A few weeks ago, I was reading Jacob 4 verse 14, and there was a phrase that really stood out to me: “Wherefore, because of their blindness, which blindness came by looking beyond the mark, they must needs fall.” I’ll explain more about the context of it, but I encourage you to read the entire verse.
This verse is talking about the Jews who were seeking for things they could not understand. They were tired of the simple truths the prophets taught. They wanted more, even though God had told them that they would not be able to understand more at this time. They kept tossing these plain truths aside until God decided to take them away and give them what they desired – things that were too hard for them to understand. And because of it, they stumbled and fell.
Today there are many who are also “looking beyond the mark” rather than focusing on basic gospel principles. Some of the ways this is done is by holding church policy higher or equal to doctrine, focusing on grand gestures rather than daily consecration, and letting the voices of men become louder than simple divine truths.
Policy vs. doctrine
It is dangerous for those who get so caught up in the rules that change causes them to shake. We are all continually growing and progressing, as is the church. Revelation continues to be given, line upon line and precept upon precept. We are looking beyond the mark when we take a position that is contrary to the teachings of the Brethren. The apostle Paul said, “For the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.”
Grand gestures vs. daily consecration
Have you ever heard the phrase, “hard things are easy, and easy things are hard?” It’s true with consecration. Many of us say that we would happily commit ourselves to a great calling or cause, but won’t find enough time in our day to minister to our neighbor. Consecration isn’t one grand lifetime event. It is a day-to-day process of dedication, repentance, humility, and purification as we follow Christ. Quentin L. Cook said, “We are looking beyond the mark if our consecration is conditional or does not involve daily devotion.”
Philosophies of men vs. divine truth
Russell M. Nelson has said, “If we are to have any hope of sifting through the myriad of voices and the philosophies of men that attack truth, we must learn to receive revelation.” Unfortunately, there are those who try to distort these divine truths and add their own spin or meaning to them. Sometimes it sounds logical or even inspired. But it’s important for us to be in tune with our own personal revelation and accept the gospel basics for what they are.
What is the mark?
The mark is Jesus Christ. His ways are not the world’s ways. We are not authorized to negotiate the conditions of the eternal plan. We must seek understanding through divinely appointed sources, act in faith, and keep an eternal perspective. Russell M. Nelson encouraged the youth of today to “keep on the covenant path.” When Christ is the foundation for all that we do and are, we avoid the blindness that results from looking beyond the mark.
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One Response
This is so, so, so good Becky! These are totally thoughts that have been on my mind lately and you have expressed this so well. I marked this scripture. Thank you so much for this. I had a post that is similar to these thoughts, but still haven’t posted it. This is so well done. I love this!