Scripture Thought
1 Nephi 8:21-24
Many were described here. What was different about them? Were they all pressing forward? Were they all pressing forward toward the same goal? It makes one wonder.
The first group was pressing forward to obtain the path. Where were they coming from? Did they all start at the same place? Were some in the field, others in the wilderness, or some of them with Lehi's family at the head of the fountain?
Did they all find what they were looking for? We see some made it to the path, but became lost in the mist. Why were they lost? Where they holding fast to the iron rod? Did they let go? What would cause them to let go?
This mist is described as a mist of doubt, confusion, darkness, or blindness. Was it really a mist or was it something that these people were fabricating in their own minds? Do we do that some times? When an idea or thought is planted in our heads by the adversary, do we let it grow do doubt? Do we let it confuse us? Are we distracted from the goal we were originally pressing forward to obtain? Do we blind ourselves with shades of darkness?
Remember that image of the strait? What would happen if you took a wrong turn and had nothing firm to hold on to or guide you?
Then there were those who faithfully hung on to the rod and arrived at the tree. Were some lost from there? Yes, but a majority of those who find the tree, stay at the tree or seek to return once they have tasted there of.
How do we become like these people? How to we help others to do the same? Can we do them at the same time? I think that before we can help others, we need to make sure we are securely attached to the rod. Once attached, there is no reason that we should let go, even if we justify it to grab another who may not have a grasp on the rod. This is often the hardest part of moving along the path. We pass many who have never grasp it or who have let go.
We can encourage, beckon, cry out to, but never force or leave the rod to find them. They must have the desire to grasp the rod. If they don't, the forcing them would only cause more pain and anguish. I think this is what Lehi was seeing. Think about it.
Many were described here. What was different about them? Were they all pressing forward? Were they all pressing forward toward the same goal? It makes one wonder.
The first group was pressing forward to obtain the path. Where were they coming from? Did they all start at the same place? Were some in the field, others in the wilderness, or some of them with Lehi's family at the head of the fountain?
Did they all find what they were looking for? We see some made it to the path, but became lost in the mist. Why were they lost? Where they holding fast to the iron rod? Did they let go? What would cause them to let go?
This mist is described as a mist of doubt, confusion, darkness, or blindness. Was it really a mist or was it something that these people were fabricating in their own minds? Do we do that some times? When an idea or thought is planted in our heads by the adversary, do we let it grow do doubt? Do we let it confuse us? Are we distracted from the goal we were originally pressing forward to obtain? Do we blind ourselves with shades of darkness?
Remember that image of the strait? What would happen if you took a wrong turn and had nothing firm to hold on to or guide you?
Then there were those who faithfully hung on to the rod and arrived at the tree. Were some lost from there? Yes, but a majority of those who find the tree, stay at the tree or seek to return once they have tasted there of.
How do we become like these people? How to we help others to do the same? Can we do them at the same time? I think that before we can help others, we need to make sure we are securely attached to the rod. Once attached, there is no reason that we should let go, even if we justify it to grab another who may not have a grasp on the rod. This is often the hardest part of moving along the path. We pass many who have never grasp it or who have let go.
We can encourage, beckon, cry out to, but never force or leave the rod to find them. They must have the desire to grasp the rod. If they don't, the forcing them would only cause more pain and anguish. I think this is what Lehi was seeing. Think about it.
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