Tuesday, December 1, 2009

2 Nephi - Chapter 24




 1 For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land; and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob.

It is so interesting that the god's we create for ourselves make far more horrible demands of us than the true and living God does.  Our god's expect us to toss our virgins in to volcanoes, put us into slavery, have no mercy and are completely capricious.  The true and living God sacrifices Himself in order to reconcile us to Him, not the other way around.  He is faithful, reliable, merciful and kind.  Why then, to we persist in choosing gods of our own creation?  Perhaps we think we need to deserve what we get.  If that's what we choose, we'll certainly get what we deserve.

Quite often I ask the kids at the Detention Center this fun question.  "When you come before God's judgement seat, do you want a fair trial?"  They always answer that they do.  "In other words, you hope you'll get what you deserve?" I ask them?

"Well no, we don't want what we deserve."  they reply.  "We're hoping for mercy."

Why then do we choose unmerciful gods?  We are so gullible and vulnerable to the lies told to us by he who has fallen from Heaven.  How often we need to be reminded that God is good, faithful, persistently redemptive and forgiving.
24 The Lord of Hosts hath sworn, saying: Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand— 
 His is a plan of happiness, a plan of redemption, a plan of salvation.  His purpose is to bring us home and so shall it stand.

1 comment:

di said...

I most definately want a merciful trial. Although I hope to be found perfect because I have turned unto Christ. I, in him, can be made perfect.
What greater peace can be found?

I liked verse 7

7. The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet; they break forth into singing.

I anticipate the day when Lucifer shall be bound.

Today I have been decorating the tree and listening to David Archuleta sing O HOley Night. A shadow of things to come....