God's Purpose & Our Ultimate Outcome

The Law of Compensation

Spiritual Glasses

Family Stories

Proving Grounds

Divine Intervention Withheld

Divine Intervention Manifest

Foundational to Christianity is the belief there is an all-wise, all-powerful Heavenly Father who cares about our well-being, and who will bless and protect us if we are believing and obedient to His will. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints carries this belief even further, maintaining that mankind is not of a different species, but the actual spiritual offspring of divine parentage with the potential of progressing to eventually become partners in “the family business”.

It is characteristic of believers to tell faith promoting stories of how the Lord intervenes to protect, bless, or eliminate the obstacles and tragedies for those who are faithful, obedient, and trust God. The scriptures are replete with such stories like Noah building an ark to survive the flood, Moses parting and leading the children of Israel through the Red Sea, David slaying Goliath, and Daniel being protected in the lion’s den.

There are numerous scriptural admonitions promoting the idea that we should not doubt, but only need to believe and trust God to engage and afford divine intervention, blessings, and protection. Consider this small sampling:

Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:7-16)

Elijah was sent to a widow in Zarephath who only had a handful of meal and little oil which she was preparing to make into a final small meal for her son and herself before they died of starvation. Elijah told her not to fear, but to first make him a small portion prior to making a meal for herself and her son with the promise that the Lord would bless her meal to not waste and her oil to not fail until the drought was over. The widow complied and the blessing was fulfilled, letting them eat many days.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego Survive the Fiery Furnace

King Nebuchadnezzar threatened Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego with being cast into a fiery furnace if they refuse to worship the golden image he had constructed. They respond by saying

Promised Blessings for Paying Tithes (Malachi 3:10-12)

The Lord says to prove Him and His promise to “open the windows of heaven” and “pour … out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”

·       10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

·       11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.

·       12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.

Table of Contents

1. Preface
2. Divine Intervention Manifest 
3. Divine Intervention Withheld
4. Proving Grounds
5. Blessed by Failure & Dissappointments
6. Family Stories
7. Spiritual Glasses
8. The Law of Compensation
9. God's Purpose & Our Ultimate Outcome
10. All Shall See Eye to Eye

Preface

It is natural to contemplate the intent or meaning of life, and whether or not there is divine purpose. Is our existence and the world around us just by happenstance without eternal consequences, or is there a higher power involved in our ultimate destiny? Typically, we divide ourselves into two camps - those who believe in a higher power and those who do not.

It is remarkable how level the playing field or circumstances are in which we consider whether there is a divine power or not. It is also amazing the part that faith or lack of faith plays in our perception about our existence and purpose. It seems the evidence we seek is based on or influenced significantly by the assumptions we make. Those who view life without a belief in a higher power will seem justified and feel they see results to confirm their assumptions. Likewise, those who believe in a God who has a purpose or plan for us, can see evidence of his hand in their lives.

The adversity and suffering encountered in this life are pivotal to our consideration about whether there is a higher power, and especially one concerned with our happiness and well-being. It becomes a great conundrum or challenge to believe in an almighty God who is kind and benevolent, and who really cares about us when we suffer so much pain, heartache, and tragedy. It’s hard to feel loved and looked after while enduring painful agony and seeing so much suffering in mortality. If there actually is an all-powerful, benevolent God, wouldn’t He show His love by eliminating the pain, sorrows, and afflictions which make this life miserable?

But what if the agony and heartaches we experience on earth were actually an important part of some divine plan to maximize our ultimate development, destiny, and joy? As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I belong to a faith tradition which believes and espouses we have an all-wise and caring Heavenly Father whose express purpose is that the events of mortality will ultimately promote our refinement and happiness, as affirmed in 2 Nephi 2:25: “Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy”.

What follows is a perspective for how mortal adversity and suffering are essential to divine purpose and our ultimate development/possibilities. We need not be confused about God’s object and plan for us while in mortality; or the question as to whether God wants us to simply enjoy wonderful lives or more importantly become wonderful people?

Table of Contents