It was weird, really. This guy went to visit with God in His House, but when he got there he couldn't see Him. I mean he couldn't "see" Him. God was there. They both were there. But God, as it turned out, the guy was unable to detect His presence.
He went to the optometrist and got his vision checked. Everything worked. So he was left to wonder why it was he couldn't see God.
Some study later he concluded that although God was made of matter (Luke 24: 39), He must be more refined or pure, and therefore not detectable by normal eyesight. (D&C 131: 7.) Only "purer" eyes could see him. So he used Visine, returned to see Him, and still no luck.
Well, he decided to take up the matter in prayer and offered this supplication to the Almighty: "I'm beginning to doubt your love for me. Tell you what, you show yourself to me and I'll know you love me. But it you stay outside my field of vision then I know you're avoiding me and therefore don't love me." God loves everyone, see. And so the request was framed in a way to force God to make Himself visible. The man thought himself clever.
Well, God decided to take the fellow up on the request, as He always does. First the man's house burned down, then his business failed, then he got cancer. As he was in the hospital his family abandoned him, and his friends all thought he was cursed by God, and stayed away. So he waited out the final days of his mortality alone, in pain, and without possessions.
As a charity case the hospital treated him with some neglect, giving him many hours to suffer alone in his bed. Suffering brought about meditation and prayer.
It was during the last few hours of his life, as he lay fevered and in pain, that his burdens overwhelmed him and he sought in desperate humility for relief from God. His prayer was: "Oh Lord, I know I have done less than I should have with the things I have been given. I long to part this life clean of my failings. Can you forgive me, a wretched sinner, for my many failings?" He expected little. Hoping only to salve his conscious by this prayer.
The Lord, who had been in the room for days, suddenly came into view. Startled by this appearance, the man asked: "Is it you, Lord?"
"Yes" came the reply.
"Can you forgive me?"
"Oh, I've done that long ago. Yes, you are certainly forgiven. I'm here for you to see I love you. You asked for that in your prayer a year ago and I've been working so that your eyes could become more refined. Now, at last they are."
Now the man could see what great love the Lord truly had for him. For in the extremity of his dying hour, he had a companion to comfort him.
He died in joy. The nurse thought it was the morphine.
But why be careful? I would say, "be prepared for what you ask for". Careful gives thought that perhaps he would have refused what he received had he known the trial. Ask anyone who has been through a horrific trial but came to know their Heavenly Father through it. Not one I know would give it up. I wouldn't.
ReplyDeleteWell put. Reminds me of the Willie Handcart veteran's remark about getting to know God in their extremity.
ReplyDeleteWe recently took our family to the Gila Valley Temple open house. We had been talking with our 3-yr-old daughter about how the temple is the Lord's house. She went there expecting to see Jesus, not just in pictures because when we returned home, her dinner prayer included that she was grateful to go to the temple but had wanted to see Jesus there and was disappointed she hadn't. I hope she always has that desire and I hope we can prepare her to understand what it means to be truly ready to meet the Lord, that it is worth whatever the Lord requires of us.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the bit of Visine humor. Once when I was young, I put some dirt near my eyes in hopes of receiving a vision like Enoch, only I wasn't sure I was being led by the Spirit so I said, "I'm not going to put that IN my eyes!" Your posts on careful and ponderous thoughts as opposed to vain imagination confused as the Spirit come to mind in that regard. It's nice to see the character in your story still get an audience with Christ even after indulging in similar misguided notions. Hope my experience is good for a laugh, too! I once also went to the Salt Lake Temple the first time I came to Utah by myself and begged an audience with the prophet so I could get access to the Holy of Holies and worship and see Christ. There were numerous temple workers who took it upon themselves to personally detract me from my cause, but I was undeterred. I'm sure I caused quite the scene without knowing it! I finally gave up bewildered, but later learned the problems of my approach. To the temple workers credit, they did send the request along, but some were condescending. I didn't find Christ that way either, but I know He is aware of my hopes and dreams. There is no use being humiliated to the point of giving up the quest, even if I have had a few vain attempts! I hope this helps you understand why the Lord might have had you go public with your experiences, Denver, because I'm sure there are people like me who are seeking after the truth but are grossly misinformed about how to go about finding it. Or maybe I'm just crazy and foolish ;-)
ReplyDeleteWhen I read the new red-bolded text this morning at the top of your website I hoped it wasn't text written by celetial beings that can only be seen and read by guilty parties:) To the extent I may be guilty, I want to say first and foremost, thank you for your amazing efforts. Please continue.
ReplyDeleteI read a blog earlier today that was particularly inspiring and uplifting to me. As elementary as the topic may be for some, from what I've passed through, considering that God might actually become a trusted friend to me is a thought that will keep me happily busy for quite some time. The thought itself anchors and inspires me.
Again, thank you and I hope you will continue to blog as you are instructed or inspired to do so.
All My Best!