"O, all ye old men, and also ye young men, and you little children who can understand my words, for I have spoken plainly unto you that ye might understand, I pray that ye should awake to a remembrance of the awful situation of those that have fallen into transgression.
And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it."
Mosiah 2:40-41
Bad things are going to happen to everyone because we need to learn and grow. However, it is good to remember that getting trapped in our sins has negative results, and living God's commandments have positive results. These verses don't mean that we as sinners will have lives of unrelenting pain, or that we as God's disciples will lead charmed lives and be showered with wealth, but it does mean in general, that things will go better if we do good, and things will go worse if we do evil. And, in the end, once we've committed to good (or evil), there will be a vast difference. Things aren't always just now, but they will be in the end.
I always feel the need to put in warnings about this, because it can harm us if we expect everything to go perfectly, and we all definitely face challenges. However, this whole idea is also super important. We *should* consider the state of being blessed and happy. It's an amazing idea, and who doesn't want that? God asks us to think about it because it matters to us... we need to have that hope, and to remember that what we do really does make a difference in the end. Despite disclaimers, it can also harm us if we expect everything to go badly, because we might forget that God *does* shower the righteous with blessings. All things *do* work together for good to those who love God (Romans 8:28). Things really WILL get better and better as we become better people.
This idea is very real, but sometimes it doesn't *seem* real when we look around and see bad people seemingly blessed. Part of it is attitude. When we are trusting in God and doing things his way, we see more of the good around us. We notice the good in people, we see the blessings. When we are walking away from God it is hard to see the bigger picture, and we tend to get snagged on whatever stumbling block is right in front of us. It is hard to have enough perspective to see around it, or to see that we can surmount it, and that things are actually going to be okay. Good doesn't equal rich, although sometimes it does lead to temporal blessings. The results at first are purely spiritual, but they do get better and better as we get better... especially that whole heaven part. "Never-ending happiness" sounds amazing, right? :)
Today let's remember the general lesson that good leads to good and evil leads to evil. If we do good, good will be done to us. If we do evil, we can expect evil. Unfortunately, most of us haven't gotten to the point where it is all one or the other, so we get some of both, along with the essential lessons of life. Despite temporary road-blocks, let's work on making our lives full of never-ending good, and God will in turn make them into never-ending happiness. :)
And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it."
Mosiah 2:40-41
Bad things are going to happen to everyone because we need to learn and grow. However, it is good to remember that getting trapped in our sins has negative results, and living God's commandments have positive results. These verses don't mean that we as sinners will have lives of unrelenting pain, or that we as God's disciples will lead charmed lives and be showered with wealth, but it does mean in general, that things will go better if we do good, and things will go worse if we do evil. And, in the end, once we've committed to good (or evil), there will be a vast difference. Things aren't always just now, but they will be in the end.
I always feel the need to put in warnings about this, because it can harm us if we expect everything to go perfectly, and we all definitely face challenges. However, this whole idea is also super important. We *should* consider the state of being blessed and happy. It's an amazing idea, and who doesn't want that? God asks us to think about it because it matters to us... we need to have that hope, and to remember that what we do really does make a difference in the end. Despite disclaimers, it can also harm us if we expect everything to go badly, because we might forget that God *does* shower the righteous with blessings. All things *do* work together for good to those who love God (Romans 8:28). Things really WILL get better and better as we become better people.
This idea is very real, but sometimes it doesn't *seem* real when we look around and see bad people seemingly blessed. Part of it is attitude. When we are trusting in God and doing things his way, we see more of the good around us. We notice the good in people, we see the blessings. When we are walking away from God it is hard to see the bigger picture, and we tend to get snagged on whatever stumbling block is right in front of us. It is hard to have enough perspective to see around it, or to see that we can surmount it, and that things are actually going to be okay. Good doesn't equal rich, although sometimes it does lead to temporal blessings. The results at first are purely spiritual, but they do get better and better as we get better... especially that whole heaven part. "Never-ending happiness" sounds amazing, right? :)
Today let's remember the general lesson that good leads to good and evil leads to evil. If we do good, good will be done to us. If we do evil, we can expect evil. Unfortunately, most of us haven't gotten to the point where it is all one or the other, so we get some of both, along with the essential lessons of life. Despite temporary road-blocks, let's work on making our lives full of never-ending good, and God will in turn make them into never-ending happiness. :)
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