THE REWARD OF THE RIGHTEOUS

 

 

Some years ago I was conversing with a friend from my Ward when she said to me: “If the Saviour came to our Ward next Sunday, He would walk right past you and go to the struggling sinners  instead.” I understood what she meant, the Shepherd would always be concerned about His straying sheep, but it hurt me deeply to think that I would not matter just because I was being obedient.

I guess we tend to think that the sinner is more worthy of His attention because of the scripture that says that more joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repents that over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance (Luke 15:7). Because this scripture followed the parable of the lost sheep, I believe the Saviour was on that occasion speaking of the value of one soul, who should not be lost.

Cast your mind on the Parable of the Prodigal Son. When the good son felt threatened by the return of his erring brother, his father said to him: “Yes, it is wonderful your brother has repented and is back but make no mistake, all that I have is yours because you did not stray (Luke 15:31,32).

Consider the insight regarding this concept: “There is no justification for the inference that a repentant sinner is to be given precedence over a righteous soul who had resisted sin; were such the way of God, then Christ, the one sinless Man, would be surpassed in the Father’s esteem by regenerate offenders.”  (James Talmage, “Jesus the Christ”, p 461)

The reward for righteousness is this: if the Saviour came to your Ward next Sunday, and you were one of the faithful, He would gather you in His arms and bless you for your faithfulness. I am convinced of this because of President Joseph F. Smith’s vision of the spirit world.

When the Saviour arrived in the spirit world following His triumphant mortal mission, the multitude of FAITHFUL spirits who ‘awaited the hour of their deliverance from the chains of death’ rejoiced and bowed before Him acknowledging Him as the Redeemer and Deliverer, their countenance shone and they sang praises unto His holy name (D&C 138:18,23,24).

Was it not fitting that after the rejection, humiliation, derision and torture of the Garden and the cross at the hands of sinners, the Saviour would come to the faithful who rejoiced in His sacrifice, who believed in Him, who accepted Him, who loved Him??? Did they not deserve to be the ones He came to?

The Saviour never went to the unjust and the ungodly in the spirit world and to them His voice was not raised for they resided where the darkness reigned (vs 20,21,37) but following such heart rendering joy, the never ending merciful heart of the Saviour of the world would not forget that He atoned for them also and so to them He sent ‘the spirits of the prophets who had testified of Him in the flesh’ to proclaim His power of deliverance (vs 28,29,30,36).

The lesson is this: the danger is in straying. Every repentant soul can come back and recoup what he had lost but not all do. The gravity of sin is very real and some never can catch up to those who never stray hence the promise of eternal life can be lost.

The Saviour did not come to earth just for the sinners but also for those who would believe. He came to offer salvation to all but if you are one of the faithful, know also that you are one of the “favourites of heaven”  (Joseph Smith, Lectures On Faith, Lecture 6, p 66)

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Home by David Bowman)