This is kind of “Part Two” from last week’s blog. So you might want to read that first if you haven’t yet. The other huge discovery for me from the hymn, “I Know That My Redeemer Lives”, is about how “He lives” not “He lived” or “He will live.” Most of us have been well educated on what Christ has done for us: He lived a perfect example to follow and He suffered and died for us so we can repent. Most also understand what He will do: He will bring to pass our resurrection, He will be our Judge and Advocate, and He will grant us an inheritance in a wonderful kingdom of glory. Few however, understand what Christ does for us now, and the relationship He is seeking to have with us. This lack of understanding is ironic because perhaps the most exciting part of the Gospel is what the Lord Jesus Christ currently wants to do in our lives. The Lord does not want the Atonement to be a past-tense thing in our lives or something that is only significant in the future or in context of repentance. Rather, He wants to be part of our lives in the here and now. Boyd K. Packer has taught, “For some reason, we think the Atonement of Christ applies only at the end of mortal life to redemption from the Fall, from spiritual death. It is much more than that. It is an ever-present power to call upon in everyday life. "The Atonement has practical, personal, everyday value” ("'The Touch of the Master's Hand,'" Ensign, May 2001, 23-24)
Perhaps the importance of this point is best presented with this question: Why don’t we have crosses on the tops of our churches or at the front of our rooms of worship? Don’t we think that the sacrifice and suffering, even the giving of the life of Jesus Christ was important? Of course we do, but we do not worship the event of His death. We worship a Being who is alive. The Cross, by itself, represents the Lord improperly. We do not worship a Lord and Savior who is dead and done, but rather One who is alive and working here and now. We worship a living Christ.
Ralph Waldo Emerson stated the idea this way, “It is my duty to say to you that the need was never greater [for] new revelation than now.” “The doctrine of inspiration is lost… Miracles, prophecy, … the holy life, exist as ancient history [only]… Men have come to speak of … revelation as somewhat long ago given and done, as if God were dead… It is the office of a true teacher,” to show us that God is, not was; that He speaketh, not spake.” (The Complete Essays and Other Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson, ed. Brooks Atkinson (1940), 75, 71, 80).
I used to think of the Lord much differently than I do now. I sort of thought of Him as one in partial retirement. I thought of Him as one who says, “Good luck. I’ve done my part; now you do yours. I’ve lived a perfect life as an example for you. I’ve given my words in the scriptures, and I’ve even given you the Atonement by which you can repent. My part is done. Now let’s see how well you can do your part.” Then I imagined that with love, He sent us on our way hoping that we would be able to do what we need to do in this life. In other words, “I’ve done my part, now you do yours.”
The scriptures show us a Lord which desires to play a more direct active role in our lives. Rather than “my part” and “your part” the scriptures express, “our part.” Rather than separate parts, the scriptures express partnership.
Official Holidays & Observances This Week
March 7th -March 13th
Monday National Be Heard Day
Tuesday International Pancake Day & Mardi Gras
Wednesday Barbie Day & Lent Begins
Thursday International Day of Awesomeness
Friday Johnny Appleseed day
Saturday Genealogy Day
Sunday Donald Duck Day
Just before Impractical Grace went to press, my publisher caught a potential copyright problem and had a part removed and the text edited. It was the lyrics to a song by Shenandoah, “I Want To Be Loved Like That.” The text would have been on page 108 of the book, but here is how it was originally and I think the point is better made by seeing the lyrics. So here is your insider view of how it should have been written: It comes at a point in the book where Anna is talking with her sister about trying to save her marriage or not.
“You’re right,” Anna replied in a discouraged tone. “Don’t get mad at me, but I can’t help but think that all of it would be easier with a different guy. Here, maybe this expresses how I feel,” Anna said as she shuffled through her purse and pulled out her MP3 player. After finding what she wanted, she listened for a bit and then handed Joyce the headphones. The music played, and Joyce listened to the lyrics:
Daddy never gave Momma a diamond ring
Momma never worried for anything
What he gave her came from the heart
A bond that was never torn apart
I want to be loved like that
I want to be loved like that
A promise you can’t take back
If you’re gonna love me
I want to be loved like that
An old man kneeling all alone
Plants his flowers in a garden of stone
For seven years now she’s been gone
And his devotion is still going strong
I want to be loved like that
I want to be loved like that
A promise you can’t take back
If you’re gonna love me
I want to be loved like that
“Is it so wrong that ‘I want to be loved like that’?” Anna said, repeating the words from the song.
“We all want to be loved like that,” Joyce replied. “I think it is a universal desire to want to be loved with the kind of unselfish, perfect love that’s expressed in the song. That is the compelling kind of love that the Lord has for us, which draws us to Him. ‘Grace’ as your bishop put it.”
“And shouldn’t that love also be in our marriage?” Anna asked to make a point.
“Absolutely, but there is a mistake the song makes,” Joyce replied after pausing to think. “Sure we want people to love us like that. But are we only willing to love others like that if they first love us with that kind of love? With the gospel of Jesus Christ, Jesus wants us to be the one to love like that first. He wants us to be the initiator. Jesus wants us to be the one to start it and infuse that kind of gracious love into all our relationships.”
“So the Lord wants me to start loving Mitch with that gracious love,” Anna said as they both looked off at the kids playing.
“Actually,” Joyce began again. “What I said about Jesus wanting us to be the initiator isn’t exactly true. The Savior has been the initiator. Jesus started it. He has shown that love to us so that now we can go start that love in the relationships around us. He didn’t wait for us to first love Him. He started loving us first.”
So there you have it: the uncut, unedited version. Don’t you feel special? Not that the above was any huge addition to the message of the book, but that is how it should have read originally. I am so grateful for our Savior who, despite all our failings, initiated the most incredible love that any of us will ever experience. A love that changes everything with those who discover it.
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