Beggars

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Why a Savior

Why do I need someone to help me? I’m pretty good by myself…
Because alone we are insufficient
Mosiah 4:11-12
Do we need someone to pave the trail, draw the maps, give us a compass? What happens if we just go for it?
Do we need someone to care for the plant? Pull the weeds? Treat the bugs? Fertilize? Prune? What happens if we just let the plant grow on it’s own?
Do we need doctor? What happens if we care for our own illnesses?
Do we need a lawyer? What happens if we try to represent ourselves not knowing the law?
Do we need a teacher? What happens if we figure out physics, math, rocket science, brain surgery on our own without collective wisdom of eons of others?
Do we need engineers, scientists, roofers, truckers, shippers, governments, manufacturers, miners, prisons, etc? We are so integrated to others – we barely sense our connection to others.

We are all beggars – dependents on a greater power to give us what we need – that which we cannot provide for ourselves
Daily air, food
Strength to perform our daily chores
Mental capacity to learn and grow
Freedom to make choices and act upon those choices
Physical health to move about and communicate our mind/will
So we can have peace in the midst of chaos and pain
Therea re those who make things happen, those who watch things happen and those who ask – what happened. Often we haven’t got a clue of how bad things are in the ‘real world’. We don’t experience poverty, chaos, illness, abuse like so many around us do.
We can’t fix all the problems – but knowing there is one who can brings peace of mind

What do I need to be saved from? I don’t think there’s anything out to get me
The effects of mortality
Death
Illness
Pain
Poverty
The effects of evil (others-inflicted)
Abuse
Mistrust
Abuse by others who would take everything of value from us
Slavery
Disillusionment
Deception and vices like betrayal, hatred, jealousy, theft, etc.
The effects of evil (self-inflicted)
Personal damage
Relationship damage
Divorce
Illness causes mood disorders, dependence on loved ones for everything
Cheating hearts
Lack of trust
Our own weaknesses
Gall of bitterness and hell
The effects of evil (natural causes)
Chaos
Destruction
Natural disaster
Accidents in cars, horses, etc
Will the Savior save us from these things?

Can he save us?
He is God Omnipotent– he has powers given him by God to rule and reign over all things in all places and throughout all time.
He is God omniscient – He knows all things – knows each of us individually. He knows what evil lies before us, and knows what strengths we need to overcome them.
He is God omnipresent – He is everywhere and his influence is felt in all places at all dimensions of time and eternity
His God eternal – He never dies, he is always alive and awake

How can he save us?
Effects of mortality
Effects of evil (others)
Effects of evil (self)
Effects of evil (natural)

Will he save?
If this magical savior comes why do I need to do anything special…surely he’ll save us all equally. None of us is better than the rest of us.
First of all the Savior isn’t magic
Magic implies that we get something for nothing.
Lord requires from us to do somethings in order to change

Why would God save us?

When would he save us?
He saves us from the effects of living on this world each day
Daily breath
Protection from chaotic elements
Preserves food in such a way we reap w/o sewing
UV protection
Clean water
Why don’t people believe they need a savior?
They don’t heed any conventions or wisdom when they make choices.
They look at what is easy, fun, safe, comfortable, or what they think they can get away with, and that is what becomes law to them.
IF there is something that hurts, the pick it out even if it’s been commanded by aGod.
If someone makes them feel bad, it is the other person’s fault
If you don’t measure up, then the standard is too high. Everyone deserves everything.