The best is yet to come

I've been reflecting on how to develop a better relationship with God and become more like Him, and I was reminded of a book by CS Lewis, specifically one part about "cellar rats".

 

It's this idea that if you go down to the cellar and turn on the lights, you'll see all the cellar rats scurry to their favorite hiding place. But if you go down in the dark and start clapping or banging on pots, by the time you turn on the lights, all the rats have already hid, giving you the false sense of security that your cellar is rat free.

 

If the proverbial house is a reflection of how we model our life, then the cellar is our deepest and most sincere self.

 

So how is your cellar? When you are provoked and the lights are turned on, revealing your inner self, are there rats on display for everyone to see? The next time you experience a provocation to anger, notice how you respond. Did you snap, sneer, sulk or storm? Or did you respond with patience, understanding, and a desire to build bridges?

 

When we think of anger, we tend to rationalize it away. "oh everyone gets angry," or "it happened so fast, I just didn't have time to collect myself," or "that was just an outburst, an anomaly, that's not how I normally am". And those may be very valid points.

 

On the other hand, what a man does when he is taken off his guard may be the best evidence for what sort of a man he is. What pops out of his mouth before he has time to disguise the truth?

 

It's important to remember, the suddenness of the lights did not create the rats. It just revealed the true nature of your cellar.

 

 

 

If you, like me, find yourself having moments of outburst where our perception of ourselves does not match reality…. We probably have some rats in our cellar. Most of the time when we face adversity, before we get to the bottom of the stairs and reveal our deepest self, we've had time to collect ourselves and react patiently. But then there are times when the lights kick on with no advanced warning, and anger and contention will spill out of us before we can control our tongue, often hurting those around us.

 

The good news is, there is antidote.

 

The pure love of Christ is the answer to the contention that plagues our society. Charity propels us “to bear one another’s burdens” rather than heap burdens upon each other. The pure love of Christ allows us “to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things” —especially in tense situations. Charity allows us to demonstrate how men and women of Christ speak and act—especially when under fire.

 

One of the easiest ways to identify a follower of Christ, is how compassionately he treats other people.

 

This week, a prophet of God spoke to the world, and his message was that how we treat each other, really matters!

 

"In situations that are highly charged and filled with contention, I invite you to remember Jesus Christ. Pray to have the courage and wisdom to say or do what He would. As we follow the Prince of Peace, we will become His peacemakers. At this point you may be thinking that this message would really help someone you know. Perhaps you are hoping that it will help him or her to be nicer to you. I hope it will! But I also hope that you will look deeply into your heart to see if there are shards of pride or jealousy that prevent you from becoming a peacemaker." - Russel M Nelson

 

You'll probably recognize the term "peacemaker" from the beatitudes, was one of the messages Christ taught in his ministry in Jerusalem and in the Americas.

 

But have you ever thought of the Beatitudes not as isolated statements, but as inter-related steps, progressing to one end?

1. Blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me……….. Think of this as coming unto Christ and putting our faith in Him; the first step to becoming like Him.
2. Blessed are they that mourn……… Think of this as mourning for our sins, having a broken heart and contrite spirit. AKA repentance - step #2!
3. Blessed are the meek…………... Another word for meek is submissive. Meekness allows God's will to become our own. This is part of the covenant we make when we are baptized - step #3!
4. Blessed are they that hunger & thirst after righteousness……. When God's will becomes our own, we will be filled with and fueled by the Holy Ghost - step #4! 

Up until this point, these stepping stones have been more individual in nature. Now, we can extend our focus beyond ourselves. Steps 5-8 begin to be more social in nature.

        5. Blessed are the merciful………….…Here we get the opportunity to join Christ in one of his favorite parts about being a God - forgiving others. Step #5!

        6. Blessed are all the pure in heart….…. Think of this as being without guile. Having clean hands and a pure heart, allowing your outward actions perfectly reflect your inward attitude. Step #6!

        7. Blessed are all the peace makers……. How do you become a peacemaker?

1. Agree with thine adversary. This doesn't mean you should just give up and say "whatever you say is right". Instead I think this means to be agreeable, find some common ground on which you can agree and go from there.
2. Contention is always a choice, as is reconciliation. Both responses seek a resolution to a problem, and unfortunately in our society, both seem to work. But only one will allow you to grow and build each other up.
3. The gospel is a message of peace… so share the gospel! Introduce others to the Prince of Peace himself.

        8. Blessed are they who are persecuted……. Only when you master steps 1 through 7 can you handle persecution as Christ did. Think of this as lifting up your cross.

1. If they take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.
2. whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
3. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

 

And there you have it. A complete road map on how to become like Christ.

 

As you walk along this road, I'm sure you'll find it's easier said than done. But please remember these three things:

1. This is a life-long pursuit. 
2. God cares infinitely more about our trajectory than our current state.
3. And God loves effort!

 

I'll end with a promise, an invitation, and a blessing from a prophet of God:

 

"My dear brothers and sisters, the best is yet to come for those who spend their lives building up others. Today I invite you to examine your discipleship within the context of the way you treat others. I bless you to make any adjustments that may be needed so that your behavior is ennobling, respectful, and representative of a true follower of Jesus Christ. I bless you to replace belligerence with beseeching, animosity with understanding, and contention with peace."