Does the bible teach us to observe bunnies, eggs, and sunrise service or does it teach something else?
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Where is Easter in the Bible?
Does the bible teach us to observe bunnies, eggs, and sunrise service or does it teach something else?
Since Tuesday, April 4th week, our assembly and hundreds of thousands of other believers observed the death and resurrection of Yeshua, Jesus, the Messiah differently that almost all Christians on the planet. On Tuesday evening, we washed each other’s feet. On Wednesday evening we observed Passover and Yeshua’s crucifixion. On Thursday we observed a holiday known as the First Day of Unleavened Bread. On Saturday we observed the Sabbath, which would have been the last day Yeshua was in the tomb. For most Christians, this pattern is completely foreign. But when we look at what the New Testament says, this is how we are supposed to observe. Yeshua told us explicitly to wash each other’s feet and have bread and wine on a very specific night, the night He was betrayed. Paul repeats this command in 1 Corinthians 11. Paul wrote to the Corinthians perhaps 20 years after Yeshua’s betrayal, showing this practice had been taught to that gentile congregation and was well established.
But how did we get here? How did we get to a theological place where we have parted ways with traditional Christianity and have adopted this biblical, yet very different practice than the rest of the Christian world? We started asking questions. Question like: Where is Easter in the Bible? What do bunnies have to do with the death and resurrection of the Messiah? What to died eggs have to do with the death and resurrection of the Messiah? What does searching for died eggs have to do with the Messiah? Why are we emphasizing sunrise on Sunday instead of the Night He was Betrayed, like Paul writes? Why are we eating ham in honor of the Jewish Messiah?
When you love God and His Son, how you worship them matters. If you love someone, won’t you want to do what they want you to do? When your kids obey you, isn’t that them showing their faith and belief in you? Of course it is. The way we got here was to take a very basic, child like approach to the faith once delivered. How does God want to be worshiped and am I doing that? Am I doing what my Father in heaven wants me to do to honor Him? These are the first four of the ten commandments. You have no other God before Him, you have no idols, you don’t take the name of Yahweh in vain, and you keep the Sabbath. This is how He introduced Himself to the mixed multitude at Mt. Sinai and He does not change. Those of us who have made the switch to worshiping the way Yahweh tells us in the scriptures took this approach. We put the practices of mainstream Christianity to the test. We searched the scriptures to see if they were true. And they failed the test. While we were searching, we found there actually are ways that Yahweh wants to be worshiped. And through the shed blood of His resurrected Son, we have been adopted into the family of Yahweh and have decided to worship Him on His terms, just as Yeshua did to the point of death.
We’re at the anniversary of the 9th plague. The 10th plague is just hours away. Are you ready to accept Yahweh and His Son and cross the Red Sea?
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Decision Time
We’re crossing the Red Sea. Are you coming?
It’s the bottom of the 9th. And this one isn’t going into extra innings. By 9th, I mean we are sitting right now at the anniversary of the 9th plague, give or take. The anniversary of the 10th plague is Wednesday night, the Passover. That’s the same night that Yeshua was in the tomb, voluntarily giving His life so we may have the opportunity to enter the Olam Haba, as the Lamb of Yahweh.
There were 10 plagues at the Exodus. There were not 10 plagues in the first century. Nope, Yeshua’s ministry was about reaching people a different way. He reached them through love, patience, longsuffering, healing, and teaching. With incredible wisdom and humility He went to the cross, as a lamb to the slaughter.
When He comes back, though. It’s going to be different. Much different. And we’re closer to that now than I ever thought I would see in my lifetime. The world is falling apart at an incredible pace.
A house divided cannot stand. This gets credited to Abraham Lincoln very often. And that’s a shame. Because Lincoln was quoting the Messiah. The spiritual leaders of Yeshua’s day accused Him of doing miracles, blessed works, by the power of Satan. He replied that a house divided cannot stand, meaning that Him casting out demons would have put Him at odds with the Adversary. But isn’t this how society has become? As it was in the Days of Noah, when righteous ones are scarce and mocked. And Christian schools get shot up. By people who clearly have issues, if not literal demons.
So the point here is that it’s the bottom of the ninth. The 10th plague is just hours away. And t which plague are you going to decide to follow Yahweh? It comes down to a binary choice. YHVH or not. Our Messiah made the choice to follow His Father through death into resurrection.
Tuesday night we wash each other’s feet in the way Yeshua commanded.
Wednesday night we commemorate Abraham and Isaac, the Exodus, the sacrifice of Yeshua, and we look forward to the New Jerusalem.
Thursday we keep Chag ha Matza ahad, the first day of Unleavened Bread.
This is the real holy week, brothers and sisters. This is how it’s done. How we do it varies, but we do it. And you’re welcome to join. Just like when the Hebrews were liberated, they were joined by hundreds of thousands of foreigners who knew the way out. That way out was to follow Yahweh. Just like Rahab, who knew the way out was to cling to Yahweh’s people.
And what about those who didn’t come? Well, it gets worse than that. Pharaoh had an army who literally went to war against the Creator of the universe. It is recorded that the cloud put itself at the rear of the fleeing mixed multitude, to protect them from the army of evil. Yahweh even has our backs if we leave Egypt. And that’s the same paradigm as the end of the 1000 years, when the nations go to war against the holy city one last time. It really is a binary choice, folks. It’s either for Yahweh and His Son Yeshua or it for the Adversary.
So we’re crossing the Red Sea this week. We’re leaving Egypt. Are you coming? Because, guess what? Next time there are only 7 plagues. So get in early.
The true outline of prophetical events from the first century until today is profound and very easy to learn. The resurrection of the dead is a key to these truths which were held dear by the first century Christians.
Yeshua told us exactly what we are supposed to do to remember Him. We know it, so let’s get together and do it. His command to remember Him by washing each other’s feet and sharing the bread and wine the night before Passover is also tied into today’s message. This is a big apologetic on why we do what we do.
We are commemorating the death and resurrection of Yeshua, the Messiah, the Son of God. While it’s easy to think this is the end of the road, it’s not. It is the single most important event in history, everything before looking to it and everything after looking from it. Imagine in your head an hourglass on it’s side. Yeshua’s death on the cross is the middle point. Everything from Creation flows to that point in time and everything since flows out of it. Sometimes we have to give credit where credit is due and this is the case with the numbering of years on our Gregorian calendar. Today is March 19, in the year of our Lord 2023. It’s been roughly 2023 years since Yeshua was born. Granted, this distinction doesn’t really exist in the faith once delivered, where it is actually the year 5783, and if they were to begin counting, they should have counted from His death, not His birth, but even with all those caveats, I still like the idea of realizing a starting point/finishing point with the coming of the Messiah. Because that’s literally true. And it’s not CE, the “common era”. That’s just a cop out to try and divorce our calendar from Christianity. If one was to consider a “common era”, it would have to be from the printing press or from some much more modern time. There’s nothing common about the Messiah. In fact, He’s very specific and very holy, the opposite of common. But I digress.
The reason I’m on this tangent is because accepting Yeshua as the Messiah, the Son of God, who died so that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life, is the most important piece of information available since His death. We really did enter a new era when He was crucified, resurrected, and ascended to the right hand of God. In the first century, one of the biggest doctrinal disputes, if not the biggest doctrinal dispute, was the resurrection of the dead.
Slide 2 But perceiving that one group were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul began crying out in the Council, “Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!” As he said this, there occurred a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. And there occurred a great uproar; and some of the scribes of the Pharisaic party stood up and began to argue heatedly, saying, “We find nothing wrong with this man; suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” And as a great dissension was developing, the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them and ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force, and bring him into the barracks. But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, “Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.” (Act 23:6-11)
Understand that the Jews were more upset about the resurrection being a thing than they were about Paul preaching Yeshua. It’s astonishing to think of, but once Paul made it about the resurrection of the dead, the Pharisees took his side. Paul was a Pharisee himself when he had papers to persecute the Church of Yahweh. But Yeshua being the Messiah, the Son of God, took a backseat to there being a resurrection of the dead. Next month, when we observe the night Yeshua was betrayed and the Spring Holy Days, we will be commemorating just that – that Yeshua was resurrected from the dead. And that’s a key for what is to come later.
Slide 3 Now if Messiah is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Messiah has been raised; and if Messiah has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Messiah, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Messiah has been raised; and if Messiah has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. (1Co 15:12-17)
1st Corinthians 15 is the resurrection chapter. Most of what I am talking about today is summed up in that chapter, which is a remarkably concise and clear outline of what is next to happen in prophecy. This is all founded on the resurrection of the dead, which means that dead people are literally dead, without life, unconscious, and awaiting one of two resurrections. Those two resurrections are separated by 1000 years referred to as “the millennium”.
Slide 4 “Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.” (Dan 12:1-2)
But now Messiah has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Messiah all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Messiah the first fruits, after that those who are Messiah’s at His coming, then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. (1Co 15:20-24)
“Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.” (Joh 5:28-29)
I started this with Daniel to show that the resurrection, and the outline of what’s to come, is not all that new to the New Testament. Yeshua is effectively citing Daniel in John 5: 28-29 and Paul is providing more detail. Ezekiel gives the most graphic information about the resurrection, too. This outline was common knowledge to the Pharisees and because central to first century Christianity. Of course we believe in the resurrection of the dead because our Messiah was resurrected from the dead! At some point, though, mainstream Christianity deviated from this and has a very confused look at what is to come. The pagan belief that dead people are alive somewhere else has overtaken a core doctrine of the early church. Instead of looking forward to a resurrection, Christians of almost all denominations talk about dead people as if they are in heaven, hell, or in some sort of third option yet still conscious. But if we just read 1 Cor 15, and other places, we know the truth. And next month we will commemorate the truth.
Slide 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Messiah and will reign with Him for a thousand years. (Rev 20:5-6)
Revelation 20 is the place to look for the timing. This is where we learn about the millennium. Today I’m encouraging you to listen and then go read these chapters for yourselves. 1 Corinthians 15, Revelation 20 and the one I’m going to talk about next, Ezekiel 37 and 38. Putting these together shows us the time frame and the details about what’s next in the history of mankind. In fact, this shows us what is next all the way until the end of this era and the beginning of eternity. Which is the first resurrection when Yeshua returns, a 1000 year period of time where mankind gets a break from Satan, who is locked up for the 1000 years, and then the second resurrection, which is called the resurrection of judgment. The second resurrection is where all of mankind who did not get resurrected in the first resurrection are judged, which means decided upon. Some are found written in the book of life, others are not. And at the end of that is when we enter into eternity.
Slide 6 When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. (Rev 20:7-9)
And the word of YHVH came to me saying, “Son of man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him and say, ‘Thus says the YHVH Elohim, “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal. (Eze 38:1-3)
This is showing is the timing of the second resurrection. This goes against the grain of most of Christianity as well, but Ezekiel 37, the chapter prior, talks about the first resurrection then Ezekiel 38 talks about the second, where this great final war, Gog and Magog, are to take place. It’s the end of the 1000 years, at least 1000 years and 1 day from now, when this battle takes place. After Satan is released from being imprisoned for 1000 years, he will go out to deceive the nations again. Unfortunately, many will follow that deceiver and pay the ultimate penalty.
Slide 7 The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son. And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. (1Jn 5:10-12)
Brothers and sisters, this knowledge I am talking about today is the knowledge that leads to life – eternal life. That we know the Son, and have accepted Him as the Son of Yahweh, so we have the opportunity to enter into life, a resurrection of life. And for a special few, some will not even need to be resurrected but will rise to meet Him in the air when He returns. As you listen to these messages, and read them, and they hopefully inspire you to search the scriptures to see if they are true, understand this is not knowledge for the sake of knowledge. It’s the knowledge of the plan of salvation laid out at the foundation of the world. That plan relies heavily in the resurrection of the dead, something we will commemorate again this year, as we do each year. And you’re invited to join us.
Society is losing the ability to think critically and determine good information from bad. This ability was given to us by Yahweh when He made mankind in His image. In this message, I address logical fallacies, which are errors in thinking that lead people to false conclusions. These concepts are biblical and we are even commanded to think properly in order to make sound judgments.
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Slide 2 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says YHVH, “Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool. If you consent and obey, you will eat the best of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” Truly, the mouth of YHVH has spoken. (Isa 1:18-20)
Isaiah 1:18 famously reads “Come, let us reason together, says Yahweh. Though your sins be as scarlet, they will be whiter than snow.”
This line is in the midst of a rather blunt rebuke of Israel for falling away while still obeying the festivals and, effectively, pretending to be righteous. This is rife in our society today. Putting on airs is how we coin it, or blatant hypocrisy. In the context of Isaiah 1, Yahweh is telling the leadership of Judah to stop doing this. He’s telling them to repent of their evil deeds, knock them off, and return to obeying both observing the festivals and all of the Torah. He’s telling them to use their ability to reason and come to the logical conclusion that He is the only true Elohim (God) and their only mechanism for salvation is through Him.
Today I want to talk about reason. Our ability to think critically and come to good conclusions. Because our society is almost completely been destroyed through the dismantling of this fundamental to human thought. Our ability to reason, to think, to weigh choices, to analyze data and experiences, in order to improve ourselves and our society, is what separates us from the animal kingdom. Adam was given the task of naming the animals because he was given the ability to do so. Humankind was made in the image of Elohim. Part of that was the ability to think and deduce.
One of my favorite topics in college, and even in High School AP English, which my daughters are learning now, are logical fallacies. When learning to write one task is learning how to author an argumentative essay. To do that, we get educated on logical fallacies, which are errors in reasoning that lead people to make erroneous decisions. Learning that this is still part of the curriculum in college, which is where my daughters are learning this, is a good thing. But it makes me concerned for society because if people are still learning about these things, why does our public discourse look like the population is completely ignorant of these things?
A case in point is that we bought a new truck back in 2017. Our old Suburban was crumbling and we needed a vehicle to take its place. A Suburban was out of the question because at that time, they cost about half as much as a house. Today, they are up to the price of a full duplex. So we need a truck that did a few specific things and at a certain price point. I contacted dealers who said they could meet our needs. However, they kept asking what color we wanted. We did not care about the color of the vehicle unless it was atrocious. It’s not like a manufacturer is going to put something out that people don’t want to look at, so our focus was on cost and capability. This is what should take precedence when making a large purchase of anything. We got to the dealership and they had two trucks waiting for us to test drive. They were stunning, one black and one royal blue. We drove them and liked them but realized they had us drive the nicest trucks on the lot. There was no way we could afford these things. When we got done driving them, the salesman asked “do you want the black one or the green one”? I asked how much they cost. He would not answer. I had to get blunt and ask if they were near our price point, where he told me that our price point couldn’t be met, we needed to come up. But he still wouldn’t tell us how much they cost. We ultimately had to leave, kids in tow, while the guy literally chased us in the parking lot.
This sales technique is successful because of logical fallacies. Marketing is almost completely base on these, which is why we need to be concerned for the fate of our society. We have all bought things that we just “wanted” based on attraction. I’ve made this mistake with purchases large and small alike. I once bought a lever action hunting rifle because it was simple beautiful. I had no idea how to hunt and had no need for this rifle whatsoever, but like a fool, I let it catch my eye and then I held it. Big mistake. $600 out the window and I was the proud owner of something I simply wanted. I ultimately learned how to hunt deer, got one, and then sold that rifle for quite a profit. That’s because it had the initials JM on it and turned out to be among the last lever action Marlin’s produced with John Marlin’s initials on it. Yes, I bought it on emotion and made money because someone else had a stronger emotional attachment to it. I should probably be ashamed of that transaction now that I think of it.
So let’s look at a couple logical fallacies. A great place to learn about this is the website for Purdue University here Fallacies – Purdue OWL® – Purdue University. Which is the site I’m using to define these things. Keep in mind that these concepts are in Latin, but are also in Torah. These things are ancient errors in logic that Yahweh has warned us about and that mankind has also learned to label and avoid the hard way.
Post hoc or false cause logical fallacy is when conclusions are drawn based on coincidences. This is also similar to the phrase “non-sequitur” meaning “does not follow” or, in southern US language “you can’t get there from here”. False causes and non-sequiturs are when things happen at the same time that might look related but really aren’t. A way to think about this are these commercials for vitamins and health products that show people doing athletic or active things and try to make you think that the product they are advertising caused them to be able to do those things but they really didn’t. It could be the person adopted a lifestyle change, changed their diet, and consciously decided to get out more at the same time they started taking the healthcare product. In this case, the product may have helped but it’s not clear causation for the change. Another way to think of this is if someone said they played the lottery for years and never won. But after they started taking these health products, whamo, they hit the jackpot! That’s an extreme example to make the case.
This one shows up in scripture when Yeshua talks about the people who died when a tower fell on them in Luke 13:1-5. He makes the case that all are sinners so the manner of death is rather irrelevant if one doesn’t repent, that their horrific death was not the result of some special level of sinfulness they had attained.
Ad hominem logical fallacy means “to the person”. This is when people are smeared to get folks turned against the person rather than deal with the person’s argument. This happens so much in politics I don’t think we will ever return to debating issues. Each campaign smears the other candidate to the point of making that person seem like a demon when they really aren’t. This can work in reverse as well where people will follow someone’s advice because they like them, irrespective of whether the person is putting forth sound advice. This is why actors, who are popular because of acting, are often used in advocacy campaigns. The people are comfortable with a certain person telling them things so they are more receptive to other information from that person. But we really should be looking at topics and arguments objectively, without regard to the person making the argument. In scripture, the spiritual leaders of Yeshua’s day tried to smear Him at every turn to get the people to dismiss Him and His teachings because they could not refute His words. This was an attempt to use the ad hominem logical fallacy.
Ad Populum logical fallacy is when people go along with the crowd just because the crowd is doing it. We can see this today with social media trying to make immorality popular so more people agree with it and legalize/normalize it. We see it very often when the media gets us all mad about an issue in order to change our behavior, such as to favor one candidate or another in an election. What does the Torah say about this?
Slide 3 “You shall not follow the masses in doing evil, nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after a multitude in order to pervert justice;” (Exo 23:2)
Today, this is probably the most dangerous logical fallacy in existence. Because our entire foundation for understanding the world comes from a flawed cultural experience. In the days of Moses, when this mitzvot was given, Yahweh had established His culture and all the children would be raised in a proper culture, knowing right from wrong from when they could learn. So their population was intended to be inherently sound. Our culture is, let’s face it, crazy. There is no right or wrong anymore at all! So we start our life experiences without being surrounded by a population with and foundational morality that is sloshing around in a living cultural experiment. At any given moment, we do not know what will become popular and a new norm and what virtue that has been held dear for hundreds of years will become unpopular to the point of being exterminated. When we are at the will of the a volatile populous, we are in a state of pure chaos, never knowing how to think or react to any situation. This situation happens often in history. People get ginned up on a large scale to make decisions they would never normally make and almost instantly regret. The Bolshevik Revolution when Russia became communist is one. The NAZIs coming to power is another. Our own country is at great risk of this today, as we have had incredibly emotionally driven protests and riots in the last few years where people were clearly being manipulated through media to perform certain behaviors.
You probably already know where this is going, but there’s a big place in scripture where this logical fallacy was employed by none other than Satan himself.
Slide 4 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him.” But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Yeshua to death. But the governor said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Yeshua who is called Messiah?” They all said, “Crucify Him!” And he said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they kept shouting all the more, saying, “Crucify Him!” (Mat 27:19-23)
The people had been ginned up to despise the Messiah and Pilate allowed himself to be swayed because he didn’t want a riot or civil war, thus yielding to the ad populum logical fallacy. Don’t let the irony that it’s in Latin to be lost. The nation that was told to not follow the masses into evil persuaded the nation that knew better than to follow a logical fallacy to murder an innocent man, the very Son of Yahweh. The lesson today is to not be a part of this.
By the way, this one works in reverse, too. Just because the masses do or believe something doesn’t make it right or wrong. We also need to be careful not to discard information because it is popular, but do our best to judge each situation on its merits, which is what will happen at the end of days when the books are opened and all mankind are judged based on the context of their lives.
Shalom everyone! We are blessed this year to be able to host the Spring Holy Day events at our meeting hall in North Kansas City, MO. We meet each Shabbat at noon to share a meal and then at 1pm we start our worship service/message in the basement of the 1st Presbyterian Church at 2125 Fayette St, North Kansas City, MO 64116. The following dates and times are when we will be meeting to observe the commanded festivals and observances of scripture to commemorate Yeshua’s death as the Lamb of Yahweh. If you do not meet with us regularly and plan to be in attendance for the observance below, please send an email and let us know you will be attending.
The following will all also be at 2125 Fayette St, North Kansas City, MO 64116
The Night Yeshua was Betrayed sunset, April 4 – we will meet from 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM to wash each other’s feet, have bread and wine, and read the scriptures about Yeshua’s death and resurrection. This day is not a Sabbath and you do not have to take it off from work.
Pesach (Passover) sunset, April 5 – we will meet from 7pm – 11pm to have a New Covenant Seder. This is a special meal to commemorate the Passover, Yeshua’s sacrifice, and the coming kingdom of Yahweh. Please RSVP as early as you can for this event. The meal is 100% provided and the attendees get to participate in the service.
The First Day of Unleavened Bread (ULB) April 6 – this is a High Sabbath, specifically, the one they did not want Yeshua to be left on the cross upon in John 19:31. We all take this day off of work and then meet together for a service. We’ll meet from noon until 4pm like we normally do on Sabbath.
The Last Day of Unleavened Bread (ULB) April 12 – this is a High Sabbath. We all take this day off of work and then meet together for a service. We’ll meet from noon until 4pm like we normally do on Sabbath.
Shavuot (Pentecost) May 28 – this is a High Sabbath and falls on a Sunday every year. We all take the day off of work and meet together for a service. We will meet from 2pm – 6pm on this day.
Here are some pictures of a little community service work we did serving homeless women and families in the Kansas City area. Praise Yahweh for the blessed servants of City Union Mission and pray for those they serve to become successful and independent!
Achieving spiritual and mental peace in a world full of change.
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Navigating Change
Achieving spiritual and mental peace
This one has been on my mind for a long time. How do we deal with change. Children get older, we change jobs, we have people come and go in our lives, loved ones die, finances get good then bad then good again. Life is just full of changes.
Restoring our house. Yes, restoring. We let it go far too long. Change and the downstairs door.
It’s not so bad. Politicians in office for decades. It’s not so bad. I’m a little overweight but my health is decent. It’s not so bad. The plant closed down years ago, everybody moved away. It’s not so bad. My boss is abusive, It’s not so bad. Pharaoh is killing our male children and making us slaves. It’s not so bad.
How many times have we talked ourselves out of changing, even when it’s plain as the nose on our faces that Yahweh is telling us to change. Or, in other words, how bad does it have to get?
Slide 2 Not that I have already grasped it all or have already become perfect, but I press on if I may also take hold of that for which I was even taken hold of by Messiah Yeshua. Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Messiah Yeshua. (Php 3:12-14)
At some point we have to leave Egypt. Paul is using flowery language here to tell us not look back. Lot’s wife did and she chose to die with those of Sodom and Gomorrah. Once we enter the Red Sea, there’s no turning back. That’s with salvation and our relationship with Yahweh and His Son, though. What about the other parts of life? How do we know when it’s time to change that job or make other big decisions? On the other hand, how do we know when our long -term habits aren’t bad or are even good? Does it matter if I keep forgetting to use that door? Even though I realize from time to time how silly it is for me to keep going upstairs to go outside, across the deck, down the deck stairs and walk over to exactly where I would have been if I just had used the door that I keep forgetting works now. Again.
What about national sins? Israel was commanded to leave Egypt. And then chased out. And put on the other side of a sea so they could not go back. But they were also commanded to remember being slaves and their liberation. Paul talks about forgetting what lies behind, but can we really do that? Or should we even do that? To a degree, we need to. Once we are born again, we become new people in Messiah and we need to move forward with that fresh start. But we also need to remember where we came from for the sake of contrast. And for the sake of empathy and compassion:
Slide 3 For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. (1Co 15:9-10)
The same guy who wrote that we need to forget the past and focus on the future also reminds us how he used to persecute the followers of Yeshua. Paul puts forth a healthy mix for achieving spiritual and mental peace. We need to look forward while remembering where we came from and thanking Yahweh for delivering us from our sinful pasts. Yeshua has provided the payment for our sins and we are free from them, but we also need to remember them as they become more distant memories. We also remember them so we can embrace those who join us on this path and reassure them that our new lives are indeed much better once we embrace the Torah and the Messiah.
Judgment day is explained in detail in Revelation 20. At the end of this age there will be a reckoning. The books will be opened and all will be made known, both good and bad. And at that moment, we will realize the depth of Yahweh’s justice, love, and mercy. We will have similar moments in our lives. My mother passed last year. Going through her papers and mementos was very emotional. I found a will she crafted when I was somewhere around 18 years old. She and my father were going on a sailing trip. Being poor, it was the only nice thing I really remember them doing when I was a kid. While they were on the trip, I threw a house party and wrecked the family car. She wrote a will to make sure my niece and nephew they were raising at the time and I would have what we needed to finish being raised while at the same time I was an out of control teen. I had forgotten all about those events in the last 30 years because I would never do such a thing again. And my own children were raised in such a way that they would never think to do such a thing. Reading that will was very emotional and a small precursor to what will happen for all mankind on Judgment day, when everyone finds out how Yeshua loved us all while we were yet sinners. And then comes this.
Slide 4 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing And her people for gladness. I will also rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in My people; And there will no longer be heard in her The voice of weeping and the sound of crying.” (Isa 65:17-19)
After it’s all made known, and judgment is meted out to both the righteous and the wicked, we who are saved will move on into the olam ha ba, the world to come. We’ll move into eternity, a sinless eternity, where we will have no need to remember our former sins. What a wonderful time that will be!
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