Now Is Come SalvationBy
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Recognizing good and evil
This life is the time to prepare to meet God. As Amulek taught:
For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors. (Alma 34:32)
When I am keeping God’s commandments, I look forward to that day with anticipation and joy, but when I am outside the way designated by his law, there is fear and trembling. I often wonder if I am justified in this fast rollercoaster of high peaks of joy and low dips of fear. From one moment to the next, I can move from one feeling to the other, whether by sinning, repenting, or obeying.
At that judgement day, I wonder what I will do. In an earthly trial, there must be witnesses and proof. Certainly, God knows all and needs no witnesses to determine my worthiness or guilt. Either I am clean or I am dirty, and no unclean thing can dwell with God.
Nephi taught:
Therefore remember, O man, for all thy doings thou shalt be brought into judgment.
Wherefore, if ye have sought to do wickedly in the days of your probation, then ye are found unclean before the judgment-seat of God; and no unclean thing can dwell with God; wherefore, ye must be cast off forever. (1 Nephi 10:20–21)
Significant to me is the the phrase, “if ye have sought.” Certainly the majority of my life has been spent seeking to do right. I have, as long as I can remember, desired to do good, to be right with the Lord, and enjoy the presence of his Spirit. I recognize that I have often failed, and for those times I make no excuse. During those moments, I abandoned my usual desire to keep commandments and sought, momentarily, to do evil.
At an earthly trial, there are witnesses called to present evidence of the guilt or innocence. There are also advocates for both points of view, but theoretically, both argue for justice. I already know who one of the advocates for justice will be in the great judgement day.
Lehi taught his children:
Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise.
Wherefore, he is the first-fruits unto God, inasmuch as he shall make intercession for all the children of men; and they that believe in him shall be saved. (2 Nephi 2:8–9)
It is the Lord Jesus Christ who will make intercession before the throne of God for all who believe in him, and show their faith by their actions, which actions I believe are the obedience of commandments and the consistent repentance from sin, even though one may fall again and again.
Also, arguing the cause of justice before the great Judge has been another voice, an accuser who even now reminds God of our iniquites, shortcomings, and failures. In the name of Justice, he asks that a harsh sentence be passed. This accuser is identified to us by the vision of John.
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. (Revelation 12:9–11)
The Revelator tells us that the Devil accuses us before God day and night. The very one who tempts us to do evil, turns right around and betrays us with accusations. Yet for some, salvation will be the reward for those whom Satan accuses. These are those who overcome Satan by the power of “the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto death.”
Have you considered the power of a testimony? Many people take the idea of having Spirit-born knowledge of the divinity of the gospel plan too lightly. For any who overcomes the world and repeatedly improve their lives through repentance, there is strength and salvation, as John taught above.
It seems obvious that those who “loved not their lives unto death” were martyrs, but I believe that there is more than one way to lay down one’s life. We think of Jesus’ sacrifice upon the cross, and know that he laid down his life in one way, but do we not also know that he laid down his life by daily pursuing the will of the Father rather than his own self-interests? Did he not lay down his life every day of it and died as he had lived?
Following his example, we too can love not our lives unto death, constantly choosing that which is the will of God as opposed to our own will. Though Jesus never failed to set his Father’s will before his, we sometimes do. When we do fail, until we die, we may always repent and lay down our lives again, and take up our crosses and follow.
This is also through the power of testimony. There is no more important defense against temptation than a deep-in-the-heart knowledge that God lives, that Jesus is his Only Begotten Son, and that the gospel as delivered by him is true.
The apostle Peter taught:
The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: (2 Peter 2:9)
Continuing on, he speaks of those who are unjust.
But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. (2 Peter 2:10–22)
Though Peter speaks of many kinds of sin, the main thrust of his commentary is against those who promote sexual sin, as did Balaam, the son of Bosor, who counseled the king of Moab to send women to the men of Israel to commit whoredoms and thus bring a curse upon Israel.
Peter warns us agains those whose eyes are “full of adultery” and “allure through the lusts of the flesh.”
He also tells of those who “promise them liberty, [but] they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.”
The world is full of voices proclaiming sexual freedom to do as we please, that there is personal liberty in a lifestyle of no rules or limits. It is a lie. Sex with no boundaries is bondage to the flesh, and to be entangled in its trap is to be in danger of being overcome.
Yet, through the atonement of Jesus Christ and a determination to repent with every fall, rather than being overcome, we may overcome.
The voice we must ignore is the one that “speak[s] great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.” This voice says, “There is no error in sexual sin. Partake and you will still be clean.”
This same voice also tells us that if we fall enough times, it is evidence that we cannot succeed and there is no reason to succeed. This is hardness of heart, the product of unconfessed shame. Without confession and repentance, people harden their hearts and come to believe that sin is not sin, difficult temptation excuses actions, or that punishment is too harsh.
Amulek also taught:
Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you.
I believe that the arms of God’s mercy are open to all who harden not their hearts. Though we sometimes sin, as long as we acknowledge our sin and neither excuse it nor hide it, but rather repent, that in the judgement, though our accuser rail with horrible accusations, demanding our soul, that Jesus Christ will intercede and say, “This one is mine, bought with my blood.”
If we possess a broken heart rather than a hardened heart, now is come salvation.
