THE RESCUE

 

 

I am trying to stay abreast of the world news but some days hearing of such evil happenings in our day is beyond my capacity to bear. I am even struggling to view all mankind as children of God. It is beyond my comprehension how all of us were reared by perfect deity before we were born and yet in this life we cleave to incomprehensible evil and to the enemy of all righteousness.

And here is a sobering thought:

“If there had been no Atonement of Jesus Christ, there would have been a terrifying oneness – negative atonement so to speak – a living with and becoming like the Evil One. Jacob spoke the somber truth when he said we would “remain with the father of lies” and worse yet, we would “become like unto him” (2 Nephi 9:9).

“Simply stated, we would be at one with Satan…..Such a terrifying thought helps put the Atonement in perspective. Without it, all is lost. With it, all may be gained. However bleak or desperate our condition may seem, however dak and ominous the skies may appear, Mormon gave the reassuring answer: “Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ” (Moroni 7:41).”

-        Elder Tad R. Callister, The Infinite Atonement, p 28

Let this sink in. The Atonement not only rescues us from our sins, our weaknesses, our pains and our sorrows; the Atonement rescues us from the Prince of This World, the Prince of All Devils, the Father of All Lies, The Liar From the Beginning, Perdition, the Son of Chaos, Satan, the very source of all evil. Imagine being at one with him and being like him…..

 

You rose above it all

Above your every earthly foe.

The Garden sprang anew

As from every drop You spilt

New flowers came into bloom.

 

Golgotha raged and tore

Your flesh without mercy;

Yet You paid Your due

For each and every rescue.

 

How pitiful the cross

That demanded You

Not knowing it sent a God

To a darkened tomb.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Artist Unknown)