Since the beginning of the new year 2010, the movement of ten talents has been being carried out actively in Korea and overseas. I believe that our members of Zion are relying on Heavenly Father and Mother through many prayers and requests even at this moment, thinking, ‘How should I save the ten souls entrusted to me?'

The movement of ten talents is the movement to save souls, which God has commanded and entrusted us to do. It contains the will of God who wants us to be alert and self-controlled and to prepare our lamps filled with the oil of faith enough to receive Christ with joy when He comes (Mt 25:1-13). Now, through the Bible, let's take some time to understand the true will of Elohim who have entrusted us with talents.

Like Noah who prepared for salvation

The Bible says that as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of God.

Mt 24:37-39 "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man."

People living in the days of Noah did not realize the impending disaster. In the time of Noah, God foretold that He would destroy the world by water, but the people did not believe what God had said. Since they did not believe it, they were only absorbed in their everyday lives, eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage. Finally, the whole world was covered with water and destroyed.

It is the same in these days. Even though there are some prophecies in the Bible showing that God will destroy the world by fire, people do not believe it. However, the Bible has repeatedly warned us about that since thousands of years ago.

2 Pe 3:6-14 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. . . . But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

The Bible asks us what kind of people we ought to be. Then, let's see what we should do to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with God, through the situation in the days of Noah.

Ge 6:9-22 . . . God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. So God said to Noah, ". . . So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high. Make a roof for it and finish the ark to within 18 inches of the top. Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, middle and upper decks. I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons' wives with you. You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive. . . ." Noah did everything just as God commanded him.

Noah was a righteous man in his time, and did everything God told him to do; he built an ark and brought his family and every kind of animal into the ark. Like this, those who understood did everything God told them to and prepared for salvation. On the other hand, those who failed to realize did not prepare anything; they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away.

God said it would be the same at the coming of the Son of Man. Noah obeyed God's word and prepared everything. When he built an ark, he prepared cypress wood according to God's instructions, and as God commanded him, he coated the ark with pitch inside and out, made a roof for it, put a door in the side of it, and made it three stories high. Since God did not give him the order to make oars or sails, there were no oars, no mast and no rudder to steer the ship. Noah did all that God commanded him, so he was able to obtain salvation.

Now we are living in a prophetic age when Christ's coming and judgment are very near. Depending on God's word, we are preparing many things. Since God has rebuilt Zion and given us the word of truth that leads to life, we are trying to live godly lives by God's word. Just as Noah tried to take people and animals into the ark before the day of judgment came, we are trying to save many souls throughout the world, going to Samaria and the ends of the earth and shouting, "Come to Zion!"

Those who have understood live by God's word. It is because God's word contains the wisdom that leads to salvation. Just as Noah did all that God told him to do, so God's people—the prophetic protagonists in this age—do everything God has commanded them; they will be recorded in heaven as those who have followed everything God has said, as "those who follow the Lamb wherever He goes" (Rev 14:4).

Those who gain ten more talents

Noah prepared wood, pitch and many more in order to build an ark according to God's instructions. What about us? In order to prepare for salvation according to God's word, we need to devote ourselves to the movement of ten talents—the movement to save souls. This year, each and every one of us should save at least ten souls—the more, the better—and lead them to the kingdom of heaven, following the word of God.

Mt 25:12-30 ". . . Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,' he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more. His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,' he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.' His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' . . ."

In the above parable given by Jesus, the master entrusted some talents to his servants—each according to his ability, and told them to put the talents to work. The man who had received the five talents gained five more and gave his master ten talents in return. Then the master complimented him the most, saying, "Well done, good and faithful servant!"

Thus, God compliments us when we use our talents for the gospel and gain more talents. While living in this world or working for the gospel, we do many things. The work which God compliments us on and recognizes us for is the movement of ten talents. I hope that this year all you children of heaven will put your whole heart and soul into the movement of ten talents and receive the compliment of "well done!" from God.

I will make you fishers of men

When Jesus came to this earth 2,000 years ago and called His disciples, He promised to make them "fishers of men."

Mt 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."

God wants to make us "fishers of men." Then, what is a fisher? What does a fisherman do? If one just looks at the fish swimming and passes it by, he is a spectator and not a fisherman. The person who only studies about how to catch a lot of fish is a researcher and not a fisherman. The one who only makes fishing tackle is not a fisherman, either. Only the person who catches fish can be called a "fisherman."

Thinking about the definition of a "fisherman," we need to reflect on ourselves—whether we are fishers of men or those who only make fishing tackle or those who only study about how to catch fish. Jesus said He would make us fishers of men, not the researches who only study about how to catch people. In the light of God's word, the person who saves souls from sin can be a spiritual fisherman. So if we do not participate in saving souls, we can never be called "fishers of men."

The movement of ten talents is the work that can be done only when we absolutely believe in the teachings and promises of Christ. If we have just watched the fish in an aquarium so far, we should join in the work of catching the fish from now on.

This is so much easier compared to the work of building the ark. It is assumed that the ark of Noah was 134m long, 23m wide and 14m high. We can't even imagine how much cypress wood and pitch Noah must have prepared to build the huge vessel; that was a tremendous construction challenge. Even with the highly advanced shipbuilding technology in this age, it is not easy to build such a huge ship. How much more difficult must it have been in the days when construction techniques were not developed? It must also have been very difficult to bring two of all living creatures, including wild animals, into the ark.

Although it was not really an easy task, Noah made every effort to do it because that was the command of God. What God has entrusted to us is far easier than the task that was given to Noah. This year, we should carry out the mission of ten talents as the true "fishers of men," just as Christ taught us.

The mission of a gospel deliverer

Long ago, a postman in a country sold over a thousand pieces of mail to a waste paper collector and it aroused a storm of public criticism. The postman was brought before the court and went to jail in the end.

There must have been many precious letters among the thousand pieces of mail, including important contracts and urgent letters which could endanger someone's life if they were not delivered on time. The postman sold the letters, which were priceless and invaluable, to the waste paper collector just because it was a bother for him to deliver them.

God has entrusted us with the task of preaching the gospel (1 Th 4:2). The words of truth written in the 66 books of the Bible are God's letter, which God made His prophets write for Him and sent to all people throughout the world. As the "gospel deliverers" who convey this precious message, we have been entrusted with the mission of making disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything God has commanded us (Mt 28:18-20).

Are we not just letting the precious letter fall into disuse just because we find it difficult or troublesome to deliver the letter or because we are afraid of how people will react? God said to the man who had received one talent and hid it in the ground, "You wicked, lazy servant!" Just as the postman was punished by the government for neglecting his mission to deliver the letters, woe to us if we do not preach the gospel! (1 Co 9:16).

Eze 3:19-20 "But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself. Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before him, he will die. Since you did not warn him, he will die for his sin. The righteous things he did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for his blood."

The mission of a postman is to deliver every letter exactly to the address written on it. So, what if he does not deliver the letter and causes damage or loss to the person who is supposed to receive it? He deserves punishment for dereliction of his duty, doesn't he? Moreover, what if we do not convey the letter that contains the message, which can save numerous souls and turn the people who are destined to go to hell and lead them to heaven? We will be unable to escape responsibility for it.

God has entrusted us with this precious letter, which should be sent to all people throughout the world. Each of us has to deliver God's letter to at least ten people—this is the movement of ten talents. Some think it is not enough to preach only to ten people, and others may feel that ten are too many for them. If you think it is not enough, you can gain far more talents. Let's preach correctly to at least ten people and help them understand the will of God rightly and return to Zion.

Blessings for those who preach the good news

Unless the gospel is preached, no one can reach the kingdom of heaven. So, our mission to preach the good news is really important. God regards the spiritual deliverers, who go around preaching the gospel, as beautiful.

Ro 10:13-15 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

How can people believe in Christ of whom they have not heard? How can they understand the new name and the new Jerusalem they have not heard of? And how can they find Zion without someone preaching to them? We must correctly deliver the letter where all these things are written. The recipients of the letter are all the people throughout the world. Even though someone lives in the valley, we should go there to find him or her.

There are still many places where we have not yet delivered the letter. This year, let's convey it throughout Korea and the whole world. Once we go and deliver the letter, the person who receives it is to come to Zion to receive Elohim and proceed toward heavenly salvation. Then we, people of Zion, will be able to hear the words of compliment from God, "Well done!" "Come and share your master's happiness; I will reward you for all the efforts you have made to save the souls," instead of the words, "I will hold you accountable for his blood."

Like Noah, we the people of Zion should obey everything God has commanded us, so that we can all accomplish the movement of ten talents God has entrusted to us in this age and can enjoy the blessings and joy of salvation with all people around the world. Then we will be able to become the fishers of men, not the spectators who just watch the fish.

Since God has called us to be fishers of men, let us all carry out the mission of the fishers of men. Our Father and Mother have set the example for us, and it is the task which all of us have to do. We can be fishers of men when we catch fish no matter how busy we are. I hope that we will all be fishers of men this year, so that we can receive great blessings from Father and Mother and take part in the glorious banquet of heaven.