From: Francis Harper
wbfrmsup@iowatelecom.net
Francis Harper Message for 8-9-2019
Dear Ones,
We live in a material world; the world we experience with our five senses. We call this the “real” world. I ask: is there a dimension that we cannot see with our natural vision; which is also very real?
I must say there are many unseen realities. There is a world that lies beyond this temporal and material one. This world which we cannot see with the natural eye, is more than a creation of our imaginations. There is an eternal realm that is just as real as the one we presently occupy. It is the eternal world that will never pass away. Paul, the apostle, wrote: “For here [in this tangible world] have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come” (Hebrews 13:14).
Since the eternal world cannot be seen with the natural eye, many say it does not exist. Many of the same persons, who cannot accept the eternal verities, can readily accept the invisible world of the atom with its central nucleus and orbiting electrons! The invisible realities of our physical universe bear a silent testimony of hidden spiritual realities.
Our scientists dedicate themselves to the hidden mysteries of the physical universe. We should seek with the same intensity, a better understanding of the spiritual realities. Jesus said, “And I say unto you, ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Luke 11:10). “We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things that are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).
At a certain point in the earthly ministry of Jesus “. . . many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life” (John 6:66-68). The same is true in our nation today; there are many nominal Christians who are walking no more with him. The words of Jesus are still the trustworthy source of our knowledge of the eternal world. He said, “I will prepare a place for you, and come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, ye may be also” (John 14:3).
The majority of those who came to our country and built our nation, were spiritual pilgrims. They came to our shores seeking for far more than silver and gold. They came seeking a better understanding of their invisible God. Most of them were as “strangers and pilgrims” on this earth, for in their hearts, they were seeking a “better country, that is, a heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city” (Hebrews 11:13, 16). These seekers have always been the strength of our nation.
Open my eyes, that I may see,
Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me.
Silently now I wait for thee,
Ready my God thy will to see;
Open my eyes illumine me,
Spirit divine! Amen.
(Hymns of the Restoration #244)
My Love to All,
High Priest Francis Harper
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“Look, ye blind, that ye may see.”
Isaiah 42:18
Having 20/20 vision is not good enough. Jesus came to give sight to the blind. None are so blind as those who are spiritually blind. Isaiah prophesied: “. . . I will send my servant unto you who are blind . . . and they shall be perfect not withstanding their blindness, if they will hearken unto the messenger, the Lord’s servant. Thou art a people, seeing many things, but thou observeth not. The Lord is not pleased with such a people . . .” (Isaiah 42:19-21).
The messenger, the Lord’s servant, is Jesus. He said to those who had gathered to the synagogue in Nazareth on the Sabbath day: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor (in spirit), he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives (of Satan), and the recovering of sight to the blind; to set at liberty them that are bruised; to preach the acceptable year of the Lord” (Isaiah 61:1-2; Luke 4:18). When we are blessed by the presence of the Holy Spirit we can see the invisible things of the Lord and his everlasting kingdom.
Jesus healed the physically blind on many occasions but he is most concerned with our spiritual blindness. Jesus came primarily to open our spiritual eyes. “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18). There are some applicable words in the hymn, “I Have Found the Glorious Gospel”: “My once blind eyes are open, my sins are washed away, And the kingdom I can very plainly see” (Hymns of the Restoration #195). One of the most beloved hymns in all Christendom is Amazing Grace, which includes these words: “I once was lost but now am found, Was blind but now I see” (Hymns of the Saints #104).
The Book of Mormon has much to say about spiritual blindness. “Wo unto the blind, that will not see; for they shall perish . . .” (2 Nephi 6:66). “O ye wicked and ye perverse generation; ye hardened and ye stiff-necked people, how long will ye suppose that the Lord will suffer (with) you; yea, how long will ye suffer yourselves to be led by foolish and blind guides; yea, how long will ye choose darkness rather than light?” (Helaman 5:40).
Jesus warned his disciples to beware of the Pharisees. “Let them alone; they be blind leaders of the blind; and if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch” (Matthew 15:13, IV; 15:14 KJV). “. . . Take heed and beware of the leaven (doctrine) of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees” (Matthew 16:7 IV; 16:6 KJV).
We should be forever grateful for being able to see the things of God which are invisible to the natural eye. “For God hath revealed unto men the invisible things of him: (Romans 1:20). Moses “forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27). Giving thanks unto the Father . . . who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son . . . who is the image of the invisible God, the first-born . . . for by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and are in earth, visible and invisible . . .” (Colossians 1:12-16).
How wonderful it is to be able to see through the veil which separates us from our loved ones who have preceded us in the death of our mortal bodies. Through our eyes of faith we can catch a glimpse of “the things which God hath prepared for them that love him . . . God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit; for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God . . . that are freely given to us of God” (1 Corinthians 2:9-12).
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