3 Nephi 7:18-19 -- On Belief, Anger, and Real Change

"And it came to pass that they were angry with him, even because he had greater power than they, for it were not possible that they could disbelieve his words, for so great was his faith on the Lord Jesus Christ that angels did minister unto him daily.
And in the name of Jesus did he cast out devils and unclean spirits; and even his brother did he raise from the dead, after he had been stoned and suffered death by the people."
3 Nephi 7:18-19


This is Nephi, the son of Helaman, that the they are talking about. It's so interesting here that it was "not possible that they could disbelieve his words" ... but even though they believed him and knew he was right, they were just angry, and not realizing they were in the wrong, or repentant. Not willing to change. Just mad that they couldn't control him. It reminds me of Laman and Lemuel, still determined to have their way even after talking to an angel. Or Lot's Wife, still wanting to go back even when God was trying to save her from destruction. Or us, sometimes, right? Making the bad choice not because we are ignorant of the wrongness of it, but because we are actively choosing bad over good, trying to tell ourselves that we can make exceptions and avoid the consequences of evil, but then letting it bake into us rather than letting God prevail in our lives, and losing ground to Satan.

This chapter is from a time where things had gotten so bad that they had just destroyed the government by murdering the chief judge. They are starting to divide into tribes and spiraling down, and yet Nephi and his brother are out there preaching, trying to pull them back from the edge, calling people to repentance. Christ's coming, for them, is a mere four chapters away, and they are teetering on the edge. But it isn't an edge of ignorance. It is an edge of choice. And we, in our day, are on a similar edge, and God is trying to pull us back, to save us from hurling ourselves into the void. Let's be certain-sure that we are taking the knowledge that we have of God and doing something with it to change things, not just becoming angry. Let's listen to the truth and stop embracing evil. Let's make real changes in our lives and maybe even stop playing on the tops of cliffs in the first place? Let's turn to God, stay far away from cliffs, and do all we can to help others as well. :)