Because the US media seems to be so focused on the real and imagined drama happening on this side of the globe, I make it my practice to regularly expose myself to other sources of information, such as BBC World News, for one... and a fellow I have been following for years who does a weekly update on YouTube of events we don't normally hear about which are unfolding in the Middle East: Monte Judah with Lion and Lamb Ministries.
And, even though I am not going to be precisely following today's Elul devotional from The Rabbi's Son, the topic goes hand in hand. You may have noticed that we are almost at the end of our 30-Day period of introspection and self-examination, in preparation for the upcoming weeks of Fall Mo'edim (Appointed Times) which many erroneously call the "Jewish High Holidays."
All of the Lord's Appointed Times are prophetic pictures of Messiah and the reign to come. I am not one for getting side-tracked by the myriad so-called "prophets" who distract believers (and incite non-believers to ridicule us) by making predictions each year that "this is the year." It's no secret that Jesus/Yeshua Himself told his disciples, "...of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only." -Matthew 24:36 (NKJV)
Rather, I think the key here is to remember that we are to be like the wise bridesmaids in Matthew 25, who were ready and waiting for the bridegroom to come. In other words, we should be "Preppers", in a spiritual sense. I used to be caught up in the Rapture theology, but have found it difficult to support that theory with scripture, so I am back to the mindset that some jokingly call the Pan-Trib position that YHVH knows what He's doing, He's calling the shots, and it will all "pan out" in the end. What we need to really concern ourselves with is keeping short accounts with our fellow man and with our Creator. In other words, I am back to the theme of teshuva, or repentance. After all, that is really the ultimate point of spending time in self-examination, isn't it?
I have likewise come to believe over the past years that repentance was also the message that Messiah preached during His time on earth. Growing up in mainstream Christianity, I had somehow got the idea that "the gospel" that we believed was only about Jesus dying on the cross for our sins. While I am not arguing with that historical fact, I now have a different perspective. For one thing, it seems odd at the very least that Jesus/Yeshua would be preaching "believe that I died on the cross to forgive your sins" before the fact. Did He predict His death and resurrection? Sure He did. But His main message was to repent so that we can inherit the Kingdom of God/YHVH.
So, the question remains, From WHAT are we to repent? Anything that is less than what YHVH has called us to, which is holiness. Our thoughts, our desires, our actions are to be set-apart according to how He has instructed us to live and to be His representatives. How are we to be a light to the world, directing them to Him if we are not accurately reflecting His light that lives within us? That is only accomplished by laying down our desires and dreams in favor of something much bigger: HIS desires and dreams.
Can I get a "YIKES!"? No... don't despair: He also assured us that nothing He asks of us is too hard or unreachable.¹
(Looking at the news reports, though, I can't help but wonder if it's going to be here before we know it. So, stock up on lamp oil.)
¹ For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. - Deuteronomy 30:11-14 (NKJV)
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