18我们所作的实际上并不寻常,但对世人来说算不得什么。在他们看来,我们所作的不过是灰。然而,神重视这些灰,因为这些灰至终要成为新耶路撒冷。你曾领会过这些灰,就是燔祭的结果,会成为要来的新耶路撒冷么?……新耶路撒冷是我们的定命,也是我们的目的地。燔祭的灰怎能成为新耶路撒冷?灰指明基督之死的结果,是把我们带到尽头,就是使我们成为灰烬。但基督的死带进复活。在复活里,灰成为建造新耶路撒冷的宝贵材料—金、珍珠和宝石。……我们被消减成灰,就把我们带进三一神的变化里(利未记生命读经,六八至六九、二五○至二五一页)。
18What we are doing is actually extraordinary, but to the worldly people it is nothing. To them what we are doing is ashes. However, God has a high regard for these ashes. Eventually, these ashes will become the New Jerusalem. Have you ever realized that the ashes, the result of the burnt offering, will be the coming New Jerusalem?…The New Jerusalem is our destiny and our destination. How can the ashes of the burnt offering become the New Jerusalem? Ashes indicate the result of Christ’s death, which brings us to an end, that is, to ashes. But Christ’s death brings in resurrection. In resurrection the ashes become precious materials—gold, pearl, and precious stones—for the building of the New Jerusalem…When we are brought to ashes, we are brought into the transformation of the Triune God. (Life-study of Leviticus, pp. 57-58, 208-209)