In America there is a tree that is almost five thousand years old—the oldest known currently living tree. This tree has approximately five thousand growth rings, which provide a record of all the joys and sorrows, pain and suffering that the tree has gone through each year. So, although five thousand years have passed, when the experts look at each ring of the tree, they can guess what might have happened to the tree at that time.

We, who hope for the eternal kingdom of heaven, have the growth rings of heaven—the spiritual rings that show a record of our past lives. So, let us reflect on ourselves to see what is being recorded in our growth rings for 2013. As people of Zion, let us all think about what we have done for the sake of the gospel and whether or not all the efforts recorded in our growth rings can lead us to go back to heaven. If we have been lacking in many ways, from now on let us make our spiritual growth rings gracious, which will be recorded in heaven.

The growth rings of a tree, the chronology of the tree

Each tree has a record of its life history, which is contained in annual rings. The annual rings do not only show the age of the tree, but they provide a detailed record of information about the tree—what environmental conditions the tree has lived in and what it has gone through each year.

From spring until autumn, the cells of a tree grow rapidly and the inner bark of the tree is soft. In a drought or in winter, however, the cells of the tree become dense and the inner back hardens. This environmental change or difference produces annual rings.

As for trees in a tropical rain forest, where there is much rain and the average temperature is fairly constant, they do not have clear growth rings and some trees do not even produce growth rings at all. On the other hand, trees in a temperate region produce distinct annual rings. In this case, all the environmental processes and conditions where they have grown can be analyzed through their annual rings. Even though we have never seen the growing process of those trees, we can find out when a fire occurred in that region, when there was a drought, when there was a flood, and when it rained moderately so that they could grow well. Although the trees cannot speak, the annual rings say it all—the joys and sorrows which the trees have gone through over the course of their lifetime. So, those who have some knowledge of trees, when they look at the annual rings of a tree, can easily know whether the tree has had a rough life or has lived in comfortable environmental conditions.

As trees leave a record of their lives in their growth rings, so we leave a record of our life of faith in our spiritual growth rings. When we go back to the eternal kingdom of heaven, we have distinct growth rings which show what kind of life we have lived for the sake of the gospel of the kingdom.

People can read a tree’s life history through its annual rings. Then, do you think God cannot analyze the traces of our lives? God knows all about us. We, humans, cannot fully know the thoughts of others, and we tend to judge them just by their outward appearance. Only God can know all of our hearts and minds. God looks at our spiritual growth rings, which record everything we have been doing in our life of faith.

The traces of our lives seen in the growth rings of heaven

The growth rings of heaven tell all about us. They precisely record our efforts to preach the gospel of Christ and also record the times when we were inactive and negligent in preaching the gospel, even though we have the title of evangelist. The times when we fell into temptation and wandered around aimlessly and the times when we ran our race with a fervent, passionate faith in God—all these are embedded in our spiritual growth rings of heaven.

Just by looking at the annual rings of a tree, we can see when the tree suffered from a fire, when it suffered from a drought, and when it had a hard time struggling against the cold. God searches our hearts and examines our minds. Through our growth rings of heaven, God knows precisely all about us.

Trees living in a tropical climate, where the temperature remains constant throughout the year, do not produce annual rings. It is because they do not suffer from temperature stress. It is the same with our spiritual growth rings; they cannot be produced when we live a meaningless life in a constant state of complacency, but when we go through trials and hardships. While preaching the gospel diligently, sometimes we may suffer hardship and persecution, and sometimes we can bear good fruit by the grace of God in such a hard situation. Amid a variety of those ever-changing circumstances, a growth ring for 2013 is now being formed.

As for those who have faithfully worked for the gospel with all their hearts and minds, regardless of whether or not others pay attention to them, their spiritual growth rings are beautifully formed, pleasing in God’s eyes. So, God has told us, His children, to put our heart and soul into the gospel, so that when we go back to our heavenly home, we can receive the crown of glory that will never fade away (1 Pe 5:1–4).

Rev 2:10 “. . . Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

Viewed from the eternal world, life is too short. The time of trouble and hardship given to us is also short. Nevertheless, if we try to avoid hardships which are just temporary and live in idleness and complacency only according to the desires of the flesh, our spiritual growth rings will not be made beautiful or distinct, and in some cases they will not even be formed at all.

Since we have started our life of faith, shouldn’t we walk the path of faith with fervent love for God? By doing so, let us have the most beautiful growth rings in God’s eyes when we go to heaven.

I will give to everyone according to what he has done

As the growth rings of a tree exactly reflect the life history of the tree, so the growth rings of heaven reflect our life of faith as it is. Our spiritual growth rings preserve a record of all the moments in our lives—when we fell into temptation, when we gave half of our heart to the world and the other half of it to heaven, and when we ran the race towards heaven diligently. God has said He will give to everyone according to what he has done.

Rev 22:12 “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.”

Rewards in heaven are eternal. God knows who worked more and who worked less, and rewards each person according to what he has done.

Let us think about what we should do to add a growth ring today, and draw our spiritual growth rings beautifully in 2013. It will be good if our growth rings are formed beautifully enough to receive a compliment from God, “You’ve suffered a lot for the gospel. Even in suffering, you didn’t forsake your faith but held fast to it. So, I think you are worthy to receive this award.”

In the following parable of Jesus, we can also see the scene where God rewards each person according to what he has done.

Lk 19:12–26 He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,' he said, 'until I come back.’ . . . He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it. The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’ ‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’ The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’ His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’ Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth . . .’ His master replied, ‘. . . you wicked servant! . . .’ Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’ ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’ He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away.’ ”

The growth rings of a person who is faithful even in little things are filled with faithful moments. God says that He will give more blessings to the person who has been faithful in His work and has gained many more talents, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. All the efforts we have made to do God’s work are recorded in our growth rings of heaven. I want all you brothers and sisters in Zion to strive for the gospel so that your efforts will be recorded in your spiritual growth rings and you will receive the compliment from Father, “Well done!” and also rewards from Him, like the wise servant who earned ten minas.

A man reaps what he sows

Although we all preach the gospel, we get different results according to what kind of mindset we have when we work for the gospel. Just by looking at our spiritual growth rings, God knows whether they were made amid suffering or complacency.

Gal 6:7–8 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

There are people who invest their time, money, energy and effort into the things of the flesh, and there are also those who always think about what they should do to enter heaven and to please God and pray for it every day. We will reap whatever we sow. If we work hard, we will surely receive the corresponding blessings and rewards from God, and if we are lazy, we will be rewarded accordingly.

“A man reaps what he sows.” This is the truth. It is a really dreadful word. If we do something with wicked thoughts, we will surely get the corresponding results. If we sow evil, how can we reap good? As one sows, so shall he reap. Although it seems that we are working for the gospel, if it is actually for our own flesh, from the flesh will we reap destruction.

Now we are making a spiritual growth ring for 2013. Today, too, let us make a beautiful growth ring by sowing what is righteous in God’s eyes, whether at home or in the church or on the frontline of the gospel.

There are various kinds of spiritual growth rings: a ring of obedience, a ring of love, a ring of sacrifice and devotion, a ring of hope for heaven, and so on. Every moment of our lives is recorded in our spiritual growth rings: When did we labor and sacrifice for God and the members? How obedient are we to God’s word? What kind of thoughts and mindset do we have? Whatever we say, whatever we do, it is inscribed in our growth rings. That is why God says He will give to everyone according to what he has done.

Even at this moment, our spiritual growth rings are being formed. Shouldn’t we make our growth rings beautiful by having good faith and obedience and devoting ourselves to preaching the gospel? If we do so, God will say to us when He looks at our growth rings, “You’re the grapes that have passed the spiritual inspection. I allow you to enter heaven right away.”

Let us form beautiful growth rings

Anything we do cannot be removed forever. It is because our growth rings always accompany us as long as we live. To make our growth rings beautiful, we need to work for the gospel with faithfulness, zeal and passion. In addition to striving to preach the gospel, we should diligently pray and study God’s word with God-fearing faith in our hearts. God recognizes all our traces recorded in our spiritual growth rings.

Ecc 12:9–14 . . . Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.

Those who fear God and keep His commandments can have the most beautiful growth rings in God’s eyes. Today, too, let us reflect on ourselves to see if we have lived according to God’s word. With joy and thanksgiving, we should follow every word that our Heavenly Father and Mother have given us for our salvation and follow Them wherever They lead us, so that we can have beautiful growth rings and go to the eternal kingdom of heaven.

When we pray, our attitude is also recorded in our spiritual growth rings—whether we pray to God earnestly by pouring our hearts to God or pray out of habit or pray without faith, just following others. When we preach God’s word, it is recorded in our spiritual growth rings right away. When we read God’s word—even if it is just a single verse, it is also recorded in our growth rings. If we submit to God’s will with an earnest mind to save even one soul, it is all recorded in our growth rings as well. All these things are accumulated and are forming the big spiritual growth rings that clearly show how we have lived our life of faith.

I earnestly ask all you people of Zion to preach the glory of Jerusalem powerfully to the whole world in 2013, so that you can have beautiful spiritual growth rings and prepare the oil of faith enough to receive Father with joy. As people of heaven, let us have the gracious growth rings by loving Father and Mother and our brothers and sisters, serving one another, encouraging each other, helping one another grow spiritually through beautiful and gracious words, so we can go to heaven together.

Those who easily fell into temptation, those who continually grumbled and complained, and those who had negative thoughts—these people could not enter the land of Canaan, as seen in the history of the Israelites in the desert. The growth rings they made were not worthy to lead them to Canaan. The promised land of Canaan spiritually represents the kingdom of heaven. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is not worthy to enter heaven; it is cut down and thrown into the fire (Mt 7:19).

God examines all the records of everyone’s life and judges each one according to what he has done; He sends hell-deserving people to hell, and leads heaven-deserving people to heaven (Rev 20:11–15). Let us remove a lying and disobedient heart, and only try to have the growth rings of heaven, worthy enough to be used by God. Our spiritual growth rings tell our life history. Our thoughts, our faith, and our deeds—all these form our spiritual growth rings and become irrevocable records. When God looks at our spiritual growth rings inscribed in us, He knows what we have gone through to keep the faith till the end—our joys and sorrows, sufferings, persecutions and hardships.

The best way to have beautiful growth rings is to pay attention to the Teachings of Mother and put them into practice. Let us give in to one another, cover up the faults of our brothers and sisters and endure our present sufferings, looking forward to a wonderful life in heaven which we will have in the future. Happiness on this earth does not last long; even if we enjoy it throughout our lives, it only last for about seventy years. The seventy years pass by so quickly. There is a world we will go to in the future. We must give thanks to God for giving us the kingdom of heaven.

I earnestly ask you all to devote yourselves to saving the world by leading each and every soul to the way to heaven, with a more faithful and fervent heart and with the heart of Father and Mother. All our brothers and sisters in Zion! Let us all have beautiful growth rings, so that when we go back to our heavenly home we will all receive the crown of life and shine like the stars in the sky for ever and ever.