The Word was God.

“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness: and the darkness comprehended it not.”  (John 1: 1-5)  

From the time I was a child John’s opening words have spoke peace to my heart. I had little understanding then but perhaps I understood the most important part. The Word is our Lord Jesus Christ.

Moses records in the book of Genesis that in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. He then gives us some steps or segments of time in which the task of creating was accomplished.

John says simply “All things were by him and without him was not anything made that was made.” Genesis says that God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” (Genesis 1:26) John says In him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light, (Christ) shineth in darkness (or ignorance and sin) and the darkness comprehended it not. Or in other words until our hearts are open and softened we cannot receive knowledge. So very beautiful.       

He is before all things

“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven and that are in earth visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers, all things were created by him and for him; and he is before all things and by him all things consist.; and he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have preeminence.” (Colossians 1:16-18)

Glorify thy Son

This morning I am reading again the beautiful intercessory prayer of our Lord. In this season when we pay honor to the birth of Jesus Christ I want to look at the purpose for which he came. There is so much to learn it that prayer.

“Father, the hour is come. Glorify thy Son that thy Son also may glorify thee… and now O Father , glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.”  (John 17: 1 & 5)

It is so beautiful the special relationship Christ has as the only begotten of the Father as he refers to the glory he had with the Father before the world was. He came and gave his life that each of us might return to the glory we also had with the Father before the world was.

By man came death

"If in this life only we have hope in Christ we are of all men most miserable...For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."   (1 Corinthians 15:19, 21&22)

There is nothing I can add to Paul's words here.

What once was so clear has again become blurred, hazy and distant.

“The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)

President Uchtdorf uses this scripture in his talk this past conference. He says that, “ if we remove ourselves from the light of the gospel our own light begins to din – not in a day or a week but gradually over time – until we look back and can’t quite understand why we had ever believed the gospel was true. Our previous knowledge might even seem foolish to us because what once was so clear has again become blurred, hazy and distant.”

This is the way it happened to me after my husband died. I suppose I was in shock, but I stopped progressing for a while. I still went to Church, still read scriptures and said my prayers. They were rote prayers, without fervor or feelings, more out of habit than out of admiration and praise. One day I woke up and realized I was not where I wanted to be. I began the road back as slowly as I had traveled away. I’m still not where I used to be, but I’m closer. It is a process. Knowing that Jesus is the Christ is not enough, because Lucifer also knows he is the Christ.

President Uchtdorf goes on to say. “The Church is a place of welcoming and nurturing, not of separation or criticizing… In the end, we are all pilgrims seeking God’s light as we journey on the path of discipleship. We do not condemn others for the amount of light they may or may not have; rather, we nourish and encourage all light until it grows clear, bright and true.”   

I have to amend his words a little. I would say we Should not condemn others, and when we are wounded by our imperfect Brothers and Sisters we should forgive them as they perfect themselves. President goes on to say, “Let us acknowledge that most often gaining a testimony is not a task of a minute, and hour, or a day. It is not once and done. The process of gathering spiritual light is the quest of a lifetime.”   

Therefore have I uttered that I understood not

“Be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made promise to Abraham… saying, surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.” (Hebrews 6: 12- 15)

We being weak may break our promises, but God never does. We being so smart and knowledgeable know so little. It reminds me of poor old Job going through all his trials. The “Lord answers him out of the whirlwind and said,… Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou has understanding.” (Job 38:4)

The Lord is saying two things to Job here. He’s saying I God made the world and everything in it, but he also is saying you were there. You are my child, and I am your Father.

Finally Job answers. “I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? Therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.”(Job 42:2-3)