Israel is Given Inheritance

Today I read Joshua 3 where the Lord commands Joshua to divide up the land for inheritance to the children of Israel.  Every tribe except the tribe of Levi was to be given an inheritance.  The tribes of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh already had their inheritance, it was given to them on the other side of the river Jordan by Moses before he was translated.

It's always interesting to me to see how different cultures act and behave themselves.  In ancient Israel, and ancient America since it has inhabited by Israelites, they were very big on inheritance and lands for their people.  Here in America now, we do not really think in terms of inheritance.  We do not have a family plot of land that our family has lived on for generations.  We move all over the place and go wherever the wind takes us.  Who is to say which is the better way?  It is really just a difference in culture.  I think the idea of living on a family plot of land has appeal in one sense, I love my family and it would be amazing if all of them were right around us.  But on the other hand being stuck in one place like that would not necessarily be a good thing.  But that could just be my Western brain and upbringing talking.

Whichever way we would prefer, we have a celestial inheritance waiting on us if we prove ourselves worthy in this life.  Heavenly Father is prepared to give us all that He has by making us like Him.  However, we have to prove ourselves to Him.  Can you imagine giving someone like Adolf Hitler God's power?  Humanity shudders at the thought!  Only those who can become like He is are worthy of God's power.  The strange thing is, even though many people might think that is what they want, really it isn't.  We can know if it is our desire by what we do in this life.  Do we naturally strive for the things of the Spirit?  Do we seek after Gospel knowledge?  Or do we seek after things of the flesh?  Elder Bednar once said that we don't have to wait for the Judgment day to know how we stand.  We can take stock of how we are right now and know how things will turn out.  Do we genuinely enjoy living the commandments?  Or are they a struggle?  If they are a struggle here, they will be a struggle in the next life too according to Amulek.  The time to decide what we want out of the next life is this life.  We make that choice everyday by our actions.  Choose wisely.  Until tomorrow.