Looking For That Blessed Hope

Titus 2:13

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ...

The Second Coming of our great god and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be a great AND dreadful day. It will be great for those people who are righteous and are prepared to meet Him; but, it will be dreadful for those who are and have been evil, for they will burn as stubble. For the righteous, His appearing will be glorious and welcome for we shall see Him as He is. This will be the day when our faith and hope are fulfilled. Sometimes during our mortal lives our faith and hope can be shaken somewhat. We just need to endure and hang in there. Like Abraham Lincoln said, just “keep pegging away.” Try to never lose hope and faith, for you will be rewarded according to the faith and hope you have and continue to demonstrate. Your faith and hope in Christ is paramount.

Be Reconciled to GOD

Jacob 4:11

Wherefore, beloved brethren, be reconciled unto him through the atonement of Christ, his Only Begotten Son, and ye may obtain a resurrection, according to the power of the resurrection which is in Christ, and be presented as the first-fruits of Christ unto God, having faith, and obtained a good hope of glory in him before he manifesteth himself in the flesh.

We can be reconciled to God the Father through the application of Christ’s atoning blood in our lives. To reconcile is to restore peace, and in this scenario, having our hearts restored to feeling God’s peace. We lose this peace when we sin and violate covenants and choose the wrong, but we have His peace restored to us as we repent and look to Christ’s atonement. When we are in the process of repenting and improving, then we are in the process of becoming like God, which is the meaning of atonement; becoming one with God, even At-One-ment.

By the power of Christ’s resurrection, we can be resurrected and thus overcome physical death. “For as in Adam, all die. Even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”(see 1 Cor. 15:20-22). Thus, since all must experience physical death due to the Fall, then all will be resurrected to fulfill the merciful plan of Heavenly Father.

Having Faith in God gives us hope, hope for a better life and a better world, hope for forgiveness of our sins and hope to be reconciled to God, even the Father through His Son Jesus Christ so that we can enjoy peace in this world and eternal life in the world to come.

Abound in Good Works

In Alma 7:22-24, Alma2 taught the people in Gideon to:

1. Remember your Duty to God
2. Walk blameless before God
3. Be humble
4. Be submissive and gentle
5. Be easy to be entreated (taught)
6. Be patient and long-suffering
7. Be temperate in all things
8. Be diligent in keeping the commandments of God
9. Pray for spiritual and temporal things
10. Exercise faith-hope-charity
11. Returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things you do receive

As we sincerely strive to live by these principles, may we pray mightily for strength and desire to succeed at it. As we pray, return thanks to Heavenly Father for the things that He actually does bless us with. Remember that Thanksgiving Day is everyday and act accordingly.