Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon I read that in spite of the warnings of Abinidi of what would happen to them if they refused to repent, they hardened their hearts and were angry with him. They delivered him up to the king, telling the king about the terrible things that Abinidi had prophesied against him if he didn't repent. And they then proceeded to tell the king that these prophesies were ridiculous because the king was guiltless and the people had not committed any sins. Isn't it amazing how people can rationalize and convince themselves that they're not doing anything wrong and the prophets are crazy? Mosiah 12: 9-16 "And it came to pass that they were angry with him; and they took him and carried him bound before the king, and said unto the king: Behold, we have brought a man before thee who has prophesied evil concerning thy people, and saith that God will destroy them. And he also prophesieth evil concerning thy life, and saith that thy life shall be as a garment in a furnace of fire. And again, he saith that thou shalt be as a stalk, even as a dry stalk of the field, which is run over by the beasts and trodden under foot. And again, he saith thou shalt be as the blossoms of a thistle, which, when it is fully ripe, if the wind bloweth, it is driven forth upon the face of the land. And he pretendeth the Lord hath spoken it. And he saith all this shall come upon thee except thou repent, and this because of thine iniquities. And now, O king, what great evil hast thou done, or what great sins have thy people committed, that we should be condemned of God or judged of this man? And now, O king, behold, we are guiltless, and thou, O king, hast not sinned; therefore, this man has lied concerning you, and he has prophesied in vain. And behold, we are strong, we shall not come into bondage, or be taken captive by our enemies; yea, and thou hast prospered in the land, and thou shalt also prosper. Behold, here is the man, we deliver him into thy hands; thou mayest do with him as seemeth thee good."

In the Old Testament we read the fulfillment of the promises of the Lord to Abraham that Sarah would bear him a son in their old age. Indeed, nothing is impossible to the Lord and He does fulfill all His promises! Genesis 21:1-8 "And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him. And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him. And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me. And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age. And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned."

Some verses with a thought booklet prophesy that in the last days scoffers will come along and question that the Lord will come again. They'll claim that all things continue as they were from the beginning and everything will just continue to remain the same. But we need to know that the Lord will fulfill His promises, and He will come, as a thief in the night. This Lord isn't slack in fulfilling His promises. He is long suffering and wants to give everyone ample opportunity to repent because He does not want anyone to perish. But have no doubt about it, He WILL come! Just like the Lord fulfilled His promise to Abraham and Sarah that they would have a child in their old age, so will He fulfill His promise to us that He will come again. We can count on it! Abraham might have thought that if the promise was going to be fulfilled, it would have to be while Sarah was young enough to bear a chid. But such was not the case. Even though she was well past the age of child bearing, it still happened as the Lord said. So likewise we might think that the time for the Second Coming should have been by now. But no matter how long it seems to take, it WILL happen, in the Lord's own time. He doesn't break His promises. 2 Peter 3:3-10 "Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up."