He lived. He taught great things. He suffered. He died. All this happened so that He could then overcome death, as a resurrected being, enabling a sacred power that allows all of us (yes everyone) to do the same--to rise from the ground after death, with a resurrected body that will never see death again. Eggs and Spring time are symbols of newness. All representative of our resurrected Savior. What does this mean for me? This means that my mistakes that have been corrected through a lot of hard work and faith, only by the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, because He took on my sin, can be wiped clean. Only with this cleanliness--spotless "newness" that requires routine maintenance in this life--can I be in His direct presence in the next life, eternally with my family, who can be given the same opportunity. He lives. He does. This truth justifies all other teachings of our Savior, Jesus Christ. If this weren't true, none of His Gospel would be. Today, I heard great wisdom from my Bishop, as he bore testimony of Jesus Christ's Atonement in the Sacrament Meeting portion of our Sunday service. He reminded me that the Atonement is personal, not just a blanket sacrifice and eternal process extended to all. It is extended to all, and whether a person realizes this in their life or not, it occurs often for everyone, but it has been established for every one of us, individually. Customized to my (and your) needs. Tailored to my (and your) weaknesses. A gift eternal that is specific to my life. I am grateful to know my Heavenly Father knows me personally, and that he has a Son who has taken the time to understand me, and that the Holy Ghost has been given an inspired assignment to help me recognize dynamic opportunities for change, for improvement, and for self-mastery. I have learned a great lesson throughout my life. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is as powerful as you allow it to be. It is not like a faucet that has a limit to how much water pressure can be generated. Likewise, a fractured dam cannot leak slowly. We possess some control over the the way His infinite blessing is actualized in our lives. It requires a desire, a listening heart, and a willingness to do what He requires in order to align yourself with His will. I will not--I can not--ever forget the moments in my life that the Atonement became more critical for me than oxygen. Oddly, I am not troubled by the thought of how many times I may not have recognized these opportunities, simply because He never gave up on me, and much of what He bore for me has already been removed from my life. He wants for me to be forgiven of sin as much as I do (most likely more so, due to His understanding). Whether we partake a little, or a whole lot of His Atonement, He already suffered for our sins. It's done. It's power is infinite, but the event is complete. He does not need to suffer, die, and resurrect again for any additional mistakes we commit. I pray that I never suggest to Him that I don't think His sacrifice was quite enough. I take great comfort in the knowledge I have gained (and am still gaining) through my activity in His church of how to utilize my Savior under proper authority, and renew myself weekly. I feel great excitement at the thought of being resurrected, just as he is now, and to live eternally with my family. For that, I am inexpressibly grateful. May the Savior touch your life in a customized way for you. May you all be willing to allow Him to be a part of your life. If you are not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I urge you to visit www.mormon.org/missionaries, and find missionaries in your area to assist you with better understanding the full spectrum of the Atonement. They have nothing to gain but joy felt knowing that someone has been brought closer to our Savior. Do not feel reluctant. Feel encouraged and empowered. Heavenly Father is waiting to share more with you.
Happy Easter!!!
Written by: Nate Blackhurst
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