Precipice?
I see the meaning as all of humanity facing a disasterous situation. Basically, Chaos.
All major countries' governments losing all public credibility.
All major infrastructure collapsing, ie: electrical, communications, transportation…
Do we necessarily need to go all the way into such a situation, to learn a lesson from it?
Stupid people do, I guess.
But if we are smart, we realize the value of such things, and we then take account of the price we are willing to pay for such things, or rather: the price we are willing to pay to keep such things out of the control of tyrannical people.
We've let the control over such things slip through our fingers.
We have to reassert control.
We have to redefine who we are. Take assessment of what we value, what we truly are.
Are we Good, or are we too easily corrupted and led astray? Too easily bought like a whore because we have no inner core beliefs, inner strength to do what is Right? Stand up for what is Right? Defend, fight for and ultimately, pay with our lives to make sure that Right wins?
You aren't "Good" simply because you think you are.
It's not a matter of opinion. Or words.
You aren't Good just because you desire to be, even though that is a start.
You are Good because you TAKE THE TEST AND YOU PASS THE TEST.
Perhaps, the "precipice" is THE TEST.
Whatever that might mean, and it might be something different for everyone.
Small or big. A single decision, or a whole series of sacrifices to endure and overcome.
SPIRITUAL WARFARE.
It is already here. (It always was. We just forgot.)