From yesterday’s post ‘Giving Him Everything,’ Stephen E. Robinson continues . . . she’d been in the Church many years, she was ready to go to the temple. Can such a person really expect to enter the kingdom of God? Of course.
But now the harder question. At what point did this sister become a candidate for the kingdom? Was it when she finally gave up cigarettes, or when she got her language and temper under control? Or when she finally qualified for a temple recommend? No it was none of these, though they were all important landmarks in her progress. She was justified through her faith in Jesus Christ on the day that she repented of her sins, was baptized, and received the Holy Ghost, for she entered into that covenant in good faith and in all sincerity. She believed in Christ, and she believed Christ. Like the widow with her mite, she gave all that she had and held nothing back. It may not have been much, but it was everything.
Every week she took the sacrament, having repented of her mistakes and resolving again to eliminate them. Some things took years to overcome. Other things perhaps haven’t been overcome yet, but she still tries, and she won’t give up. And as long as she won’t give up but endures to the end in the gospel harness, pulling toward the kingdom, her reward is sure. God knows our circumstances, and he judges us accordingly. He knows who is standing in a hole and who is standing on a chair, and he does not just measure height—he measures growth.
Each of us operates at a different level of performance within covenant boundaries. The percentages vary both from person to person, and even for the same person, over a period of time. In my case, my efforts might take me twenty percent of the way to perfection. The Savior covers the other eighty percent. In your case, your efforts might take you fifty percent—or two percent—of the way. The Savior still covers the difference. But in every case the sum of the joint effort is the same—anyone’s best efforts, however great or small plus the atonement of Christ will equal 100 Percent of what is needed to enter God’s kingdom.
~Stephen E. Robinson, Believing Christ, (Deseret Book Company: Salt Lake City 1992).(171- 172 Dwarsligger® edition)
