We should be in awe at the grandeur of the design of God. Our finite minds can scarcely comprehend even a fraction of the scope and purpose of the Plan of Salvation. On this Easter I would like to express a few thoughts regarding this Plan and how Jesus Christ is the central figure making it possible for us to endure, overcome and be exalted according to our deeds and motives.
I remember a few years back when another denomination invited me, as a representative of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to their Easter service taking place on a Saturday evening. It was an interesting service to say the least. I was intrigued, interested and respectful though the service was full of doctrines which completely countered my own beliefs and preachings.
For instance, after the service I had the opportunity to speak with many members of their congregation. It didn't take long before we were hitting each other's walls of doctrine. Most of the discussion centered on Adam and Eve. I was baffled at how two faiths could be so 180 degrees apart. They vehemently condemned Adam and Eve for their partaking of the fruit of the tree of knowledge. They abased them in sin and decay. I, however, explained that they had pure knowledge and knew that in order for the human family to take place according to the Plan of God they would need to transgress the law (there is a difference between open sin and transgressing a law). That is just one example, but it does illustrate that I believe the process is designed according to a plan that was laid out in the heavens before and during the very foundations of the earth were laid.
Jesus Christ is being legislated out of our sights through the pressures of minority groups under adverse influences. I often ponder the agony they would feel if they only knew that they were very much aware in yonder heavens of what the Christ was doing for them. Imagine a God being mortally stripped of covers and whipped with beaded straps. Imagine the eternal nature of His love for us as He endured the thorns being purposely pressed into His flesh and skull. Reach into your comprehension as He was prodded and forced to drag His own demeaning yoke of crucifixion to Calvary. Also known as Golgotha, extend your feelings as Jesus Christ climbed that hill with the place of His last breath in sight. Now imagine that you witnessed this event with absolute solemnity and humility, yet in gratitude for that sacrifice on your behalf you recognized the magnificent potential of man. Not one mortal man would ever shun Jesus Christ as is commonly done today if the veil was lifted and their eyes opened up in remembrance of that great event.
The veil over knowledge is in place to allow the liberty and freedom of choice. It is that essential part of the Plan - that man may fully achieve his potential. It is every bit as essential as the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Can we scarcely comprehend?
Adam and Eve fell that man may be. That man may know joy and sorrow just as our Heavenly Father. That man may acknowledge God and love Him. That man may learn and develop his body and mind for the benefit of his own receipt of the Spirit, and for the greater benefit and progress of mankind. That man may bring forth a family with a posterity to carry on the torch of righteousness. That man may choose light or dark.
Mankind was fallen, yet in the midst of sure darkness a Savior was provided - even Jesus the Christ. All of us bearing flesh were beforehand present as we sustained Jesus Christ according to the Plan of Salvation - to bridge that chasm between mortality and the presence of God the Eternal Father we yearn to enjoy. Jesus Christ is Jehovah, Adonai, the Unchangeable One, the God of Israel and the great I AM.
By ourselves we could not fulfill the requirements to appease our fallen nature. Yet to fulfill our design and be magnified in the embracing presence of the Father, only a perfect Son in the express image of the Father could successfully take upon Himself the price of sin and for all of nature's fallen state. Take those sins of yours that trouble you so and multiply that into the billions - and that into billions for the fallen state of the earth itself. We cannot comprehend but only a God could sustain the yoke of man.
We must always observe and recognize His eternal Atonement for us. We must understand that he died in a heinous and undignified manner upon a cross. We must tremble that with every nail piercing his hands, wrists and feet we are indebted all the more to His purchased price of us. With every drop of His spilled innocent blood mankind is required all the more to sacrifice his own pride, vanity and life if necessary to make recompense for forgiveness.
In my finite limited way I am so grateful that He would consider someone as lowly as I - that He would openly sacrifice Himself for my salvation.
I try to structure my every thought and action to the will of the Spirit. I believe that is part of our debt to Him. I believe that we are not to seek comfort but rather the uncomfortable. We are to take extra courage in the face of adverse conditions. We are to faithfully step outside our comfort zone in order to qualify into wider fields of opportunity and understanding. We should actively identify evil where it thrives and vanquish it with power and authority. We are to always avoid the presence of evil in our lives lest we become tempted. These are but a few simple acts we can do to acknowledge the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
May the God of Heaven and earth find favor in our fallen state. May He provide and protect the banner of true liberty and freedom. May He empower the able with courage to uplift the oppressed and needy. May we find unity as we prepare the earth for His triumphal return.
I remember a few years back when another denomination invited me, as a representative of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to their Easter service taking place on a Saturday evening. It was an interesting service to say the least. I was intrigued, interested and respectful though the service was full of doctrines which completely countered my own beliefs and preachings.
For instance, after the service I had the opportunity to speak with many members of their congregation. It didn't take long before we were hitting each other's walls of doctrine. Most of the discussion centered on Adam and Eve. I was baffled at how two faiths could be so 180 degrees apart. They vehemently condemned Adam and Eve for their partaking of the fruit of the tree of knowledge. They abased them in sin and decay. I, however, explained that they had pure knowledge and knew that in order for the human family to take place according to the Plan of God they would need to transgress the law (there is a difference between open sin and transgressing a law). That is just one example, but it does illustrate that I believe the process is designed according to a plan that was laid out in the heavens before and during the very foundations of the earth were laid.
Jesus Christ is being legislated out of our sights through the pressures of minority groups under adverse influences. I often ponder the agony they would feel if they only knew that they were very much aware in yonder heavens of what the Christ was doing for them. Imagine a God being mortally stripped of covers and whipped with beaded straps. Imagine the eternal nature of His love for us as He endured the thorns being purposely pressed into His flesh and skull. Reach into your comprehension as He was prodded and forced to drag His own demeaning yoke of crucifixion to Calvary. Also known as Golgotha, extend your feelings as Jesus Christ climbed that hill with the place of His last breath in sight. Now imagine that you witnessed this event with absolute solemnity and humility, yet in gratitude for that sacrifice on your behalf you recognized the magnificent potential of man. Not one mortal man would ever shun Jesus Christ as is commonly done today if the veil was lifted and their eyes opened up in remembrance of that great event.
The veil over knowledge is in place to allow the liberty and freedom of choice. It is that essential part of the Plan - that man may fully achieve his potential. It is every bit as essential as the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Can we scarcely comprehend?
Adam and Eve fell that man may be. That man may know joy and sorrow just as our Heavenly Father. That man may acknowledge God and love Him. That man may learn and develop his body and mind for the benefit of his own receipt of the Spirit, and for the greater benefit and progress of mankind. That man may bring forth a family with a posterity to carry on the torch of righteousness. That man may choose light or dark.
Mankind was fallen, yet in the midst of sure darkness a Savior was provided - even Jesus the Christ. All of us bearing flesh were beforehand present as we sustained Jesus Christ according to the Plan of Salvation - to bridge that chasm between mortality and the presence of God the Eternal Father we yearn to enjoy. Jesus Christ is Jehovah, Adonai, the Unchangeable One, the God of Israel and the great I AM.
By ourselves we could not fulfill the requirements to appease our fallen nature. Yet to fulfill our design and be magnified in the embracing presence of the Father, only a perfect Son in the express image of the Father could successfully take upon Himself the price of sin and for all of nature's fallen state. Take those sins of yours that trouble you so and multiply that into the billions - and that into billions for the fallen state of the earth itself. We cannot comprehend but only a God could sustain the yoke of man.
We must always observe and recognize His eternal Atonement for us. We must understand that he died in a heinous and undignified manner upon a cross. We must tremble that with every nail piercing his hands, wrists and feet we are indebted all the more to His purchased price of us. With every drop of His spilled innocent blood mankind is required all the more to sacrifice his own pride, vanity and life if necessary to make recompense for forgiveness.
In my finite limited way I am so grateful that He would consider someone as lowly as I - that He would openly sacrifice Himself for my salvation.
I try to structure my every thought and action to the will of the Spirit. I believe that is part of our debt to Him. I believe that we are not to seek comfort but rather the uncomfortable. We are to take extra courage in the face of adverse conditions. We are to faithfully step outside our comfort zone in order to qualify into wider fields of opportunity and understanding. We should actively identify evil where it thrives and vanquish it with power and authority. We are to always avoid the presence of evil in our lives lest we become tempted. These are but a few simple acts we can do to acknowledge the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
May the God of Heaven and earth find favor in our fallen state. May He provide and protect the banner of true liberty and freedom. May He empower the able with courage to uplift the oppressed and needy. May we find unity as we prepare the earth for His triumphal return.
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