THE LIGHT OF CHRIST

 

 

I was intrigued with Joseph Fielding Smith’s quote I used in my last post about the Light of Christ being withdrawn from the world.

One comment I received to this post was about the Light of Christ being a conscience and that everyone is born with it, so the suggestion was, how could it be taken from the earth? I pondered all day about it and did some research which made me understand this at a greater level. This is what I found in the Gospel Library Topics and Questions:

“The Light of Christ is the divine energy, power or influence that proceeds from God through Christ and gives life and light to all things. The Light of Christ influences people for good and prepares them to receive the Holy Ghost.”

The definition continues to point out that ‘conscience’ is only one manifestation of the Light of Christ but certainly not the only one. Another manifestation is that the Light of Christ is an influence for good in the lives of all people. I think this is what Joseph Fielding Smith was referring to.

And here is the sad part…..conscience can be lost……just as much as the Light of Christ as an influence……through consistent sinning and yielding our hearts to evil. The scriptures are clear: he that repents not, from him shall be taken even the light which he has received (D&C 1:33). This I believe, is the condition of our world. The conscience has been lost to many besides the influence of the Spirit of Christ.

Other names for the Light of Christ are identified in the scriptures as: the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ or the Light of Life. And….it should not be confused with the Holy Ghost.

All these names denote immense power. A thorough description of the Light of Christ is found in D&C 88:6-13. Reading these scriptures leaves me in awe of the man we call Jesus Christ, Redeemer, Saviour, King of Kings, Son of God, Creator of Heaven and Earth…..

Basically, His light is in the sun, in the moon, in the stars, in the earth. He is the light which shines, which gives us light and enlightens our minds and our understanding, the light which gives life to all things, and which is the law by which all things are governed.

I cannot conceive such power in my mind but I can feel it in my heart. I stand in awe of Him now and forever.

I cannot fathom

The greatness of Thy Godhood.

I can scarce contain who You are

In the hollow of my lacking heart.

I am so small

And you are so vast;

Endow me with wisdom,

Endow me with might,

Help me to comprehend

Beyond the ages of the wise.

 

-  CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: The Creator by Chris Brazelton)

A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS

 

I often hear members of the Church expressing that the Saviour is bound to come very soon because of the overwhelming wickedness in the world. Certainly, the world is wicked but its wickedness in no way surpasses that of the ancient world in which the Saviour came for the first time.  Consider this view:

“…in the time set apart for our Lord’s coming, corruptions and evils were everywhere. A few righteous souls – a Zacharias here, an Elisabeth there – stayed, as it were, the plagues of destruction, but the wickedness of the world was everywhere and the stench of sin covered the earth.

“Even the covenant people, in the main, had gone astray. No longer were they a leaven to the worldly lump……nothing but a new day of righteousness and light, ushered in by one greater than the prophets, could bring hope again to men”.

-        Bruce R. McConkie, The Mortal Messiah Book 1, p 289-290

Elder McConkie went on to say that such state of the world’s wickedness had not been upon the earth since the flood in Noah’s time. Knowing the condition into which the Saviour was born to bring balance to the world of darkness by His light, helped me understand the Omnipotent Wisdom of God in choosing the proper and right time for the birth, ministry and death of His Son.

All things are done in the wisdom of Him who knows all things, even the planting of His Son on the earth when it needed His saving power the most. The Messiah was meant to come in a dark and dreary day, as the Son of David, to deliver his people and redeem the nation from sin.

When He comes again, He will come at the perfect appointed time; once again, according to the Omnipotent Wisdom of God. Only this time it will be vastly different.

When He returns, the light of His glory will cleanse the world of all unrighteousness. The knowledge of Him will not be contained by one nation but will cover the whole earth.

All who have been free from wickedness and corruption will survive the cleansing and the knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea…..and all who live during the Millenium will eventually know the Lord and will join His Church (see Jeremiah 31:31-34; D&C 84:98; also Doctrines of Salvation, 1:86-87; Journal of Discourses, 21:325).

This, however, is in greatest contrast to the Saviour’s first advent:

“When the New Jerusalem is eventually built, and Jesus Christ returns to earth in glory, the need will disappear for the sun and the moon to give light to God’s covenant people. The Lord Himself will be an everlasting light……Zion will not need the sun when the Lord is there, and all the city is lighted up by the glory of His presence.”  (The Institute Manual commentary for Isaiah 60:19-22; Orson Pratt, in Journal of Discourses, 14:355-56, see also D&C 133:57-58)

Is this not something we should look forward to??? And we’ll owe it all to the babe in the manger…..

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: Tender Shepherd by Eva Koleva Timothy)

STEPPING OUT OF THE BOAT

 

"You'll never walk on water if you don't step out of the boat." (Joyce Meyer)

My friends, we are all in a boat right now, a very rocky boat..... and many of us are depressed, fearful, angry and basically not coping with the way the world is going. It is daunting to think things will get worse but it truly will be so, if the scriptures are correct, and they are. We have also been warned by the living prophets for many years that this will be so, not to mention the warning signs the Saviour has given us through Doctrine & Covenants.

I believe the worst thing that is not allowing some of us to cope with such debilitating changes is non-acceptance of the signs of these last days. There are some things we cannot change because evil is prevalent in our day and it has gripped the hearts of many who are in charge of the masses. Through my personal experience, I have come to learn that the only way to peace is through faith and focus on The Prince of Peace.

Cast your minds on the night the Saviour was asleep in a ship whilst tempest was raging. After His disciples woke Him up and He stilled the sea He asked them: "Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?" (Mark 4:40) The following verse goes on to say that 'they feared exceedingly and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" An amazing one, that's what kind!!!

Don't stay in the boat fearful, clutching its' sides, because there is no safety in the security the world provides. There should be no fear of the storm when there is focus on The Prince of Peace while the storm is raging. Remember that fear is inverted faith and don't be afraid to step out of the boat. Your lifeguard is the one who walks on water.

Each day I seek Thee

Through the prayer of my heart;

I kneel at Thy feet and speak

The words of my enduring love.

I hear no voice,

I feel your absence in my sight;

You are so far and so high,

Yet I see Thee

Through the faith of my eye.

• Cathryne Allen