Conclusion — Laboring Abundantly in the Work of the Lord, Knowing It Is Not in Vain

Brother Liu Sui: We have heard many brothers and sisters, representing the churches in various places and the different aspects of the work, testify concerning our dear brother. Truly these words have sketched out a picture before us—a picture of what kind of situation it is for the faithful and prudent slave whom the Lord desires to gain, placed among all the churches and all the co-workers. Of course, among the churches and the co-workers, many are faithful and prudent. But concerning our brother, when God set him in a corporate position, a position of leadership, he was indeed greatly related to the Lord's recovery. For this reason the distinctive features of his disposition, the distinctive features of his character, and the distinctive features that he had learned all helped him to allow God to walk a very upright path here, bringing the Lord's recovery and the gospel bookroom in every aspect to the unprecedented oneness we see today. We truly thank God that, for the sake of His own church, He perfected such a brother for us.

Today he has departed from us. When we speak, we say, "Oh, now Brother Wu has been taken by the Lord." Then we must ask: he has been taken by the Lord—taken to where? What is he there to do? We also say, "He has fallen asleep in the Lord." But it is absolutely more than falling asleep; absolutely not, for sleep is without consciousness. When we read Philippians 1, it shows us that Paul said, "I am constrained between the two," for there were two things he felt were both good. Yet he did not know what to do—this dilemma; what dilemma was it? On one hand was being with the Lord, which he described as far better. On the other hand, he said, being with all of you, serving you here, working out the Lord's intention upon you—because he loved the Lord and loved the church, he also felt that this was very important. So this was the dilemma. Why then would Paul regard being with the Lord as far better? I believe it was not merely some doctrinal understanding, for in 2 Corinthians he shows us that he had once been caught away to the third heaven and caught away into Paradise, where he heard words that man cannot utter. We know that this Paradise is in Hades, the place where the saved ones, the ones who have received grace, are—it is also the place where the Lord Jesus said Lazarus was.

What kind of place is this place? It is, as Paul said, the place of being with the Lord. And concerning being with the Lord, in the footnotes of the Recovery Version Brother Lee tells us that it is not a matter of location but a matter of degree—that is, being with the Lord to such a degree, to such an extent, that it is exceedingly sweet and exceedingly satisfying. So it is not like sleeping. Thank the Lord—do you believe it?—that our Brother Wu has reached such a degree? We believe that he is indeed in that place. And what is he doing in that place? Therefore, Brother Wu had this portion while he was living, just as the brothers have testified a moment ago. He has this present portion, which is to be in the midst of being with the Lord, a future stage. And the Lord Jesus, just as in the Scripture that has been read again and again, says, you must labor abundantly in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain. If we speak of laboring abundantly in the work of the Lord, I feel that every brother and sister seated here can say from their conscience that our Brother Wu was truly a man who labored abundantly in the work of the Lord. The Lord says it is not in vain, so it is absolutely not in vain. How much comfort this gives us, how much encouragement it gives us, and how much hope it gives us. As for the spiritual virtues of a Christian—faith, hope, and love—that hope is the hope of this very thing. Our brother has obtained it. Thanks and praise to the Lord! We truly thank God for this, and through the testimonies of the brothers in this way, we hope that every brother and sister would be willing to follow in Brother Wu's footsteps and live out this kind of situation.