HOT COALS

 


 “And he fastened on his head-plate, and his breastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his loins; and he took the pole, which had on the end thereof his rent coat, (and he called it the title of liberty and he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of Christians remain to possess the land—

“…We covenant with our God, that we shall be destroyed, even as our brethren in the land northward, if we shall fall into transgression; yea, he may cast us at the feet of our enemies, even as we have cast our garments at thy feet to be trodden under foot, if we shall fall into transgression.”  Alma 46:13 & 22

As a teen, reading this verse, like a burning fire, permeates to the very soul that they will NEVER back down from this commitment.

And then… Life happens.

Serving a mission. With the coals of truth still strongly feeling this same commitment. AND, seeing different peoples with their differing challenges and the varying ways these challenges are dealt with. Their eyes open and maybe they become a little more tolerant OR strongly judgmental…chinking away at their zeal and fervor to not fall into transgression.

Getting married/starting a family. Maybe there’s still strong coals of being committed to the Lord. But then, kids come along with challenges that scatter those coals, if the parent isn’t centered on and banking those coals. If the parent let’s their coals be scattered, they could find themselves straying from the Covenant Path losing some zeal and fervor and thus slipping slightly, every so slightly from the Covenant Path.

Holding down a job. Without adding daily coals, straying from the Covenant Path can become more of a reality.

Growing older/aches, pains, illnesses, finances, familial struggles. Either the coals are there, or they are not. Either you have banked them, or you have not. Either you have added upon them daily, or you have not. If they have been banked and daily there are fresh nuggets of coal added to the coals, then there’s hope of being able to endure on the Covenant Path to the very end.

“But there were many who died with old age; and those who died in the faith of Christ are happy in him, as we must needs suppose.”   Alma 46:41

Some stay on the Covenant Path and endure to the end. Their coals may be as white as snow, but don’t pick them up, don’t try to scatter them, they will not allow it! Their coals are still burning hot!

“One of the most glorious moments of mortality occurs when we discover the joy that comes when doing always those things that “work for and please the Lord” and “what works for us” become one and the same!”  --Elder Ulisses Soares

 

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