You and Your Works Shall Be Found

Reading:   Isaiah 13

President Ezra Taft Benson said:

Men and women who turn their lives over to God will find out that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace. Whoever will lose his life to God will find he has eternal life ("Jesus Christ--Gifts and Expectations," New Era, May 1975, p. 20). 

Turning your life over to God is a far better choice then turning to your own people (v.14) and fleeing to your own land (v.14).  I decided to make this point first, before revealing the dark words of prediction from the prophet Isaiah, because I wanted to show, again, the importance of God versus man and how we can avoid the darkness of the last days with our faith and good works...

ISAIAH 13:14-16, 18

14    And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep that no man taketh up: they shall every man turn to his own people, and flee every one into his own land. 

15    Every one that is found shall be thrust through; and every one that is joined unto them shall fall by the sword. 

16 Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished. 

18 Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children. 

The lesson that Isaiah is trying to teach beginning with the roe (deer) metaphor is simply this: there is no place to run and if your works are worth nothing (you're as the unwanted sheep) you will be destroyed.  Turning to your people will not save you! Fleeing to your land, your guarded earthly fortress, will not save you!  The time of man will be at an end!  You will be found and thrust through along with all those you love and all those you've ultimately led to this day of quickening - you and your works will be found and dealt with!

Now, if you turn not toward man but instead attend God and your garment of works are good then the reward will not be so grisly.  You will instead receive a glory immeasurable.  So, pointing back to the last blog (We - The Dwelling Places), make yourself a dwelling place in Zion and rely on faith because, as President Benson said, "God...can make a lot more out of [your life] than [you] can."

~Kipling