3 January -- Clouds and Darkness

(click the link above to read the entry from My Utmost for His Highest)

Additional Scriptures: 1 Kings 8:12, Exodus 3:1-6, John 6:63, 65 (6:60-66), 1 Nephi 8:2, D&C 88:68 (63-68), Topical Guide -- God, Privilege of Seeing

Is the Gospel of Jesus Christ simple or shrouded in "clouds and darkness?" The devotion today was difficult to get my head around. Perhaps that proves it's exact point.

Many who look at Christians (and more who look at Mormons) think we are simpletons blindly following our leaders (or pastors or priests as the case may be). From the outside looking in, Christianity is incredibly simple -- follow a few commandments, lead a dull and boring life without adventure (or sin, thank you very much!) and die hoping that there is something more on "the other side." Then again, the Gospel IS incredibly simple. We often speak of the "small and simple things" (Alma 37:6) like prayer, fasting, scripture study, and Family Home Evening as being the key steps on the path to eternal life.

Chambers was speaking of something completely different today, I think. I liken it to the "rose colored glasses" concept of following Christ. We lull ourselves into a false sense of comfort, security, and well, frankly, pride when we do all those small and simple things just for the sake of saying that we do them. "Yes, I do all those things. Do you?" some say with a down turned sneer. Some speak casually of their relationship with God, with Jesus or of their sacred spiritual experiences, if they have even had them at all.

However, if we have had them -- sacred, spiritual experiences -- we begin to realize just how shrouded in darkness the knowledge of God, of who He really is, becomes. I believe the darkness spoken of in Psalms and 1 Kings is a darkness of our own creation. Christ surrounds Himself with that darkness just so we WILL do the small and simple things to wade through the mist, fog and clouds. His instruction to His disciples in John is specific on that point. It is by the spirit (John 6:63) that we will gain knowledge and the enlightenment we will need to understand His works, words and teachings. Then verse 65 is very specific: No one can come to Jesus unless he follows the will of God -- and many disciples left Him that day (v. 66). The will of God IS to pray, fast, read, and study -- all small, simple things. Are we turning away from Christ today?

Still the small things must be approached and completed in the proper perspective and attitude. We cannot do those small and simple things to 1) look good to others, 2) because we must, or 3) with a casual, familiar flair. When thinking about approaching a relationship with God and Christ, we would do well to remember the story of Moses and the Burning Bush. Moses was minding his own business (well, actually his father-in-laws business -- his sheep) when he noticed a bush burning but not going up in flame. He walked toward it to investigate and was stopped by the voice of God, "put off thy shoes ... for the place ... is holy ground." Do we walk toward our spiritual experiences with prayer, fasting, scripture study or even FHE with our "shoes on?" Are we prepared to listen to the voice of God and remove our attachment to the world and our stuff to wade through the clouds and darkness?

One point I disagreed with Chambers on today was his notion that God does not speak to us in dreams and visions. For such a great spiritual mind to believe that revelation comes only through words enlightened by Christ -- I'm a bit confused, maybe I have him wrong. I cannot believe that the darkness that surrounds Christ is not "impenetrable" because we know that God and Christ still speak through visions and dreams (1 Ne 8:2) and that we can have the privilege (at some point of God's choosing) to see His face (D&C 88:68). Oh, and that's the glory of it all. As we submit our will to the God, then we will be filled with light, His light, and can reach Christ through the clouds and darkness with His own lantern of truth.