Today I read 3 Nephi 27 where the Savior comes back to the disciples only because they are praying to know the name they should give the church and its members. Jesus comes and gives them an important lesson in doing all things for Him, in His name.
Verse 27 is a very popular verse that people will often quote to show that we should be like Jesus is. However today I noticed something interesting. Jesus isn't just saying be like Him. He is saying it in relation to His earlier statement. It is a "because....therefore" statement. He is saying because you will judge this people, therefore I want you to be like me. Isn't that interesting? Have you ever noticed that before?
The more I think on it, the more sense it makes to me. Think about human nature. Most especially think on the relationship between a child and his/her parent. If the parent tells the child not to eat a cookie for instance but eats one himself, everyone who has ever been around children for more than a day knows that child will cry out in outrage at the unfairness of it all. Or take the teenager who wants to go out to a questionable party. If the teenager knows that his/her parents were a party animal when they were younger, how effective do you think the parent's stance is going to be with the teenager.
Now, I have often wondered where in the wide world this idea that life needed to be fair ever came from. Children often seem born expecting everything to be fair. The idea really is silly and very juvenile and yet we stubbornly cling to it when we are adults too. Yet as silly as the idea is, we hold on to it to try and make some sense of things and of the world. Think how often you hear people declare that something is just not fair. It's quite often. Now, think about how most people will react when the judgment comes. We have already discussed that almost everyone will already know in their heart how the judgment will come out in relation to them. But we also all know that despite that fact it will not stop some people from declaiming the judgment as being unfair, etc.
Now think for a moment just how much louder those people will cry out or rage if they knew that the people judging them were once like them but had repented? Each of you knows as I know that their cries of outrage would be heard in the farthest corners of heaven. Jesus knows this too so He tells His disciples to avoid this situation and be as He is thereby not even creating the situation? Does it sound familiar to you? Smacks a little bit of avoid even the appearance of evil, doesn't it?
Now, despite that this verse is a direct commandment to His disciples, it is also good counsel to each of us too. My earlier examples of parents and children will apply to just about each of us some day if it doesn't already. If you live a Christlike life you will not have to worry or contend with the argument from a child that you did it once, etc. And how awesome will it be to stand before the Lord or whoever is judging us at the last day and know in your heart and mind that your judgment is just and fair and that your works have been works of righteousness all your days! I long for that as I know each of you do too. So make it so much easier on yourself and avoid even the appearance of evil. Be even as Christ was and cast all doubt from your mind. I promise you will be glad you did.
No comments:
Post a Comment