Though the Atonement happened long ago, its effect is ongoing, forever working to make up the difference for our shortcomings. Now, whether we utilize it is another story. This Gift wasn't something we earned or something that was owed to us, it was given freely. The Savior, our Elder Brother, gave Himself for us. God gave His only begotten Son for us. When we knowingly make poor use of our agency, it is like we are saying to God, "Thanks, but no thanks. I don't need it. I'll be fine without it." No, deep inside, many don't feel that way, but actions speak louder than words.
I know that I am a sinner. I am a vile creature, lower than the dust, and an enemy to God. I know this. I also know that each time I go against God's wishes and against His will, I don't just hurt myself. I also hurt my family because it draws me farther from that goal of eternity with them. It also draws me farther from my Father, and I know that hurts Him.
So I choose to pray every day all day that I might do His will. My prayers for His help in this are constant, and doing this helps to keep me safer than not asking for His help and guidance and living according to my own will.
When I think of the drops of blood my Savior shed on my behalf, I feel a physical ache inside. I believe several glasses of those drops were drawn from Him during my past - because of my own choices, as well of the choices of others that were inflicted upon me and the pain they produced. And those glasses have probably trickled over a little each day since. But I know each drop was given in love, so now I lean on that love, more than I ever have before. My daily, hourly, minute by minute repentance is the way I lean on that love. All I can do is pray, plead and hope that His grace washes over me and the righteous intents of my heart are accepted. This is all any of us can do.
But it all starts with what we choose.
So the next time we use our agency - which is a second from now - let us consider the pain we will cause the Father should me choose to do that which is contrary to His will. Consider the painful drops of blood Christ shed for us in Gethsemane. Because as I said, the effects are ongoing - the pain and the sorrow of our willful choice to abuse the agency we've been given.
Then consider the joy our Father and our Savior will feel if we bend to the Father's will instead of our own.
I pray that we can all align our will to God's and reap the joy and blessings He is anxious to bestow upon us, blessings we will receive both now and in the eternities.
At this time in life, with the world growing more wicked by the day, exercising our agency wisely and fixing our eyes on the Savior is more important than we know. Only by doing this can we truly hold fast to hope - hope for ourselves, our families, and the world.
