THE CERTAINTY OF GOD

We can safely say that the signs of the times are upon us. Things will get worse and sufferings will intensify. Now, more than ever, we are in need of a beacon of hope and we all know who that should be for no man on earth could offer what He can.

In chapter 11 of Hebrews, Paul speaks extensively on faith of the ancients who did many marvelous things. He also speaks of many who had suffered insufferable things looking beyond this life to the eternal promise because 'God had provided better things for them through their sufferings' and for one reason: because without sufferings we cannot be made perfect (Hebrews 11:40a JST). I pondered why this would be so and came to understand that sufferings enhance our faith in God and who He is.

Abraham is the greatest example of coming to know God through faith, who 'against hope believed in hope' (Romans 4:18). We often say that Abraham's faith was counted by God as righteousness. And we often believe that it was his faith in the promise of a baby that makes it so. Inspecting Paul's take on the matter closely, however, clarifies this point to perfect understanding. It was not Abraham's faith in the promise that pleased God to such heights, but Abraham's faith in God's ability to fulfill the promise and integrity of His character which would bring the promise into fruition (Romans 4:21,22).  Likewise, Paul points out that it was Abraham's utter belief in God's ability to raise Isaac from the dead the instant he was sacrificed, so that He could fulfill the promise of a righteous posterity for his father, that enabled Abraham to commit to Isaac's sacrifice (Hebrews 11:17-19). 

What can we learn from all this? Mostly, that now more than ever we need to know and trust the God we worship or we will not be able to withstand the turmoil that is yet to come upon us prior to His coming. How will we contain the discouragement and fear at bay?  Where should our focus be so that we can have hope against hope?

Some years ago it was given to me to know that I was in the Saviour's inner circle in pre-existence and that I admired Him greatly. I could see this inner circle in my mind when I was given this understanding and I could see that He had a perfect balance of godly attributes. He was powerful yet meek; strong yet merciful; intelligent yet humble; strict yet compassionate; vengeful yet protective.

Elder Tad Callister in his book The Infinite Atonement says that we voted for Christ in pre-existence because we not only knew that He could save us but that He would.....that He would not fail us. We knew first hand the integrity of His character. I imagine many of us were in that inner circle and we knew Him intimately. But how well do we know Him now? Have we proved Him in our lives to the point where we can trust Him that He will see us through the calamities ahead and beyond? Do we see Him on the pages of the scriptures that we read? Do we feel Him in our hearts? So I say to you: Who is Christ?

- Cathryne Allen

IN PRAISE OF GOD

I was  becoming saturated with the ills of the world and heading fast towards the road of hopelessness. And all this whilst, what I thought, was my greatest effort focusing on Christ. The induced isolation, the limitations, the lack of freedom, worldly mayhem; it all meant just one thing to me: an insufferable world.

Whilst reading Psalms one morning I came upon this scripture: "I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving" (Psalms 69:30). As you know, most Psalms were written by King David. David was a man of war. In most of Psalms he pleads with God to save him from his enemies. At one stage he says that those that hate him without a cause are more than the hairs of his head! (Psalms 69:4).  David's life was one of turbulence. It ended in loss of exaltation due to sin. This however did not incite hopelessness in him. He knew he would not be exalted but he praised the God of Israel knowing that the Lord would not leave his soul in hell for the murder of Uriah and that he would still receive the gift of resurrection.  The gift of resurrection for the less valiant is to this day scripturally known as 'the sure mercies of David' (Isaiah 55:3). I reflected on the life of David and found his praise of God in the midst of his turbulent life quite inspiring.

Another such valiant example worthy of mention is found in the life of Nephi who lived under constant threat of his life by his brothers. Cast your mind on the journey to America when they bound him with bands that caused terrible swelling of joints and caused Nephi unbearable pain (1 Nephi 18:12-15) . I am sure most of us would at this point wonder why God was not protecting us from our adversaries if we were obeying all of His commands. But not Nephi. He knew God had a purpose (1 Nephi 18:11) so there was only one solution to this in his mind and that was to praise God. And not just once. He records that he praised God all day long,  despite the pain which would have had the power to discourage the strongest among us (1 Nephi 18:16).

Similarly, we have bands that bind us today. They are threatening our way of life and our happiness. Not until the Millennial peace, will this life ever be without its' opposing threats to our physical circumstances. To divert myself from the road of hopelessness I wondered what would happen if instead of whining and constant demands I was making to God, I just praised Him during prayer? Would I come to the point where like Nephi, I could praise Him all day long? Would hopelessness not lose its' grip on me as my thoughts are continually focused on the Prince of Peace?

During this the most difficult year many of us have ever known, may our minds be cast on the Lord of love who left us with this promise as He headed towards His crucible on Calvary: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27).......for I am thy God....fear thou not; for I am with thee.......(Isaiah 41:10)