Cleansing Inner Vessels: God's Power 2

Comparing God's power to the power of mortal men seems almost silly, but it is how understanding and humanity's identification with God comes. Comparing His power to superheroes as in the previous article, "Cleansing Inner Vessels - God's Power 1," still does not do justice to Him. The most powerful person on the planet politically right now is the president of the United States of America. The President is also the most powerful military leader and economic leader in the world.

Juxtaposing nations, many people have pushed for the recognition that the US no longer has a monopoly on power and economic force; however, the United States is the shining light to the world of what other nations aspire to become, save all of the social issues that come with freedom.

The President's power is limited by the Constitution of The United States of America, but that power is great; however, not all of the President's people benefit from the power afforded him. A Dictator's power, like Kim Jong Un's power, is supreme in his nation of North Korea, but the benefits of his controlling power to his people are grossly limited because of it. With power comes limitations.

Following are aspects of God's powers, which are only limited because of His willingness to be meek in applying His will to humanity. Humans are the only animal that has the ability to choose as does God. God's power stops where the human will begins. In other areas, His power over life and death, salvation to the soul, and creation itself are beyond human comprehension unless God reveals it. All people benefit from it in every nation.

God has the power of resurrection. Jesus Christ was the first resurrected on this Earth, being that He had the power to overcome sin and death having no personal sins for which to suffer and therefore not deserving to die. The power of God in Jesus Christ made it possible for Christ to suffer for the sins of all of humankind and break the bands of death brought on by Adam and Eve's transgression.

Jesus Christ passed the power of resurrection to every man and woman no matter his or her Faith. No matter if a person is wicked or righteous, because of Jesus Christ's power to overcome death, it is given as a free gift to each person born.

Jesus of Nazareth instructed us to "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." John 5:28-29

All people have the power of resurrection given to them because God is a sharing God. The resurrection is the reuniting of a perfect and glorified physical body after death. Life is not limited to this mortal sphere of Earth and will not end with the death of the body, though the cultures of the world teach otherwise. The ancient Egyptians and Buddhists understood, and understand that there is life beyond this existence. Proof will come when each person passes to the world of spirits and regains their body in its perfect form one day. It sounds like a dream or fantasy, but the Savior made it possible.

Forgiveness is an executive power God wields, free to all who take advantage of it. Unlike the free gift of the resurrection, in order to obtain forgiveness of sins, people must ask personally for it from God in the name of Jesus Christ. Because Jesus Christ atoned for all the suffering of humankind, He is in a unique position to judge the hearts of people and offer forgiveness under the direction of Heavenly Father. He stands as an intercessionary or scapegoat for the sins and shame of all people who accept His sacrifice.

GRACE. There is nothing that a person can do to get into heaven. Heaven is only achieved by the grace and executive powers of God. To qualify for that grace, humanity must accept the resurrected Jesus Christ as the Son of God. People must also keep the commandments of God. The two most important commandments were revealed by the mortal Jesus of Nazareth:

• Love God.
• Love other as yourself.

All the commandments hang on these laws. If people love God they will follow His commandments to not lie, steal, kill, and so forth. Also, if they love others, they will not want to injure them in any way by stealing, killing, leading away from God, etc.

The power to forgive is also an ability that God shares with humanity. Not only are we created in His image, but there are budding abilities of His inside of each one of us. Some have more than others. Speaking to His Saints, Jesus Said,

Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin. I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men. And ye ought to say in your hearts—let God judge between me and thee, and reward thee according to thy deeds. D&C 64:9-11

The miracle of forgiveness is free to all the meek and humble who seek it, regardless of who a person is, what that person's race or station in life is, or his or her religious position. It is free to all those who will repent and accept the atonement of Jesus Christ. Admitting that Jesus has executive powers of forgiveness, being that He suffered for all sins is a concession repentant disciples of Jesus Christ must give for peace of mind. It is a gospel of love. It is meekness. It fosters humility and acceptance.

The powers of the president of the United States influence more than just the people who live in the nation. The policies he supports are felt around the world since the US is the most influential nation in the world. Still, this power does not compare to God's power which influences the universe and everything in it fully and unconditionally. The power over death alone is astounding, a power He is willing to share with His offspring.

With the infusion of God's love, the universe obeys Him (and humanity to a limited degree). The things of the universe obey God out of love. Eric Dierker expressed a sentiment in this article, "Eric’s Sunday Sermon; Conditional Love" that can be applied to God if He were limited in knowledge but still has the powers of creation an life over death.

I wonder if my roses know I love them. Probably my son’s and my rock collection could not even care less that we love them. Well, they are cleaned and well taken care of. It occurs to me that love is just being in love ... Now do not think for a moment that our loving stuff is wrong. You just do not get to put them above people. [1]

God's power is in His love for us. Fortunately, all creation loves God and He knows it. He has the power to know the humans who love Him and the things who love Him.

The power of God is a gift to mankind in the form of choice, our choice to follow Him before the heavens and the Earth came into play. God is the Father of the spirits of the children of men. That is the great secret that ties all of us together as a family.