There should be a certain standard of how a life of faith should be today. A standard is needed. God will have certain standard of expectation on how a man should be and how a woman should be as He looks at fallen mankind. Centering on the standard of God's expectation, the people of the world today are divided. Centering on that standard, this world is divided into the four directions of north, south, east and west. Humanity lives everyday with a desire to develop centering on that standard; there would be a standard which can exemplify the ideal.

This is proper. God would push forth the dispensational purpose centering on the absolute standard. There would an absolute standard which God envisions. If God establishes a particular religion, there would be a certain standard upon which the purpose of that religion is based. That standard would not be an incomplete standard but a perfected standard, an unchangeable standard, and an undeniable standard. How much we united with God's standard would be the decisive factor in achieving happiness or misfortune, in achieving fulfillment or discontent.

We, therefore, should always align ourselves with the standard which God is expecting. Its direction would be set toward a particular direction. Unless a compass is malfunctioning, it would point toward the north. If its direction is altered, it is not because of its essence. Its direction might have changed momentarily due to factors in the environment or certain obstacles; however, it does not change essentially.

From this viewpoint, God is the same. There is surely an absolute standard for individuals, families, tribes, people, and nations. We must understand that whether we unite with that standard or deviate from it would determine whether or not we can go the shortest and straightest way to our perfection. From this perspective, the standard for the life of faith is most precious. Does an absolute standard of life for the individual exist? No.

Has any religion taught an absolute standard for the family? No. Nor is there an absolute standard for the tribe and the nation. From such a viewpoint, wouldn't it be fair to say that most people until now have led a life of faith without understanding the fundamental issues of what level of a life of faith they should seek, and how to accomplish its purpose?

What, then, would be the consequences? Naturally, when an individual does not conform to the standard for the individual, there would be a judgment centering on that standard. Even if a person has achieved perfection in an individual realm, when that individual did not unite with the standard for the family, there would be a judgment centering on that standard. We cannot deny this.

Then, is there any way for us to avoid this situation? Is there any way to overcome this? There should be a direction, a general way of life which can unite with the standard for the life of faith, of goodness. This is the critical issue. How can we set the direction correctly so that we may pass through the standard for the individual, and which would help us approach the standard for the family? What is the common direction which can help us to approach the standard for the tribe, people, and nation? We must think about this.

What is the one method by which we can come closer to the standard of the life of faith? You cannot place the purpose in yourself. It may be my purpose but the focus should be on the object. In order to achieve the purpose, I must sacrifice; if I sacrifice others for my purpose, it will be accomplished. Isn't that true? If I want to achieve a goal with a magnitude of ten, then I should invest the sacrifice equivalent to such a magnitude. I cannot drag it out from somewhere else. Therefore, one method of approaching the standard of the life of faith is to place its purpose not in myself but in someone else.

Also, one issue we must always remind ourselves of is that there is a standard which God is requiring of us. There would be a standard for the individual, family, society, nation, and the world. Who, and which people would remain in front of that standard? That is the important question. Goodness is not based on the content that centers on the respectable character of one generation. Rather than being dominated by the environment of any particular age, goodness maintains its dominion over that age, transcending historical precedent, because goodness is based on the content that centers on eternity. From this perspective, we can understand the involvement of God in goodness.

When looking at any particular religion, for example, the character of its founder matters but God is always involved. God does not change according to the age. History is changeable; yet, God is capable of bringing history into perfection by shaping its change. God does not lose His subjective authority in the complex and intricate environment of society; rather God is capable of dominating such a social environment and of achieving the realm of unified purpose centering on the standard and authority as the subject. We can understand the religion that has such a God as the foundation. From this perspective, the standard of the life of faith is necessary. What is the standard of the life of faith? We should connect with the love of God by pursuing His character.