Young4vr

“Yet in my flesh shall I see God.” Job 19:26

To borrow a line from a Larnelle Harris song, “I’ve just seen Jesus.” I have often mused upon the prospect of actually meeting my Savior. I have thought of the shame for my many weaknesses, the unspeakable gratitude for His grace and mercy, and the peace I feel from His spirit. I have imagined how I would worship Him; how I would kiss His feet. I have dreamt of caressing the wounds in His hands, wrists, feet, and side. I have imagined all of the questions I could ask Him about His great plan of salvation, of the power through which He created the Earth and all things that are in it, and of various points of doctrine that (unfortunately) have created divisions, strife, and even enemies among Christendom.

I saw Jesus face to face last Friday night. No, I am not claiming to have received a heavenly vision. Rather, I experienced a very real and vivid dream in the night. The meeting was short on both time and on words. I first saw his face, which radiated love. He beckoned me to come to him, and before I knew it, he had come to me. The Messiah embraced me in a long, warm, and gentle hug. As he held me close to Him, He said simply, “I Love You” and I knew . . .I felt . . . I experienced . . . that He meant it. Suddenly, all of those feelings of shame for my weaknesses, the multitude of questions I thought I would want to ask Him, and every other desire other than to Love Him the way He loves me simply went away. I no longer had the need for any of that. I knew beyond doubt that He was who He claimed to be, and that He loved me. Nothing else really mattered then, and nothing else really matters now. I am secure in the things that matter most . . . that He is and was the promised Messiah, the Only Begotten of the Father, the Alpha and the Omega, my personal Redeemer and Savior. And and AND!!! He loves me. I have learned that I don’t need more security than that. Everything else that we learn in the scriptures or argue about between denominations is secondary to that simple truth. I love the following Hymn, as it reminds me of the peace brought through the Atonement of Christ.

I Know that My Redeemer Lives
By: Samuel Medley

I know that my Redeemer lives!
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, he lives, who once was dead;
He lives, my ever living head!

He lives triumphant from the grave;
He lives eternally to save;
He lives exalted, throned above;
He lives to rule his Church in love.

He lives to grant me rich supply;
He lives to guide me with his eye;
He lives to comfort me when faint;
He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.

He lives to silence all my fears;
He lives to wipe away my tears;
He lives to calm my troubled heart;
He lives all blessings to impart.

He lives to bless me with his love;
He lives to plead for me above;
He lives my hungry soul to feed;
He lives to help in time of need.

He lives, my kind, wise, heavenly friend;
He lives and loves me to the end;
He lives, and while he lives, I’ll sing;
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King!

He lives and grants me daily breath;
He lives, and I shall conquer death;
He lives my mansion to prepare;
He lives to bring me safely there.

He lives, all glory to his name!
He lives, my savior, still the same;
What joy this blest assurance gives:
I know that my Redeemer lives!

So I, like Job, will see my Redeemer in the flesh. Until then, I will treasure my meeting with Him in my mind that taught me so much about the power of His love. May you also know of His grace and goodness in your life.

Jay