Courage

Jesus said, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus whom thou hast sent." As any soul approaches and calls upon the Lord with "real intent" to follow Him, the Lord's voice comes to him and teaches what he or she must do. Jesus leads His sheep from grace to grace, as they obey His Spirit. This is the path to truly know God and Christ and to eternal life.

As we follow Jesus and act according to His voice the faith we exercise leads to knowledge; line upon line we come to know Him through obedience. As we prove an unceasing intent to follow Jesus, we earn higher levels of trust. Our communications then change in nature from seemingly insubstantial feelings to hearing his voice from time to time, and then to enjoying two-way dialogue with Him; as we continue in faith we earn more trust and receive angelic messengers and ministrations from celestial beings to help us even further along the path.

Each step of the path of redemption is as the first; when we hear His voice, whether through insubstantial feelings, or in our hearts and minds, or through angels and celestial beings we must overcome our doubts and fears yet again, and through faith continue to follow Him. By so doing we lay hold upon greater light and knowledge, and we earn greater trust until at last we lay hold upon sufficient faith and knowledge that we can no longer be held within the veil; Christ then reveals Himself to us and we see His face and take up our abode with Him. Christ then becomes our Second Comforter to finish our faith and prepare us to be introduced to the Father. Each step we take in this pathway is marked by greater faith that yields greater knowledge, light, and truth--through obedience.

To know God and see His face, we must have courage to look neither to the left hand nor to the right hand as we do all things to become as Christ; rather, we must look to Him alone. As we do so, He will not leave us alone, fail us, or ever forsake us. Rather, He will go with us and before us and His promises will not fail; and, as we turn neither to the right nor to the left, but continually do as His voice commands, we will prosper no matter where He may lead us.

We must not cleave unto anything that is unholy, for if we turn to the left or right of the Path of Holiness, God dispossesses and curses us. We are to be of strong faith, for God hath not given us the spirit of fear: but of power, and love, and of a sound mind. As we associate with others of the covenant, their faithfulness will encourage us, and similarly, our faithfulness will encourage them. And as we are true to what God asks of us and entrusts to us, our trust increases in God and leads to sufficient courage to go on in so great a cause and to go forward and not backward along the Path of Holiness; thus we go on to victory, which is to know (be as) our Lord, to see his face, and to receive eternal life.

Those who take Christ's name upon themselves encounter opposition from time to time. Similarly, Jesus was despised and rejected of the world. What are Christians then to do? They are to find opportunity in opposition to better serve God. For example, Alma was discovered and converted during opposition that drew attention to Abinadi and afforded Abinadi an opportunity to present truth to those whose attention was directed toward him, as was Alma's. Abinadi remained focused upon the welfare of others and upon teaching the "King's Priests" according to God's Spirit, rather than becoming distracted by the attacks of his accusers. Conversion only occurs through God's Spirit and power. As Alma was taught according to God's Spirit, God's power and Spirit rested upon him and converted him.

Should we always seek to convert others amidst opposition? When Lehonti came off his "high ground" to meet with Amalichiah he died for his troubles. Christians must remember that their time and lives are sacred. Seeking to convert unholy swine, who will only turn and rend you, when God's Spirit has not asked you to do so, or when His Spirit is not present, leads to no good. Christians are never to turn from the right or the left of what God tasks them to do, but are to always remain on high ground, which is the customized path God gives to each and every Christian--through His Spirit.

Rather than leave the high ground when God does not ask one to do so, Christians should follow the example of the Jewish prophet Nehemiah, who while rebuilding the protective city wall of Jerusalem, refused to meet his accusers on the open plains. He turned neither to the right, nor to the left of the task God had given him; rather, he chose to value his time, his life, and the work he was engaged in over the solicitations of false and unholy men.

And this is the promise to every soul who will forsake sin to walk the Path of Holiness: "For behold, again I say unto you, that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show you all things what ye should do and will bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveith, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

If you would know God and Jesus and have eternal life, then forsake every sin, come unto the Lord; call upon His name; obey His commandments, heed His voice, and accept and do all which He tasks you to do--turning neither to the left, nor to the right. Press forward in faith filled with Christian Courage until at last you see His face and know that He is!