In preparing for a fireside that I did last night I found some thoughts that I wrote back on February 1, 2006 to a couple friends of mine after a deep lunch conversation about religious devotion.
Where there is light there cannot be dark and yet we seem to want somewhere in between. If we believe in a Creator that requires obedience to His laws to live with Him again eternally, and we desire to be with Him, would we not dedicate our lives to the pursuit of salvation? Is life’s secret then doing what one loves or loving what one must do to gain salvation? Can we not have both? Must we be always torn between what is required by God’s laws and what we want to enjoy on this earth alone? Why must we feel that to enjoy this mortal life, we must risk our eternal one? Is it possible to find complete and absolute enjoyment on this earth while at the same time living in accordance with God’s commandments securing our eternal life with Him?
I feel impressed to seek an answer to these questions. It has been said that if we seek for any other thing in this life other that God, in the end it makes no difference what we seek instead. With that in mind, I would want you to think for a moment what your tallest priority in your life is. Priority is to be defined as what you spend most of your thoughts, time, talents, and passions towards. If God is not your priority, what rewards will your current priority in life bring you? Most do not wish to truly answer that question because normally the answer is an indication of a selfish, self-serving life style that is not pretty to come to grips with. Taking your spiritual temperature is not a comfortable thing to do but necessary while in the pursuit of salvation. Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Do you really believe that your God is a rewarder of those that live within His laws? By way of our acts our desires are shown. Thus indicating that if we truly believed that we had a chance to live with our Creator we would act accordingly and also proving that the reason we would not live accordingly is because we do not truly believe that heaven is a reality or more simply put…we do not have the faith required to return and live with our Father in Heaven again.
I feel impressed to seek an answer to these questions. It has been said that if we seek for any other thing in this life other that God, in the end it makes no difference what we seek instead. With that in mind, I would want you to think for a moment what your tallest priority in your life is. Priority is to be defined as what you spend most of your thoughts, time, talents, and passions towards. If God is not your priority, what rewards will your current priority in life bring you? Most do not wish to truly answer that question because normally the answer is an indication of a selfish, self-serving life style that is not pretty to come to grips with. Taking your spiritual temperature is not a comfortable thing to do but necessary while in the pursuit of salvation. Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Do you really believe that your God is a rewarder of those that live within His laws? By way of our acts our desires are shown. Thus indicating that if we truly believed that we had a chance to live with our Creator we would act accordingly and also proving that the reason we would not live accordingly is because we do not truly believe that heaven is a reality or more simply put…we do not have the faith required to return and live with our Father in Heaven again.
I feel that most of us have good times and bad in respect towards our faith in God and what is required of us, which is why I feel that we tend to go back and forth from being the believer to the unbeliever. Our goal should be to find within ourselves the strength to continually side ourselves with God more than we do with His adversary. We can not be satisfied with remaining where we are at this moment spiritually or we risk losing our conviction which can only be maintained by a constant progression towards heaven. If we remain still, our “spiritual” muscles become complacent and weak therefore leaving us ill prepared for what challenges we face next in our battle and struggle towards heaven.
4 comments:
Thanks for posting this Andy. It is tempting to go the world's route in medicating pain when God seems to be taking too long in coming to our aid. It's amazing how much God asks of us. He puts on this earth with no memory of Him. He allows Satan to tempt us. He expects us to have faith in him without seeing anything. Usually we only have feelings to go on. He expects us to continue to have faith even when he chooses not to answer our prayers. It is hard. It is really really hard. Have you read Putting on the Armor of God by Stephen A. Cramer? Really good. It talks a lot about the nature of Satan.
I agree Chan. Its amazing how in just a couple generations Christianity has lost so much perspective towards how trials are a blessing. I hear so often that we all deserve happiness as if a life with trials can not feel happy. While we should all be happy, we must realize that happiness is a choice despite our current environment. Its so hard to keep that into perspective! It is only through a constant renewing of the Atonement that I can even try to hold on. I'll have to check out that book.
Apparently, it is supposed to be possible to have both. God included all sorts of stuff for our enjoyment. Creativity is a Godly attribute. Tons of stuff that isn't strictly religious is uplifting and fun and worthwhile. We are expected to improve upon what we are given - that includes houses and whatnot. I think that being willing to dedicate it all to the Lord is a big factor in getting to have them both in a righteous manner.
Also, supposedly, we are supposed to be happy and joyous here. I am faithless in that department, as you well know, but it is supported in scripture. I think when choosing God above all else, it isn't excluding mortal enjoyment. The enjoyment isn't first, is all, and I believe the closer we get to the Lord and dedicating our lives to Him, the more enjoyment we'll take in the things He asks. But look at the church - Pinewood Derby is meant for enjoyment. Enrichment book club, ballets (think Monson) and the beach and all that. The Lord could have given us a very plain, boring world. It says something that he put fun stuff here.
Besides that, I'm not sure that good activities that are fun are only mortal. Nephi said everything is spiritual and physical.
The response from my friends after emailing this to them was, "So you think we should all be priests?!" That made me realize that people don't associate living a devoted life to God when they are doing the day to day requirements like working, playing, and just spending time with family and friends. I believe that all those things are part of a healthy religious devotion to God because they bring true happiness into our lives. I believe that all things that allow you to feel the fruits of the spirit are intented to be experienced and cherished. Additionly, doing those above mentioned things, I feel, is keeping God in the forefront of your life so long as you recognize Him in them. True happiness is not only reserved for monks who dedicate their lives in the mountains to pray for us that are truly taking advantage of what God has in store for us! Its amazing how tricky of a topic this is to talk to someone about.
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