With Easter season upon us, my mind is turned increasingly to the work of the Savior; but also to the reality of life and work happening beyond the veil. I am profoundly grateful to Jesus Christ for His willingness to bear the weight of the world on His shoulders and make possible for me, and for all of mankind, the victory over death and sin. I feel to say with Paul,
"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
"The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
"But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
And to say with Job,
"For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
"And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God".
I love Christ. I know that He lives. I have become a witness of the power of His atonement. I witness that through Him all men may be made whole and cleansed from the effects of sin and the corruption of the world. I have begun to understand that He is willing and ready to be as involved in our lives are we are willing to let Him. He answers prayers. He loves us perfectly. I know that Christ rose from death and the grave on the third day, as was prophesied. Because of this we all will live again; live forever.
Thanks be to God for the gift of His Son.
Don't forget your daily dose of Music!
Apr 17, 2014
Apr 15, 2014
Trials Beyond Ourselves
I look forward to Sundays. Attending church is one of the best parts of my week, not to mention the break from school work and homework. Sundays are truly sacred days for me. The only thing about church that isn't enjoyable is when someone teaches something which is not true. One of the most common untruths that I hear in my student ward is the notion that God is only going to give us tests and trials that we have power to overcome. When people share this idea, they frequently site the scripture in 1 Corinthians 10:13 which says that "God... will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able;" This is a serious misinterpretation of the scripture, and of the God we worship.
Paul's instruction can only be understood to mean that God is never going let you be tempted or tested with something that is too big for you to overcome if you read only part of the scripture. Looking at the whole verse, and verses surrounding it, it becomes clear that Paul was teaching the people exactly the opposite of what some so mistakenly glean from their cursory study of his words.
Paul reminds the Corinthians of the exodus of the Jews from Egypt. He speaks of the trials and temptations they faced, and alludes to the consequences of their failure to resist temptation, saying "with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness" (verse 5). Paul taught that the history of the Children of Israel should be "our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted" (verse 6). He then lists several of the lusts which were among the Israelites, concluding again that "all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition" (verse 11).
Now we arrive at the verse in question. "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:" says Paul. In other words, all of us experience temptations and tests. It's part of the experience of this life. "...but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
Why does Paul say God is faithful? Consider verse 12. "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." This warning is the crux of the issue. A man who thinks that he can stand on his own, that it is by his own power, wisdom, or strength that he overcomes, places himself on a pedestal from which he almost certainly will fall. For by the word of the Lamb "many high ones shall be brought low," (D&C 122:8)
Understanding the import of his warning, Paul both comforts and teaches where to turn to find the strength to overcome when he contrasts the "frailty and foolishness of men" (2 Ne 9:28) with the aid that is available to us; saying "but God is faithful;" He will help you in your times of trial and temptation, and "make a way to escape".
Now, it is important that we understand the reason why God allows us to face trials and temptations. At first glance, one might try to determine what he is supposed to learn from this trial or that. One might wonder what she is supposed to learn by serving in a calling for which she is very unqualified. One might wonder what he is being taught by a persistent health challenge, or same-gender attraction, or family problems. For each of these unique trials a long list could be made of lessons and principles that Heavenly Father might be trying to teach us. While each of these lessons are important, they are often incidental. There is one great lesson which underlies all of the trials that Heavenly Father's children face in this life: learning to rely on Christ for all we are, and all we do, and all we are becoming.
It is perhaps this reason more than any other that God does give, and will continue giving tests and trials which are beyond our ability to accomplish alone. We are told to seek learning, and to study from the best books. In our fallen and corrupted state each of us finds himself in the position of beginning to think that he is wise in the knowledge he has accrued. He ceases seeking constant guidance and direction from above, setting it aside, supposing he knows of himself. And so God, who is faithful, in His love and mercy, sends to him a trial which alone he cannot overcome. Christ draws us unto himself by requiring of us things which, without Him, we could never do.
Paul, then, was not teaching us that we can take a deep breath and relax because nothing too hard is coming our way. Rather, He was telling us that trials, temptations and struggles are part of this life, and we are not going to get out of them; but to take courage because God prepared a way to escape. For "in the gift of his Son hath God prepared a more excellent way." He is the way, the truth and the life. It is in Him that we will find strength, comfort, and our escape.
Don't forget your daily dose of Music.
Paul's instruction can only be understood to mean that God is never going let you be tempted or tested with something that is too big for you to overcome if you read only part of the scripture. Looking at the whole verse, and verses surrounding it, it becomes clear that Paul was teaching the people exactly the opposite of what some so mistakenly glean from their cursory study of his words.
Paul reminds the Corinthians of the exodus of the Jews from Egypt. He speaks of the trials and temptations they faced, and alludes to the consequences of their failure to resist temptation, saying "with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness" (verse 5). Paul taught that the history of the Children of Israel should be "our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted" (verse 6). He then lists several of the lusts which were among the Israelites, concluding again that "all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition" (verse 11).
Now we arrive at the verse in question. "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:" says Paul. In other words, all of us experience temptations and tests. It's part of the experience of this life. "...but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
Why does Paul say God is faithful? Consider verse 12. "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." This warning is the crux of the issue. A man who thinks that he can stand on his own, that it is by his own power, wisdom, or strength that he overcomes, places himself on a pedestal from which he almost certainly will fall. For by the word of the Lamb "many high ones shall be brought low," (D&C 122:8)
Understanding the import of his warning, Paul both comforts and teaches where to turn to find the strength to overcome when he contrasts the "frailty and foolishness of men" (2 Ne 9:28) with the aid that is available to us; saying "but God is faithful;" He will help you in your times of trial and temptation, and "make a way to escape".
Now, it is important that we understand the reason why God allows us to face trials and temptations. At first glance, one might try to determine what he is supposed to learn from this trial or that. One might wonder what she is supposed to learn by serving in a calling for which she is very unqualified. One might wonder what he is being taught by a persistent health challenge, or same-gender attraction, or family problems. For each of these unique trials a long list could be made of lessons and principles that Heavenly Father might be trying to teach us. While each of these lessons are important, they are often incidental. There is one great lesson which underlies all of the trials that Heavenly Father's children face in this life: learning to rely on Christ for all we are, and all we do, and all we are becoming.
It is perhaps this reason more than any other that God does give, and will continue giving tests and trials which are beyond our ability to accomplish alone. We are told to seek learning, and to study from the best books. In our fallen and corrupted state each of us finds himself in the position of beginning to think that he is wise in the knowledge he has accrued. He ceases seeking constant guidance and direction from above, setting it aside, supposing he knows of himself. And so God, who is faithful, in His love and mercy, sends to him a trial which alone he cannot overcome. Christ draws us unto himself by requiring of us things which, without Him, we could never do.
Paul, then, was not teaching us that we can take a deep breath and relax because nothing too hard is coming our way. Rather, He was telling us that trials, temptations and struggles are part of this life, and we are not going to get out of them; but to take courage because God prepared a way to escape. For "in the gift of his Son hath God prepared a more excellent way." He is the way, the truth and the life. It is in Him that we will find strength, comfort, and our escape.
Don't forget your daily dose of Music.
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