal, unchanging, and unique. In order
for you to reflect God's character, you too must exhibit eternal, unchanging,
and unique qualities. Now look at yourself and ask if you are on your way to
that goal or if you are there already. Are you full of hope, or hopeless? Do
you men feel uncomfortable if you are not allowed to wear a mustache in your
mission work or can you say it doesn't matter? The Unification Church members
are known for their clean-cut appearance, but suppose someone says, "I
want to be a different kind of Moonie. I want to grow my beard and mustache and
look real shaggy but I will still be a good Moonie." Is that kind of
character more susceptible to satanic influence or not?
I am not saying these
things just for the sake of an argument but there is a certain principle within
it. The members of the Unification Church love to say, "Yes, we are on
God's side ! " but often they have no deeds to back up that statement.
That is an irresponsible way to behave. Do you think you are truly on God's
side? God, who is eternal, unchanging and unique is looking at people here on
earth, including you, and He is trying to determine whom He can count as His.
How many do you think God can count as His men and women with confidence? That
is a very serious question. Are you really on the side of God ?
When you evaluate
your past you can see how irresponsible you have been. You have been talking
about being on the side of God but you have not lived up to it for the most
part. I want you to understand that those sons and daughters who are known to
have filial piety toward their parents are those whose minds do not change,
their fidelity doesn't change. The patriot is the one whose love for his
country doesn't change even under adverse circumstances. This quality of
unchanging love determines true goodness. Those who are saints and holy people
are those whose loyalty toward God never changes, even unto giving up their
lives.
This kind of
unchanging spirit was dramatically demonstrated by Jesus Christ at his
crucifixion. He knew beforehand that his crucifixion was imminent, but he
prayed to God that if it were Possible some other course besides the
crucifixion might occur. "However, not my will but Thy will be done,"
was his resolve. Certainly Jesus went through great agony as a human being at
that moment when he was facing his death on the cross but he never compromised
his unchanging character.
Let us imagine that
every one of the Unification Church members dropped out, one by one. Do you
think then that Reverend Moon would say, "Since nobody is coming to
Belvedere anymore, I will quit too."? I know that every person in this
room has the potential to be a drop-out. I know this by my own experience
because everyone has that changeable character. Let's compare the qualities of
character between Oriental people and Occidentals. Which culture is the more
changeable? Since the Western culture is more prone to change, we can conclude
that the ultimate, unchangeable truth of God can be brought more easily to the
world from the East and not the West. Eternal truth will more easily come
through the relatively less changeable culture.
What kind of people
are Orientals? They have tremendous patience and endurance. Although they have
these qualities, however, not all Orientals are prone to great idealism as
well. Patience and endurance are not the only qualities which God looks for but
He also looks at the historical idealism which has been manifested by a certain
group of people or a nation. Out of all the Oriental cultures, Korea has the
highest degree of idealism. Korea has been invaded by foreign powers 910 times
throughout its history. Nonetheless, the country endured and the central theme
of that endurance was God.
Actually the Korean
people are the center of controversy and are very troublesome, even among the
Asian cultures. I am sure that the Korean immigrants will become controversial
here in American society as well. Korean people are composed of both
extremes-very evil people and extremely good people. Within that one country
there are both kinds of extreme characters which will be very susceptible
either to God or to Satan. The most vicious satanic forces exist within that
country.
When Korean history
is looked at from God's dispensational point of view, it makes absolute sense.
That is because there is nothing lukewarm about Korean people. They have been
either incredible patriots, displaying absolute loyalty to their king and
country to their deaths, or they have been traitors, betraying the good people
and trying to manipulate everyone for their own power. Korean history is
painted with much blood, including the blood of betrayal.
During modern day
history' Reverend Moon is here trying to do absolute good for the sake of the
world. On the other hand there is a power which is trying absolutely to destroy
Reverend Moon's power-those are the Koreans who have been working against the
Unification Church. Koreans themselves have been the worst enemies of the
Unification Church. especially some Korean Christians, who waged the worst
persecution against us. This is because God is finally making the separation
between good and evil, so there must be a black and white clarity between them.
There has to be some absolute boundary line which will distinguish good and
evil.
What do you think? Am
I advertising for or against Korea today? Perhaps you cannot tell. One thing is
for sure: I am speaking the truth. The Bible clearly shows that whenever a
great sin occurred, a correspondingly great grace was given. I am sure that the
Koreans have a great talent for participating in the Mafia; eventually, I fear.
there will be a lot of Koreans involved in it. That is one reason people have
criticized me saying, "Reverend Moon is the head of his own Mafia."
When such accusations are being heard, you should rejoice because that is a
signal for the final judgment and that the last days are drawing to a close.
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