A few days ago, for family scripture reading, we read in Alma 42. That was Alma’s counsel to his son, Corianton, and included a concept I have always liked; “… whosoever will come may come and partake of the waters of life freely, and whosoever will not come the same is not completed to come; but in the last day it shall be restored unto him according to his deeds.”
I really like how it’s said in Helaman, chapter three; “Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked – And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out.”
Those passages sum up the concept of our agency. It is entirely up to us what happens to us in relation to our final resting place in the next life. Our Father has set up a myriad of things to surround us and help us improve the outcome of this life’s test we’re living thru but in the final analysis, it’s up to us. We can blow off some or all of the help He’s given us or we can hold on tight to every bit of help the Lord offers. Like Alma told his wayward son; “… my son, do not risk one more offense against your God …” I like the phrase that Isaiah uses several times, “For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still”
When the subject comes up of why the Lord allows suffering we always trot out the scripture in Alma 60 about the Lord allowing the righteous to be slain so that judgment may come upon the wicked. Sometimes, when you bring that up, you hear back about how a loving God would not allow suffering even for that reason. Their sense of fairplay just doesn’t allow that kind of justice. But if God is going to give us agency then he has to allow us to use it if it’s going to mean anything. Otherwise he hasn't really given us our agency. The terms are laid out in plainness before us. We can either accept or reject them. They are not open at all to negotiation. And that’s okay. As imperfect humans we miss too many things to bring any kind of "after the fact" justice. But God is capable of doing that.
5 weeks ago
2 comments:
These are some cool thoughts on agency.
I appreciate your comments. With three children now inactive, almost three illegitimate grandchildren, and who knows what else will go wrong, I appreciate the reminder that it's THEM choosing, not me teaching, incorrect principles.
Doesn't make it less painful, but it does help to remember His justice is perfect.
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