Ugh, I am sick! I am fighting a cold, but it is day forty and it feels like it should have some significance. The number forty brings thoughts of Noah and the flood and of Jesus Christ fasting and being tempted. Now for me, forty days represents the number of days I have consistently studied the scriptures and shared what I have learned. I know it might seem silly to make such a big deal about it, but it has not been easy to keep up this pace, life has thrown in a few challenges and there never seems to be enough time to do everything. So I thanked the Lord for all the blessings I have received from my forty days of studying and I asked Him to please bless me with health that I might continue to learn and share.
Today I'm tackling Article of Faith 9:
We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
As I studied this topic, it became clear to me how much I take the gift of revelation for granted. Revelation in the simplest terms is: communication from God to his children on earth.
Revelation may come through the Light of Christ and the Holy Ghost by way of inspiration, visions, dreams, or visits by angels. And revelation provides guidance that can lead the faithful to eternal salvation in the celestial kingdom. (Guide to the Scriptures)
There is one line in the Bible Dictionary that put the importance of revelation into perspective for me:
Without revelation, all would be guesswork, darkness, and confusion.
Guesswork
In a world where things are constantly changing and people are always trying to keep up with every fad, it is comforting to know "...that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity." (Moroni 8:18) His teachings are absolute, He is bound by His promises, His love is everlasting, and His words are always relevant. There is no guesswork with the Lord, when you receive revelation from Him in any form, you can know without a doubt that it is correct.
Darkness
The world is filled with dark things. We know where they come from, "Satan spreads the works of darkness" (Hel. 6:28-31). I have always found these words in Isaiah filled with sadness, "Darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people" (Isa. 60:2). The spiritual blindness or ignorance that keeps people separated from God and in the darkness is one of those realities that makes my heart ache.
I don't fully comprehend why people would choose to stay in the darkness. The scriptures tell us, "Jesus will give light to those that sit in darkness" (Luke 1:79), but here is the catch, "Because ye ask not, ye are not brought into the light" (2 Ne 32:4). All they have to do is ask, and through the Light of Christ they can receive confirmation, through revelation, that the gospel is true and begin their journey out of darkness.
The key to staying out of the darkness, "If your eye be single to my glory, there shall be no darkness in you" (D&C 88:67)
Confusion
Confusion is defined as: disorder; upheaval; tumult; chaos (Dictionary.com). All you have to to do is read the newspaper or watch the news to see that there is confusion in the world. Again, we know the source, "Satan has filled the world with confusion" (D&C 123:7).
In opposition to Satan's confusion the Lord has stated, "Behold, mine house is a house of order, saith the Lord God, and not a house of confusion" D&C 132:8
I have gained a greater appreciation of the spiritual security that comes with the knowledge of revelation. That security comes from being able to know, instead of guess; to be in the Light, instead of the darkness; and to have order, instead of confusion. How wonderful it is that we can tap into God's knowledge and receive guidance in our lives. I cannot think of a better source of knowledge to have in my life!
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