O the goodness of God!

2 Nephi 9

O how great the goodness of our God! This is from verse 10. This entire chapter lays out the joy of righteous living verses the consequences of going contrary to the teaching of Christ. One would be wise to study this chapter very carefully. I don't think it's going to be a lot of fun on judgment day when you come before the Savior and have wasted your life.

Satan is described as a monster in v10. Certainly that is a good description. He plays havoc on the lives of those who cannot bring themselves to keep the covenants they have made with God. This whole chapter is so very real to me given the overtime I spend worrying about a wayward daughter. I can see the clutches Satan has on her, and can only envision the miracle that hopefully will take place at some future day that will save her from the life she is creating, which is no life. “. . . wo unto him that has the law given, yea, that has all the commandments of God like unto us, and that transgresseth them, and that wasteth the days of his probation, for awful is his state!” v27 This is not comforting to a parent of a wayward child, but very clear. I know the Lord will not tolerate sin in any degree. There is only one way out, and that is through accepting Christ as your Savior and Redeemer and turning to him for help. It is doable; but it is hard work. Why is it so hard? Because the chains of Satan are so very strong. As miserable as life is, habits are not easily broken. But this I know. It can be done.

But let's not focus only on the sadness of the judgment. Jacob also warns us not to spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy. Come unto the Holy One and feast upon that which perisheth not (v51). I love the words used in the verse: feast, fatness. In our mortal condition, these are frightening words. However, in coming unto Christ, the more we feast on his words, the fatter we get – the kind of fat that we should all seek after.

Okay, so how does this apply to me today? Does it bring me comfort. Yes and no. I will never stop being concerned for my children. The world is so evil. How I pray every day that they (and I) will embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ to save themselves from the awfulness described in this chapter. Is that all I can do? Love them. Love them as the Savior has loved me. But not tolerate their evil behaviors in my own life. And that is the challenge.