3.102 It Is Better to Look Up

In Matthew 5, Jesus calls us the salt of the earth and the light of the world, reminding us that our lives are meant to preserve, illuminate, and point others to Him. This season on Savory Salt, we'll walk through the Old Testament, one verse and one thought each day. Perhaps these moments will add greater savor and brighter light to our lives as we seek to truly live as savory salt.

Hello my friends, it's a new day with new opportunities. Choose ye this day whom you will serve. If you've ever ridden a motorcycle, you know the rule that you go wherever you look.

If that's the case in our lives, or if it's similar, where should we be looking? That's the question that's been stewing in my mind as I finish up reading this week in Exodus 7-13. I've enjoyed this week, enjoyed the readings that we've had and the things that we've looked at.

And as we come to a close of it, this direction of where we're looking has been a piece that I think is very easily illustrated in the children of Israel getting out of Egypt as the Lord leads them as a cloud, which is, which we're going to get to in our verse here for today. But it's just got me thinking about in all the different directions and all the different things we could be looking at today in our lives, what would help us the most? In Jesus' name, let's stand and worship God.

As we wrap up this reading, and it's right at the tail end of our reading for the week. It's verse 21. And the children of Israel are headed out of Egypt.

All of the Passover things have happened, and Pharaoh has said, 'Get out!' And so they're leaving. And it says this: 'And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud to lead them the way.' The Bible says: 'And by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, to go by day and night.' Now, that's the first half of the sentence. You're going to, of course, continue as you always do when it's the middle of a sentence into verse 22.

But my friends, the Lord literally leads the children of Israel out here through this cloud by day, pillar of fire by night. And it had me thinking about the ways today that the Lord leads us. And then it got me thinking about the ways today that I kind of get lost in where I'm looking.

There's so many places to look. There's so many things to pay attention to. Do I look at this information over here?

Do I look over there? Do I see what's happening in the world over here? Do I look at the news there?

Do I look at my scriptures here? Where do I look? There's so much to look at.

And that took me down some reflection, and I came across a talk from October of 2011 by Elder Carl B. Cook of the Seventy. And I really liked it.

I'm going to put the link here inside the podcast episode for you. It is called "It Is Better to Look Up." And I actually want to read the beginning of his talk to you here. So bear with me for just a second as we start his talk.

He says this: 'At the end of a particularly tiring day, toward the end of my first week as a General Authority, my briefcase was overloaded and my mind was preoccupied with the question, 'How can I possibly do this?'' I left the Office of the Seventy and entered the elevator of the Church Administration Building. As the elevator descended, my head was down and I stared blankly at the floor. The door opened and someone entered, but I didn't look up.

As the door closed, I heard someone ask, 'What are you looking at down there?' I recognized that voice. It was President Thomas S. Monson.

I quietly looked up and responded, 'Oh, nothing.' I'm sure that clever response inspired confidence in my own abilities. But he had seen my subdued countenance in my heavy briefcase. He smiled and lovingly suggested, while pointing heavenward, 'It is better to look up.' As we traveled down one more level, he cheerfully explained that he was on his way to the Temple.

When he bid me farewell, his parting glance spoke again to my heart. Now remember, 'It is better to look up.' As we parted, the words of a scripture came to mind: 'Believe in God; believe that He is; believe that He has all wisdom and all power, both in heaven and in earth.' As I thought of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ's power, my heart found the comfort I had sought in vain from the floor of that descending elevator. Now that's just the beginning of the talk.

It continues to talk about the power of looking. My friends, I know that there are absolutely days where I have been in Elder Cook's situation, staring at the proverbial elevator floor, finishing a day wondering if anything was accomplished or how is it possible I'm going to accomplish the next day's tasks. But I have found in my life that this simple counsel from President Monson is true and applicable for all of us.

Take an opportunity wherever you are, whatever challenges you're experiencing, to look up. The children of Israel did it and they turned out all right for them. We're going to be able to do it as well as we turn to the Lord and find counsel and direction looking up.

That's all for today, my friends. You and I have come here for such a time as this. Step forward in faith and let's be savory salt. We will be here tomorrow and we hope you are too.