One of my favorite scriptures is 2 Nephi chapter 13. This chapter takes us through our life, explaining the way we can have eternal life. It tells us that Christ, being perfect, humbled Himself before His Father and was baptized; thus showing us the need to be humble before God, and that the door to eternal life is baptism by water. It tells of the reception of the Holy Ghost, our sure witness of God and Jesus Christ (verse 26). It tells us that after we are baptized we are on the path to life eternal with God in His eternal kingdom.
In verse 27 we are asked a question, …”after that ye have gotten into this straight and narrow path, I would ask, if all is done?” The answer in the next verse is NO. We are told we must press forward, on this path, enduring to the end, relying on Christ… the promise being eternal life.
As we walk this path to eternal life we are assailed on every side by our enemy
Satan is walking about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). In Lehi’s vision he was shown that on the path to the tree of life he saw the mists of darkness, the temptations of the devil. Those that held onto the rod of iron (the word of God) arrived at the tree of life. (1 Nephi chapter 2)
I am reminded of David and Goliath: Here was this young man, not much more than a boy, his only weapon a sling and stones, facing a giant of a man. As we walk through this life we from time to time face a giant in our path…
Not the same giant that David faced. Our giant may be temptation, or a physical, spiritual or emotional trial. Our giant may be discouragement, anger, or any number of other obstacles or trials. We may feel we are alone in our struggle. We all from time to time have our “giants.”
What are our weapons to face our giants? In the account of David and Goliath we read that David went not only with a sling and stones, but he also went with the power of God. In 1 Samuel 17:45 David says to Goliath. …”Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts”
David could never have defeated the giant in his own strength; a sling and a stone being no match against a giant in full battle armor. The only way David could defeat the giant was that he faced him in the name of the Lord. The Lord, so to speak, had his back.
David was prepared as best he could to face his giant. He did his part to prepare. He had his sling. He gathered the stones. In reality, armed only with a sling and some stones he was no match against this giant of a man. In his own strength he was not going to defeat this Goliath. David had a weapon that Goliath did not have; he had the Lord. He went to battle trusting in the Lord, confident that with God he would defeat the giant.
In our own strength we can never defeat our giants. Just as David was helpless in his own strength to face his giant, we are helpless to face ours. When we face our personal giants with the power of God, we can face those giants with confidence and the hope of victory.
David was prepared as much as he could, but he knew he had to go with the power of God. He trusted God with his life and the future of Israel. We know he faced the giant with confidence when he said to Goliath, “I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts.”
Just like David, we have weapons, and we also have God. In 1 Peter 3:12 we have this promise from God: “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”
God was David’s weapon. He is also our weapon, and with Him we can defeat our giants. God is with us, if we like David, prepare to do battle:
We won’t be preparing to battle with a sling and a stone. We will prepare with the weapon of prayer, and we must earnestly seek God to be with us. We prepare with the weapon of the word of God, and we must hold on to the the rod of iron. We prepare by keeping His commandments. We prepare by having the weapon of righteousness. We prepare by feasting on the word of Christ (2 Nephi 13:30).
We must prepare as best we can to face our giant. We invite God more fully into our daily life. Satan will do all he can to destroy us. When we have God, He will do His part to help us defeat the adversary. We must trust God to slay our giant. Satan has no power against our God.
As God was with David, He will be with us. God is our weapon against the giants we face. It is up to us to prepare, and have God with us. Does the Lord have your back?
Hebrews 13:5 we have this promise …”for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
Elder Ken Oar
