O Be Wise – Jacob 6:1-13

1 And now, behold, my brethren, as I said unto you that I would prophesy, behold, this is my prophecy—that the things which this prophet Zenos spake, concerning the house of Israel, in the which he likened them unto a tame olive tree, must surely come to pass.

2 And the day that he shall set his hand again the second time to recover his people, is the day, yea, even the last time, that the servants of the Lord shall go forth in his power, to nourish and prune his vineyard; and after that the end soon cometh. [Two steps before He comes: the servants go forth in power to nourish and prune the vineyard, then His Second Coming. The nourishing and pruning is the act of gathering the Elect. What will that look like? They will heal them, feed them, teach them the doctrine of Christ in purity, baptize them, lay their hands upon them for the Gift of the Holy Ghost, then bring them to Zion. Most of this will happen incredibly fast.]

3 And how blessed[Blessed] are they who have labored diligently in his vineyard; and how cursed are they who shall be cast out into their own place! And the world shall be burned with fire. [The earth will literally be bathed in fire, both physically and spiritually at His coming.]

4 And how merciful is our God unto us, for he remembereth the house of Israel, both roots and branches [All varieties that relate to the Covenant given.]; and he stretches forth his hands unto them all the day long [blesses them and makes their ways straight.]; and they are a stiffnecked and a gainsaying people; but as many as will not harden their hearts shall be saved in the kingdom of God.

What does it mean to have a “hard heart?” It is to lack the desire to believe the message of turning to Christ, receiving the ordinances of salvation, and repenting.

5 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I beseech of you in words of soberness that ye would repent, and come with full purpose of heart [determination with no guile], and cleave unto God as he cleaveth unto you. And while his arm of mercy is extended towards you in the light of the day, harden not your hearts. [I like that word “cleave.” It is holding on for death life and not letting go!}

6 Yea, today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts; for why will ye die? [I like the  way Jacob talks. If the Spirit whispers to you today will you ignore Him?]

7 For behold, after ye have been nourished by the good word of God all the day long, will ye bring forth evil fruit, that ye must be hewn down and cast into the fire? [After all Jacob has spoken to them this day, will they choose damnation?]

8 Behold, will ye reject these words? Will ye reject the words of the prophets; and will ye reject all the words which have been spoken concerning Christ, after so many have spoken concerning him; and deny the good word of Christ, and the power of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, and quench the Holy Spirit, and make a mock of the great plan of redemption, which hath been laid for you? [You would have to be pretty hard-hearted to do that after having so many witnesses.]

9 Know ye not that if ye will do these things, that the power of the redemption and the resurrection, which is in Christ, will bring you to stand with shame and awful guilt before the bar of God?

What is the “bar of God?” It is where judgment is passed upon each soul depending upon their degree of righteousness or wickedness. Satan’s servants often come to accuse the sons and daughters of light or to make claim upon them. Other righteous beings, including angels may vouch for us when this occurs. It can happen in mortality and the next life. In the end, we will be judged based upon the degree of light and glory we possess. The unrepentant are an “open book.” Each time the Lord separates the light from the darkness it is a judgment.

10 And according to the power of justice, for justice cannot be denied, ye must go away into that lake of fire and brimstone, whose flames are unquenchable [This language is a similitude of the spiritual state of bitterness and anguish, however it is also not too removed in terms of description of the place.] , and whose smoke ascendeth up forever and ever, which lake of fire and brimstone is endlesstorment.

Justice is not something that can be altered because it is based upon laws of God, which means they are eternal in their scope and determination. These laws are based upon truth, love, fairness, harmony, and perfection. One might ask, “How could a loving God send these poor spirits to endless hell?” They go gladly and willingly, because they choose to do so. Remember, they made covenants to this end.

11 O then, my beloved brethren, repent ye, and enter in at the strait gate, and continue in the way which is narrow, until ye shall obtain eternal life.

12 O be wise; what can I say more? [I have always loved this little verse!]

13 Finally, I bid you farewell, until I shall meet you before the pleasing bar of God, which bar striketh the wicked with awful dread and fear. Amen.