Why Jesus Should Show Up
Every scripture has about three different meanings. The ancient Jews called them the body, soul and spirit of the scriptures. And some more devout Jews believe there are as many as seven or more different interpretations of every scripture. Now I do not believe the righteous are going to be taken in the air but always keep in mind anything is possible. Let’s suppose that we had a nuclear war and it appeared to the powers that be that unless something was done, humanity would be eliminated. If this were the case we may have some supernatural event to save humanity so that we may repopulate the planet.
At the end of Malachi it says the hearts of the fathers must return to the children and the hearts of the children must return to the fathers or else the earth shall be smitten with a curse and it is speaking of the coming of the Messiah. The word “curse” comes from a Hebrew word (Cherem) that means. “total destruction.” So what does this mean? The hearts of the fathers must be returned to the children. This means our hearts must be turned to future generations and make this earth a safe place for the people to live. If we do not do our part in disarming the world so there are no weapons of mass destruction anywhere then the earth will be smitten with utter destruction because sooner or later if everyone has nuclear weapons it is only a matter of time before they use them.
The nations of the world have to lay down their arms and if they do not lay down their arms then we will reach a point where the words of Malachi will come to pass.
My family had a mini family reunion just the other day and Artie and I were the only ones that were not solid in the Mormon Church. My sister said, what do you want to accomplish anyway? And you know they realize I think very different than they do. What they want to accomplish is to be good members of the church.
I quoted Malachi. I said, after I am gone I want it to be said, that I did something to make the world a better and safer place. Then one of the other family members said, well, I just leave that in the hands of the Lord. (Laughter)
And I said, well you cannot just leave this in the hands of Lord because if we had left World War II in the hands of the Lord then Hitler would be our supreme leader right now. Jesus said that we are the hands of the Lord. If you meet someone that is hungry, starving, or wounded by the side of the road and if you just say a prayer for them do you honestly believe that would help them? He basically says, no you are the hands of the Lord. He says you have to help that person and when you help that person, God is helping them. They will give thanks to God that God has helped them but you as an instrument of God were the one who helped; you helped them – this, was your action that accomplished this. It was not because you prayed and God sent some angel to feed, mend or clothe this person. That is just not the way it works.
If we do not do something about all these weapons of mass destruction that are pointed at each other, it says that it is only a matter of time before Malachi’s destruction comes to pass. “Unless the hearts of the fathers are turned to the children and make the world a better place for the children the earth could be totally destroyed. The prime directive of the Powers That Be and the Hierarchy is a little bit like Star Trek, non interference is essential but if it came down to humanity being completely eliminated They may interfere.
It may be possible to do this without incurring any negative Karma. It just depends on how we are about to destroy ourselves. If the Powers that Be in our planetary system look down and say: Well, looks like they deserve to destroy themselves then there would nothing that could be done. If there were enough of us in the state of innocence then it would be within the perimeters of the Spiritual Hierarchy to take action and save humanity. I would give it about a, 75% chance that we move into the new age without a major nuclear war, the way Shirley sees it happening. Let us all hope that this happens and it will happen if each one of us does our part.
What we need to do is sense the responsibility. One of my favorite movies of all time is “Oh God” with John Denver. George Burns plays God. How many saw this movie? That movie depicted God probably more accurately than the religions out there. God appeared to a grocery clerk named Jerry Landers, who is played by John Denver. He says to God, well what are doing are you going to save the world now and eliminate hunger, poverty and war and all that stuff? And George Burns says, nothing, that is up to you.
John says, Up to us! What do you mean up to us? We can’t do anything; it is up to you! And God says, no, it is up to you. If you want to make the world a better place then you must do it yourselves.
Now John Denver was beside himself because he always thought it was up to God to do that and this was a big revelation that came to him – that it was our responsibility to do this. I thought that was a good part and also presented a great truth. I really liked how John Denver was exasperated and surprised by that answer from George Burns because that answer is in reality up to us.
If we look all through history there are periods where can see there was divine influence but nowhere did the hand of God come in and completely take over and do our work for us. God never does work for us that we can do for ourselves. There is only divine interference when we do everything that we can do. If we really need assistance and we have done everything that we could possibly do and sometimes more than what is possible, then that is the time when the miraculous can occur and there can be divine interference.
Outside of this we are expected to do all that we can do and generally there is not Divine interference because all we can do is usually enough to get the job done.
Getting back to World War II again, from about 1939 to about 1942 it looked as though we may not win the war. It looked like everything was against us, but we did everything that we could. We finally got stirred up; and decided to do everything in our power to defeat Nazism our selves. We did not sit around and pray for an angel to be sent from heaven, but using everything within our power we decide to do this. There may have been some divine interference along the way but as it came, we were doing everything that we could do.
That is the way it is in our lives. So many people get frustrated because life is hard and they get mad at God for not helping. This is because you have not done everything that you can do yet. We have to do everything that we can do. A lot of people expecting the Messiah to come back think that He is going take over and make life wonderful for us. He is going to take the earth and snap His fingers and make it into a Garden of Eden and we will be able sit under the fruit trees and eat fruit and we will not have to work. Jesus is going to appear to us and love us and we will kiss His feet and play some harps and it is just going to be so wonderful! (Laughter)
Audience: (Wayne?) I was ready to sign up until you got the part where you have to kiss His feet! (Laughter)
JJ: What will He do when he comes; is He just going to come here and do everything for us?
Audience: (Suzy) I say no, He is not!
JJ: Why not?
Suzy: Because it is up to us!
JJ: Do you not deserve a reward?
Audience: Well yes, but,
JJ: James has to take care of that huh!
Audience: (Laughter)
JJ: Does anyone remember what it says about Jesus in connection with rewarding us?
Audience: It does not mean anything unless you have earned it.
JJ: That is a true principle but that is not what it says. There are prophecies about the return of Christ and the word “reward” is used in connection with it. Does anyone remember what it says about Christ rewarding us?
Audience: I remember the parable of the talent. And He comes back and says for the work that you have done you will get this reward, or something like that.
JJ: Yes, that is true. Okay here is what it says, it says, When he comes “his reward is with him.” What do you think that means? Susan Carter, you are a student of the scriptures what does that mean?
Susan: I would say the reward is in us as we accomplish things and that is our reward.
JJ: I find it fascinating that no one has ever contemplated that scripture before. It is another one of those scriptures that sometime they even quote in church but never explain. Well what the dickens does that mean? Okay, well his reward is with him. Is He going to come down and bring us a plate of food or what? How can His reward be with him? The reward that He brings in other words, what is it?
Audience: The Christ Consciousness, His Presence, Himself.
JJ: Yes, what else?
Audience: He showing faith that your faith that you have in Him was valid.
JJ: That could be part of it.
Audience: He said the kingdom of heaven is within.
JJ: That is part of it and is there more? Why do we want Him to come in the first place?
Audience: To establish the kingdom of heaven on earth, an outer confirmation?
JJ: Yes, everyone is overlooking the main reason. Okay James, if The Christ was here and you invited Him over for dinner, why would you want Him there?
Audience: To teach us!
Audience: Correct, and what is with him? His teaching’s are with Him and that is the reward for the righteous, He will come and He will teach them.
Audience: So, only the righteous will be taught because only the righteous will be able to recognize it?
JJ: Yes, for one thing, only the people that have soul contact will be able to recognize Christ and not only Him but, His teachings as being eternal words that touch the soul.