Enos 1:22-27
I've been thinking as of late of some of the great ordeals that prophets have to go through in the process of having their faith tried and refined. It makes me wonder how I could hope to qualify to stand along side the ancients who had to go through so much hardship, if I myself do not have to be tested as they were tested. Some of these final remarks suggest that such were the days of Enos as well.
There is one verse however that stands out in my reading this morning, verse 26, wherein he talks about "having been wrought upon by the power of God that I must preach and prophecy unto this people, and declare the word according to the truth which is in Christ." Particularly, what does it mean to be "wrought upon by the power of God". In Spanish, it is translated as being influenced by the power of God. (Perhaps the irony of this post is that yesterday, I would have been done, published, and moved on to the next group of verses if I hadn't been "wrought upon" by the Holy Spirit to give it one more day and consider a few more phrases in the last two verses.)
The thing that Enos was influenced by the Holy Spirit to do was to teach the truth unto his people. But the truth that he was to teach has a qualifier, "the truth which is in Christ," (verse 26). Enos goes on to say that he has obtain rest "which is with my Redeemer," and then a line of testimony to conclude: "For I know that in him I shall find rest." Enos concludes his remarks by stating that which is to come for him in Christ. For him, the image of a smiling Christ at the judgment day is a reality. (see verse 27) I hope that I may have that confidence when my days are completed and I am old.
I've been thinking as of late of some of the great ordeals that prophets have to go through in the process of having their faith tried and refined. It makes me wonder how I could hope to qualify to stand along side the ancients who had to go through so much hardship, if I myself do not have to be tested as they were tested. Some of these final remarks suggest that such were the days of Enos as well.
There is one verse however that stands out in my reading this morning, verse 26, wherein he talks about "having been wrought upon by the power of God that I must preach and prophecy unto this people, and declare the word according to the truth which is in Christ." Particularly, what does it mean to be "wrought upon by the power of God". In Spanish, it is translated as being influenced by the power of God. (Perhaps the irony of this post is that yesterday, I would have been done, published, and moved on to the next group of verses if I hadn't been "wrought upon" by the Holy Spirit to give it one more day and consider a few more phrases in the last two verses.)
The thing that Enos was influenced by the Holy Spirit to do was to teach the truth unto his people. But the truth that he was to teach has a qualifier, "the truth which is in Christ," (verse 26). Enos goes on to say that he has obtain rest "which is with my Redeemer," and then a line of testimony to conclude: "For I know that in him I shall find rest." Enos concludes his remarks by stating that which is to come for him in Christ. For him, the image of a smiling Christ at the judgment day is a reality. (see verse 27) I hope that I may have that confidence when my days are completed and I am old.
Reading this post made me think of Abraham. Like Enos, he had been diligently seeking the Lord and his promises, and he had been preaching to his apostate family. It was long before his more famous moments of testing that he found rest in the Lord and recorded these words:
ReplyDeleteNow, after the Lord had withdrawn from speaking to me, and withdrawn his face from me, I said in my heart: Thy servant has sought thee earnestly; now I have found thee; thou didst send thine angel to deliver me from the gods of Elkenah, and I will do well to hearken unto thy voice, therefore let thy servant rise up and depart in peace.
(Abraham 2:12-13)
Thank you Herdsman for your comments thus far. I appreciate the additional insight and thought that your taking as you prepare to comment. I especially like this point about Abraham.
ReplyDeleteI didn't mention in the post which prophet in particular I had been studying, beyond Enos, for this very reason--to see how broadly the principle could be applied. Thank you again!