Opened Eyes Bring Sight

We live in perilous times. A tide of wickedness juxtaposed with ever-increasing pillars of light and truth sweeps the earth.

A favorite Old Testament story tells of a normal guy who woke up and discovered an enemy army surrounded him.  He despaired, seeing no way to overcome his odds against his adversary. Riveted on the prophet, the normal guy asked the prophet what to do/how could they survive.

Elisha, the prophet, answered

Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha (2 Kings 6:16-17.)

The Lord opened his eyes and he saw. He saw that he was not alone or abandoned. He saw that God was with him. And he saw that God was more powerful than his telestial adversary. Elisha’s servant was not commanded to engage or fight that opposing army.

We’re normal guys who daily awaken to an adversarial army opposing us, too. Instead of directing us to contend against our adversaries, the Lord commands

Awake and arise and go forth to meet the Bridegroom; behold and lo, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Prepare yourselves for the great day of the Lord (Doctrine and Covenants 133:10.)

The opened eyes of Elisha’s servant saw hosts of chariots of fire surrounding him. Our opened eyes will see the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, the Lord of those hosts. Each of our paths is different as we go out to meet Him, but with trimmed oils in our lamps giving us sight, we will meet Him. And we will see how He fought our battle, calmed our raging sea, strengthened our weakness, sanctified our soul, and still invites us to His wedding feast where we will realize that through His grace and through our mortal struggles, we have become like Him and we see Him as He is.

For me, this sight is worth any price.  This hope is my treasure, my greatest desire for myself and all of you, and my song of Thanksgiving.