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Visage so Marred -- Preparing for Discrediting
announcement to rs_public
visage so marred -- preparing for
discrediting
From: "sterlingda888" <sterlingda@remnantsaints.com>
Date: Sun Dec 30, 2001 6:48 pm
Subject: visage so marred -- preparing for discrediting
to: all nominees for founding membership in RSICC
As RSICC gains notoriety, the adversary will seek ways to discredit the organization.
Their attempts will be aided by the fact that some of us in our struggle to be instruments in God's
hands, have done things which defy normalcy and which even our best friends are hard pressed to
understand.
Sometimes these 'incidences' are a test of our faithfulness to God, and serve a grand plan that is
not immediately clear to us. Sometimes these 'incidences' are sheer deceit, even though they might
have been done in all sincerity of purpose; and as we turn them to God, they still work to teach us
and refine us in our walk with God.
Isaiah was commanded of the Lord to walk barefoot and naked for three years as a foreshadowing that
the same would happen to the children of Israel. I doubt his doing that was any less weird to the
people of his time than it would be today.
I attempted to reach the podium to give a talk during the LDS General Conference in October of 1992.
Yep, right during the intermediate hymn in the Sunday Afternoon Session, being broadcast live to
locations throughout the world, with tens of thousands in the hall, and hundreds of thousands
viewing on television and cable broadcasts, I proceeded to the front of the Tabernacle to give my
talk and was escorted out by security guards. You can read the talk I was going to give at
http://www.greaterthings.com/Essays/Law_Word/
That is one of those "incidents," but I don't mind mentioning it among friends. There are
other incidences which I prefer not to talk about to anyone, but which at some point could be
dredged up by the opposition to give me and the organization a black eye in the public's perception.
And I am not the only one in the guild who has such "skeletons" in the closet. I know of
at least two other individuals who if they told their story to us, would strain our ability to
understand and accept, even though the person may be right with God. And I bet there are others that
I do not know about, that fit into this category as well.
Yesterday I looked up the Hebrew word that is translated "visage" in English in Isaiah 52
"his visage was so marred, more than any man." I used to think this referred to some kind
of disfigurement of the face, such as in a public torture or something. While that may be the case
in the fulfillment of this prophecy, I believe there is also a spiritual or reputational
disfigurement that is being spoken of here as well. The meaning of the Hebrew word supports this, as
it has more to do with outward image than with physical form. Some of the definitions given for the
word are: "(1) appearance, look, aspect; (2) vision, sight; (3) form, appearance."
While this prophecy in Isaiah 52 is worded as to apply to one person in particular, I believe that
this archetypal figure is intended to serve as a pattern for what we can expect as well, in doing
the work of God as his servants.
The principle is that there may be instances in our life which to anyone else may appear to be
significantly out of line, but which in reality were either part of a godly plan that is difficult
for us to understand, or which were turned to God and turned into valuable lessons for growth.
Meanwhile, this appearance does not endear us with our fellow men; but in the end, it works to the
glory of God, and we are vindicated as being not only right with God but indeed his chosen vessels
to carry forth his work.
In another chapter of Isaiah (28) he refers to God's work, as a "strange act."
So I guess what I am saying is this. I want you to know from the outset that there are things in my
life which if brought out into the open could become an embarrassment to myself and to the
organization because of my affiliation with it, but which have helped shape me into the person that
I am today; and in the end, under the gaze of grace, will be seen as having been orchestrated or
refined by God for his wondrous ways. And the same is true of other individuals in this
organization.
What we need to glean from this is (1) the need to be longsuffering with one another, (2) the need
for this organization to be able to survive independent of the good or evil done by any one
individual within it. If we are based on principles and not on a personality, then the organization
will survive and prevail to accomplish its divine objective.
There have been times in the past few years, when I have felt like I should just give up because of
how insurmountable the opposition would be if my past difficult lessons were dredged up and paraded
before the gaze of the public. The thought has crossed my mind while helping to bring this
organization into being as well. "What are my associates going to think down the road when we
gain some degree of respectability, only to be shattered when this or that is brought out into the
open. Why don't I just bow out now and save them that grief." Yet the sense of mission and the
desire to serve my fellow men urges me to plod onward. But I have felt the need to at least let you
know at the outset that there are, what the world would consider, "skeletons" in my
closet.
I am comforted by Isaiah 52, where a scenario is set forth in which an individual who is eventually
esteemed highly, experiences a time of severe marring. It's not that I am seeking for high esteem by
my fellow men, but I do desire to serve my fellow men, and a discredited visage in our society is
usually a death sentence to being able to accomplish anything of great significance. Isaiah 52 tells
us that with a servant of God, this is not the case, and that perhaps the opposite may even hold
true in the end.
Another scripture of relevance along these lines is Zephaniah 3:
19 Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and
gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have
been put to shame.
20 At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a
name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes,
saith the LORD.
I had quite an amazing experience with this verse, but that is another story.
http://www.greaterthings.com/Parallels/Bible/Zeph3-JNL.htm
Sterling
other founding letters
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