The Promises

There is a famous line in one of Paul's epistles that I love. Paul says to the Corinthians, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable" (1 Corinthians 15:19).

Remembering this should infuse all of us with encouragement and faith. What Paul is saying is that if we are only looking to Christ as someone to help us through this life, we miss the best part of Christ's message. There is so much more than just this life and Christ will continue to bless, heal, provide and help us not only now but forever.

Because of Christ we will be resurrected and live forever. Because of Christ many blessings we could not have in this life will be given to us in the next life. Because of Christ everything will eventually be made absolute fair and wonderful. So if we are only thinking in terms of this life it is easy to get discouraged. Instead we need to realize that Christ's power and promises don't have boundaries of time. The best is yet to come!

Triumph!

There is a wonderful parable in the New Testament in which Jesus explains what will happen to those who follow Him:  “Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock."

But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great” (Luke 6:46-49).

Sometimes we tend to think that if we are doing what we are supposed to be doing, no storms will come into our lives. But this parable clearly teaches us that storms come to those who are building on the solid rock of the gospel of Jesus Christ and to those who are building on the shifting sands of the world. Both groups undergo adversity and trials. The difference isn’t in the adversity, the difference is in the strength, power, and help of those who build upon the rock. The promise is that when we build our foundation upon the rock we will triumph over the storms.

My Imperfect "C"

I have to admit that during the announcements at Sacrament meeting yesterday, I had a difficult time concentrating. I was looking at all the heads in front of me and thinking about which men had hair shorter than mine. There were only two that I could find. That was a little discouraging but maybe someone will get a haircut this week so that I can find three or four next week. I am thankful the speakers were very good or I may have counted through the whole meeting!

Several scriptures have also taken on new meaning for me. I used to read that “there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost” (Alma 11:44) in a rather cursory way. But now it has great significance. The bald “C” on my head won’t always be there because “every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame.” What a wonderful promise that is.

Every time I look at my bald “C” I am reminded of that promise and I want to shout “Hallelujah!!” My “C” is temporary, and until every hair of my head is restored, it will remind me of the Person who made it temporary, Jesus Christ. I hope you are also blessed with something that daily reminds you of our Savior. Otherwise the daily hustle and bustle make it is so easy to forget the promises He has given us.