Time and eternity

Our sacrament hymn today gave me some new insight. I've really liked it ever since I woke up in the middle of the night, a few years ago, with it in my head. I didn't know it very well at that point, but after that I took the time to play through it and to memorize the words. Today I realized why I love its message so much. Here are the words of the hymn:

Oh thou, before the world began,

Ordained a sacrifice for man,

And by th'eternal Spirit made

An off'ring in the sinner's stead;

Our everlasting Priest art thou,

Pleading thy death for sinners now.

Thy off'ring still continues new

Before the righteous Father's view.

Thyself the Lamb forever slain;

Thy priesthood doth unchanged remain.

Thy years, O God, can never fail,

Nor thy blest work within the veil.

Oh, that our faith may never move

But stand unshaken as thy love,

Sure evidence of things unseen;

Now let it pass the years between

And view thee bleeding on the tree:

My Lord, my God, who dies for me.

As the sacrament was passed, these words kept running through my mind, and the concept of eternity began to make a little bit of sense. Jesus Christ was ordained before the creation of the earth to be our Savior. This truth is eternal. His priesthood, the same priesthood that is on the earth today, is eternal. His work and His love are eternal. I hope I can put some of my thoughts into words that will actually make sense to others.

The atonement, crucifixion, and resurrection occurred nearly 2000 years ago. But those 2000 years do not matter! Though Christ atoned for our sins at that time, the atonement is infinite and eternal. This hymn reminds us that because of the love of Christ, we can pass the years between now and then and partake of the atonement. The same holds true for those who lived and died before Christ came. It is as if He were atoning now for our sins. It is as if He had already atoned for the sins of those who lived before He lived on earth. It brings to mind Abinadi's words: "And now if Christ had not come into the world, speaking of things to come as though they had already come, there could have been no redemption" (Mosiah 16:6) and also of Alma the Younger's words: "...all is as one day with God, and time only is measured unto men" (Alma 40:8). Because of the power of God and His love for His children, He sent His Son to atone for all mankind: those who were on earth at that time, those who had already lived, and those who would yet live on earth. The atonement is real. As Amulek taught, it is the great and last sacrifice, infinite and eternal. It is personal. Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, which means He is my Savior. I am so grateful for this knowledge. I know that Jesus Christ lives and that because He lives, I will live again. After saying all this, I can think of no better way to end this post than in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.