Not everyone believes in God.
Sad though it may be, not everyone believes in God, or that he is their Father in Heaven. But this is nothing new. In the premortal existence, before mankind came down to earth, a whole one third of all of God’s children rejected Him, His plan for them, and His inheritance. Everyone who was born on earth, however, chose God, their Father, chose to follow His plan, and chose to do what it would take to receive His inheritance. These memories have long been forgotten as we passed through the veil to this life. This was necessary for us to learn to use faith. Where there is knowledge, faith is not needed, and thus our knowledge had to be temporarily hidden from us. To help us learn to use faith, God has given us prophets, angels, scriptures, miracles, and the still small voice of His Holy Spirit to teach and guide us, to remind us why we’re here on this earth, where we came from, and where we’re going.
Backup Plan
Today, I’m not here to talk about those who don’t believe, but of those that do. Those that profess that Jesus is the Christ, their savior, their redeemer, the only way to heaven. These are they whom I wish to ponder about today. These members of the faith fall in a spectrum, or rather their faith falls in a spectrum. At one end, you have people that only come to God in their time of need. They profess their faith but rarely live it. They make a token appearance at church, but when the sermons end, they quickly abscond from God’s sight so that they can pursue their own plans. To them, God is merely a backup plan. They ignore his calls, pretend they’re not home, send him a pretty card once in a while, and only really confront Him when they think they need something. People who wait till their deathbed to repent are a good example of this. On that note I turn to the parable of the Prodigal Son.
The Prodigal Son: Luke 15:11-32 (video)
- 11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
- 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
- 13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
- 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
- 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
- 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
- 17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
- 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
- 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
- 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
- 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
- 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
- 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
- 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
- 25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
- 26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
- 27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
- 28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him.
- 29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
- 30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
- 31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
- 32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
Partnership
At the other end of the spectrum from those who see God as a “backup plan” are those who, like the prodigal son’s brother, live the gospel, those who have become partners with Christ. They stay in contact with Christ via daily prayer and scripture study. They keep their ears open to the promptings of the spirit, and their eyes open to the needs of others. They act on spiritual promptings, they do the work of Christ. They have taken upon themselves Christ’s yoke.
In Matthew 11:28-30 Christ says
|
Feed My Sheep: John 21:1-22 (video)
- 1 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
- 2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
- 3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
- 4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
- 5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
- 6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
- 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
- 8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
- 9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
- 10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
- 11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
- 12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
- 13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
- 14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
- 15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
- 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
- 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Where does God fall on our scale from Backup Plan to Partner?
So, the question we must ask ourselves is whether we are partners with Christ, or if we have relegated Him to be a backup plan when things get messy. Do we keep his commandments? Do we seek out opportunities to serve His children? Do we love one another? Do we stay in touch with Him through prayer, fasting, scripture study, or listening to the prophets speak? Do we know what He wants us to become? Are we prepared to put in the effort? To act? To become? He offers us eternity. He offers everything He has if we become partners with Him, if we take upon us His yoke:
(D&C 84:36-39).
(D&C 84:36-39).
- 36 For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me;
- 37 And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father;
- 38 And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father’s kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him.
- 39 And this is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth to the priesthood.