40 Days Closer to Christ

What if they decided to hold a concert and every member of the orchestra showed up with their instruments tuned anyway they wanted? I’ve been to a few middle school concerts and I have to tell you that it wouldn’t be good. There must be some standard to which all the instruments are tuned, or else you end up with a cacophony. But not only do the instruments need to be tuned, but they need to be tuned to a Master note.

In my house I have three guitars. (Actually since my kids played rock star with one of them only two are playable, but for illustration purposes lets suppose all three can be played.) If I tune one of them to with a pitch pipe or with an electronic tuner than I am pretty sure that it is conditioned for optimal performance. Now I can go to the second guitar and tune it by the first one. And I can get around to tuning the third one by using the second. Theoretically, all three should be tuned up just right. But if I strum a note on the third one, and check it with the tuner, more than likely it will be a little flat or a little sharp. It is just not quite in tune. No matter how good my ear is, a little variation sneaks in as they get tuned down the line. All three guitars have different tones and pitches but if they are all tuned with the electronic tuner and to the same standard then they sound good together.

It is the same way with us. We can get pretty close to where we should be in our spirituality, in our righteousness, and in our walk with God by sharpening ourselves against each other, but we will always be a little off. We need to go back to the Master to make sure that we are where we need to be. It is Christ alone who is the standard by which we measure ourselves. And it is by Him alone that we will be able to perform as we should. That is why we take forty days leading up to Easter and use it to draw closer to Christ and to reestablish our discipleship.

Forty days is the optimal period to form a new habit, to establish a new practice, and to change the pattern of your life. 40 Days – Closer to Christ is an activity (we won’t use the word program) that can change your life.

Forty is a significant number in the scriptures. When God brings about change, the scriptures often represent a significant event as having a forty day duration. Noah’s world was changed forever in forty days. Moses saw God face to face and in forty days received the word which is still the basis for law and government. The city of Nineveh repented in sackcloth and ashes and turned away God’s wrath in the space of forty days. David became a hero after all Israel cowered under Goliath’s forty day challenge. Elijah lived by faith for forty days after God sustained him with one meal. The disciples were given the mysteries of the kingdom as they were taught by the Lord during an intensive forty day seminar after the resurrection. Jesus prepared with a forty day fast for a ministry which culminated in the salvation of mankind.

We can grow closer to the Savior as we study His life and His appearances throughout scripture. We become the people we should as we strive to lead a life of diligent discipleship. In these forty days we can review and renew the vital things that bring us to the Lord. We can refresh our memories and recall the eternal truths of who God is, who we are, and how we can have a close relationship with Him. 40 Days – Closer to Christ is an opportunity to more fully develop that relationship, so that we may see as we are seen and know as we are known.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Day 26 ~ The only Living and True God (D&C 20:19)


There is a great power that watches over this world (2 Corinthians 4:4). He prefers to stay hidden from the world letting mankind put their faith in his ways even though he is a powerful god. He has control of the air (Ephesians 2:2), and the water (D&C 61:19). He has, at times, caused the very earth to shake (Moses 1:21). Unknown to most world leaders the great god exerts influence and pressure behind as many decisions as he can (Moroni 7:17). He is the power behind the ruling of the masses which populate the earth. He is an organizer; he planned for us before we even came to earth (D&C 29:36). He was a son of the morning and the heavens wept over him when he died (D&C 76). Today he rules over legions of angels (Revelation 12:9) from his throne. He is a being of light and influences men by his appearance (2 Nephi 9:9). He rules over men by their worship of him (Moses 6:49). His religion has existed through synagogue (Revelations 2:9) and church (1 Nephi 13:6). The oath and covenant of his priesthood draw men to him (Moses 5:29-31). He has a doctrine (2 Timothy 4:3) and ministers (2 Corinthians 11:15) to spread his word. Men come to worship at his sacrament table and commune with him through the cup (1 Corinthians 10:21). Some would say he is a pretty impressive god. The only problem is he is a big fraud. His death that the heavens wept over – was his spiritual death. This god is Satan.

Somebody once remarked, "The devil is a big copycat. Satan hasn't had an original thought in his life." He is, however, a great imitator. And imitation is not always the highest form of flattery. In Satan's case he imitates for the purpose of mockery, deception, corruption and hateful spite. You see, one time Satan applied for a job. He was pretty vain about it. His condition for employment was that, if he got the job, He wanted all the glory for himself. The One in charge went with another applicant - a better choice, most of us thought. But not everyone at the meeting agreed. In fact, a third of the company thought that Satan should get the job. So let's look at their track record since that day:

    Jehovah                                                               Lucifer
    Our advocate (1 John 2:1)                                  Our adversary (1 Peter 5:8)
    Light of the World (John 8:12)                            Prince of Darkness (Colossians 1:13)
    Gives sight to blind (Matthew 15:30)                 Blinds men's minds (2 Corinthians 4:4)
    The Truth (John 14:6)                                         Liar (John 8:44)
    Creator (Isaiah 40:28)                                         Destroyer "Abaddon" (Revelation 9:11)
    Friend (John 15:15)                                             Enemy (Matthew 13:39)
    The Life (John 14:6)                                           Murderer (John 8:44)
    Captain of Salvation (Hebrews 2:10)                 Angel of the bottomless pit (Revelation 9:11)
    Seeks for men to have joy (3 Nephi 17:17)        Seeks for men's misery (2 Nephi 2:27)   

The list could go on and on - but even this cursory look proves that the Father made the right decision. In fact, one of Christ's main duties has been to overcome the damage done by Satan. He has had to wield truth to combat the father of lies, and conquer death so He could bring life to all men. He is the True and Living God. He should always be our focus.

Billy Graham and his wife were invited to attend a state dinner. All of the important dignitaries were there. Ruth Graham found herself sitting beside the man who oversaw the Treasury in the counterfeit division. Making small talk she remarked, "You must spend a lot of time studying counterfeit bills!" "Oh no!" he replied. "I only study the real thing. Then I can spot a counterfeit in a second." There can be no doubt. We know who is for Truth and Life. And we know who is for Deception and Death. We know who is for us. And we know who is against us. We made the right decision in the Preexistence. Let's not be deceived now. We're almost home.
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