You ought to know that God likes those who are honest. In substance, God is faithful, and so His words can always be trusted; His actions, furthermore, are faultless and unquestionable, which is why God likes those who are absolutely honest with Him. … You should know whether there is true faith and true loyalty within you, whether you have a record of suffering for God, and whether you have wholly submitted to God. If you lack these, then there remains within you disobedience, deceit, greed, and complaint. As your heart is far from honest, you have never received positive recognition from God and never lived in the light. How one’s fate will work out in the end hinges upon whether they have an honest and blood-red heart, and whether they have a pure soul. If you are someone who is very dishonest, someone with a heart of malice, someone with an unclean soul, then you are sure to end up in the place where man is punished, as is written in the record of your fate. If you claim to be very honest, and yet never manage to act in accordance with the truth or to speak a word of truth, then are you still waiting for God to reward you? Do you still hope for God to regard you as the apple of His eye? Is such thinking not preposterous? You deceive God in all things; how could the house of God accommodate one such as you, whose hands are unclean?
from “Three Admonitions” in The Word Appears in the Flesh
In the dispositions of normal people there is no crookedness or deceitfulness, people have a normal relationship with each other, they do not stand alone, and their lives are neither mediocre nor decadent. So, too, is God exalted among all, His words permeate among man, people live in peace with one another and under the care and protection of God, the earth is filled with harmony, without the interference of Satan, and the glory of God holds the utmost importance among man. Such people are like angels: pure, vibrant, never complaining about God, and devoting all their efforts solely to God’s glory on earth.
from “Chapter 16” of Interpretations of the Mysteries of God’s Words to the Entire Universe in The Word Appears in the Flesh
I take pleasure in those who are not suspicious of others, and I like those who readily accept the truth; toward these two kinds of people I show great care, for in My eyes they are honest people.
from “How to Know the God on Earth” in The Word Appears in the Flesh
My kingdom requires those who are honest, not hypocritical, and not deceitful. Aren’t the sincere and honest people unpopular in the world? I am just the opposite. It is acceptable for the honest people to come to Me; I delight in this kind of person, I also need this kind of person. This is precisely My righteousness.
from “Chapter 33” of Utterances of Christ in the Beginning in The Word Appears in the Flesh
That God asks for people to be honest proves that He really loathes those who are deceitful, that He does not like deceitful people. The fact that God does not like deceitful people means that He dislikes their actions, disposition, and their motivations; that is, God does not like the way they do things. So, if we are to please God, we must first change our actions and manner of existence. Previously, we relied on lies and pretense to live among people. This was our capital, and the existential basis, life, and foundation by which we conducted ourselves, and it was all despised by God. Among the world’s unbelievers, if you do not know how to be manipulative or deceitful, then it could be difficult for you to stand firm. You would only be able to tell lies, engage in trickery, and use conniving and insidious methods to protect and camouflage yourself in order to obtain a better life. In the house of God, it is precisely the opposite: The more deceitful you are, the more you employ sophisticated manipulation to put on an act and package yourself, then the less able you are to stand firm, and the more God despises and rejects such people. God has predestined that only honest people will have a part to play in the kingdom of heaven. If you are not honest, and if, in your life, your practice is not directed toward being honest and you don’t reveal your own true face, then you will never have any chance of gaining God’s work or gaining God’s praise.
from “The Most Fundamental Practice of Being an Honest Person” in Records of Christ’s Talks
Sermon and Fellowship Excerpts for Reference:
What does it actually mean to be an honest person? First, we can say with certainty that an honest person has a conscience and reason, that they exalt God in their hearts, and that they are able to repay God’s love. Second, an honest person speaks in a practical and realistic manner. They do not distort facts, they speak fairly, and they treat others fairly. Third, an honest person reveres God, they put the truth into practice, and obey God. Fourth, an honest person performs their duties faithfully; they are loyal to God in everything they do. Fifth, an honest person loves God in their heart. They are able to consider God’s will in all things. Sixth, an honest person lives by the words of God and they are able to truly worship God. Someone who possesses these characteristics above is an honest person. With these people living in His presence, God is content. This is exactly the kind of person that God wants to make complete and exactly the kind of person that God wants to gain. This kind of person is an honest person.
from “Being an Honest Person: A Summary” in Sermons and Fellowship on Entry Into Life V
Why does God like honest people? First, honest people can get along with others harmoniously; they can be intimate friends of others. They do not deceive you, but speak the truth; when dealing with these kinds of people, your mind is clear, released and at peace. Second, what’s most important is that honest people are trustworthy and reliable; you’re able to trust them when you entrust them with something or they help you out. This is why you feel relaxed, at ease, free from worries, and at peace when dealing with honest people; you feel a sense of comfort and enjoyment. Only those who are honest people can become intimate friends to others and gain others’ trust, thus only an honest person is the true likeness of a human being.
from “Only Understanding the Truth and Casting Off Satan’s Influence Is Salvation” in Sermons and Fellowship on Entry Into Life VII
