The Progression of Our Relationship with God

I think the main goal of life is to develop a peer relationship with God.  Eve seemed to understand this in the Garden, even though Adam had to be dragged into it.  We all start as an enemy to God, then we progress to becoming children through birth into His family, then we grow up and become servants, and finally we become a friend, a peer, or one with Him.

Enemy of God --> Child of God --> Servant of God --> Friend of God

Enemy

“...know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (James 4:4)

“...the natural man is an enemy to God...” (Mosiah 3:19)

We start out as an enemy to God.  We are against Him.  Our will is contrary to His will.  We fight against Him.  We rebel.  When we decide to repent and be obedient, we can become the children of God.

“...and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.”  (Mosiah 3:19)

Child

“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”  (Galatians 3:26)

Through faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ, we become the children of Christ.  When we follow Him into the waters of baptism, we take upon ourselves His name, the name of Christ, as all children receive their father’s name when they are born.

“And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters.”  (Mosiah 5:7)

“...ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism...”  (2 Nephi 31:13)

Those who are born again are born into His family.  The Lord provides all things to His children, then the children grow up and work for Him.

Servant

“Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work; For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul;”  (D&C 4:3-4)

We can be servants on many levels:

• Employees: put in their time, then go home and do what they want to do.
• Independent contractors: have a task to do, they figure it out, using their own tools and materials.
• Apprentice: lives with, works alongside, uses the tools of, and takes continual instruction from the Master.

The tools of the Master include:

“No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile—Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy;” (D&C 121:41-43)

“And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work.  Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence.”  (D&C 4:5-6)

I believe we must become an apprentice in order to be a true servant of God.  As we learn the ways of the Master, we also can become masters at the work of saving souls.  It is at this point we can become friends of God.

Friend

“Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.”  (John 15:15)

“And again I say unto you, my friends, for from henceforth I shall call you friends, it is expedient that I give unto you this commandment, that ye become even as my friends in days when I was with them, traveling to preach the gospel in my power;” (D&C 84:77)

“Verily, I say unto my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., or in other words, I will call you friends, for you are my friends, and ye shall have an inheritance with me—I called you servants for the world's sake, and ye are their servants for my sake...”  (D&C 93:45-46)

Those who have been obedient servants, who have served Him with all their heart, might, mind, and strength, have become His friends.  They aren’t just servants, but peers, co-workers, and true friends.  Jesus died for His friends.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.  Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”  (John 15:13-14)

“Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.” (James 2:23)

Can you imagine being a friend of God?!  To sit down with Abraham, means to be a peer, as servants were not allowed to sit in the presence of a master.  Becoming a friend of God, a peer with Christ, having an intimate relationship with Him, is a process that every single person can develop because God loves each one of His children... Ahhh! so first, we must become a child of God!