Living Our “Eternal Life” Now
Cover image: “That Which Was Lost,” by Yongsung Kim, https://havenlight.com/
Do we live as though we have a powerful Savior standing next to us, fighting our battles and filling us daily with His light and joy? Or do we have to wait until His second coming for that?
What? No Waiting?
Enoch and other prophets make it very clear that we DON’T have to wait. We can begin our “Eternal Life” in THIS realm! Enoch tells us that through Christ we’ll be sanctified, and “…enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come…”[1] This gift, however, is one we have to put ourselves in a position to receive.
Perspective Paradigm Shift
Jarom gives us the “how to” of receiving these great blessings. He advises us to look forward to Christ’s coming (in our case, His 2nd coming) AS IF IT HAD ALREADY HAPPENED, “…to look forward unto the Messiah, and believe in him to come as though he already was” [2]
In other words, if we can imagine and act upon the belief that Christ is with us NOW, He will commence His coming with us NOW, and we can be transported into Life with God. As we focus on “always remembering Him” (to receive His spirit), we unlock the door, and admit Christ to OUR world TODAY!
King Benjamin completely concurred. He said, “…whosoever should believe that Christ should come, the same might receive remission of their sins, and rejoice with exceedingly great joy, even as though he had already come among them.” [3]
Allowing this Life Eternal to begin in this sphere is a choice we can make to receive privileges without compare.
What Does Eternal Life Look Like in this Earthly realm?
In some of the most poignant scripture we have, Enoch gives us a glance at the magnificent blessings we can potentially receive NOW. He expounds,
“…the peaceable things of immortal glory;
the truth of all things;
that which quickeneth all things,
which maketh alive all things;
that which knoweth all things,
and hath all power…”
“And now, behold, I say unto you: This is the plan of salvation unto all men…”.[4]
He’s saying that all these beautiful things were planned from the beginning to be given to us IN THIS LIFE! Because of Christ’s all-encompassing Atonement we can access alive-ness, knowledge and peace NOW!
Continuum of Forever
Eternal life means a forever life with God. Does that just suddenly start after we die? Is it suddenly proclaimed: “Ok, now you’re living the Godly life!” NO! Whatever we live; however we live, we’re living it NOW, and now is always evolving, depending on our thoughts and our choices…
Clothed Upon with Glory
All of these marvelous gifts are for the taking, whenever we are ready. We can literally “become quickened in the inner man” [5] Enoch continues:
“…and I was Clothed upon with glory, and I saw the Lord;” [6]
DO WE UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR PRIVELEGES ARE? Have you ever been “clothed upon with glory?” Of course you have! When we open to and seek the Holy Ghost, we begin to feel the love of the Lord wrap around us. It makes us feel alive like nothing else!” It quickens our senses. When I feel the spirit strongly, I FEEL ALIVE, don’t you? Becoming alive in Christ is literally the opportunity to experience the culture of heaven on earth![7]
We all know that “men are, that they might have joy.”[8] I might also add: Man is that he might feel alive; man is that he might be quickened; man is that he might have knowledge; Man is that he might have peace. All these beautiful gifts come from PARTAKING of Christ as if He were with us. We become extensions of Him – windows of Him, so that His magnificence can flow in and through us.
Everlasting Life Lit Up His Soul
Lamoni woke up to his “Eternal Life,” after a life of darkness.
..”he knew that the dark veil of unbelief was being cast away from his mind, and the light which did light up his mind, which was the light of the glory of God,—yea, this light had infused such joy into his soul, the cloud of darkness having been dispelled, and that the light of everlasting life was lit up in his soul…” [9]
He became quickened, and enlivened with truth and light.
Transforming Your World
Asking for the Lord’s spirit to be with us is crucial. Just imagine right now that Christ is standing next to you? FEEL Him… Are you more peaceful? More relaxed? More joyful? Are you confident that all challenges will work out? When we bring the Lord to where we are NOW, our world transforms!
President Kimball profoundly taught that, “When Satan is bound in a single home – when Satan is bound in a single life – the Millenium has already begun in that home, in that life.” [10] Satan is bound when we focus on Christ, and strive to be holy.
Christ wants to share His alive-ness with us, because He knows how DELICIOUS it is to us! He wants to give us as much wonder and joy as we can hold!
“If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things – that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.” [11]
NOW is better than Later
It’s not my future with Christ that should be important to me. It’s my life with Christ NOW that is vital! M. Russell Ballard taught, “Remember, eternity is now, not a vague distant future…”[12]
We can all apply Christ’s Atonement in our lives by living as though we have a Savior standing next to us; supporting us; fighting our battles and filling us with joy, because, in fact, we do!
You Are Welcome to CONTACT me at annehpratt@hotmail.com
[1] Moses 6:59
[2] Jarom 1:11
[3] Mosiah 3:13
[4] Moses 6:61-62
[5] Moses 6:65
[6] Moses 7 :3-4
[7] Matthew 6:9-13, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (Italics added)
[8] 2 Ne 2:25
[9] Alma 19:6
[10] Edward L. Kimball, The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. [1982], 172.
[11] D & C 42:61
[12] M. Russell Ballard, “Spiritual Development,” October Conference, 1978, Italics added
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