We still fight and argue and allow pride to get in the way of reason. We still divorce our spouses, turn a blind eye to the various evils in this world, and lust after people or things we wish we had. No matter how rich we are, we’re still after “more” of that “almighty dollar.” We still covet, commit adultery, lie, steal and cheat in one way or another. We even “use the Lord’s Name in vain” sometimes – attributing things to YHWH that He never said…
Of course, we don’t do those things all at once (or necessarily in a conscious way), and some of them we never do. But think about it and be honest with yourself: You DO still sin in some way. You can’t get around it – because you’re human.
Contemplate this for a moment and try to think of all the times in Torah where YHWH warns His people about being “set apart” and remaining pure for Him; how often He said things like, “Obey Me and all will go well with you!” (Deuteronomy 6:3; 11:1-32; 12:28; Proverbs 3:5-6, and myriads of other scriptures including in Luke 6:46 where Yeshua asks: “Why do you call me ‘My Master, my Master,’ and not do what I tell you?”)
Most of us believe ourselves to be “holy” and in the mindset that, no matter what we do, we are forgiven. (BIG mistake, because we are NOT necessarily forgiven for INTENTIONAL sins!) Yeshua died for us ONCE to forgive our PAST sins; not for all future intentional sins…
Take Moshe (Moses), for instance. He was YHWH’s “chosen”…the most holy man on earth at the time – but he didn’t get into the Promised Land! Why not? His infractions weren’t THAT bad, were they? (According to our human mindset.) Well, YHWH obviously felt otherwise! So, what did Moshe do that was so bad? It's outlined in this short article.
The thing is, if Moshe wasn’t allowed into the Promised Land, what makes US think we’re so innocent that we can get away with ANY of the things listed above? Yeshua didn’t die so that we could CONTINUE to sin! We ARE receiving “grace and mercy” at every turn, and the key is to recognize when we have sinned and repent, and do our best to never commit that same sin again. YHWH is a gracious God, but we’d best not “push our luck!” We must strive to be like the publican in the following passage – because YHWH is NOT kidding around! (Yeshua tells us that he will vomit from his mouth all of those who were lukewarm toward him - Revelation 3:16).
Luke 18: 9. And he did speak this parable against those men who relied upon themselves, that they are righteous and they despise everyone. 10. Two men went up to the temple to pray one a Pharisee and the other a publican. 11. And that Pharisee was standing by himself, and he would pray this way, “Elohim, I thank you that I am not like the rest of the people, extortioners, and covetous, and adulterers, nor like this publican. 12. Rather, I fast two times a week and I tithe everything that I earn.
13. But that publican was standing from afar and did not even desire to raise his eyes to Heaven, rather, he was beating upon his breast and said, “Elohim have compassion on me a sinner!” 14. I say to you, that this man went down to his house more so righteous than that Pharisee. For every man who exalts himself will be humbled, and everyone who humbles himself will be exalted. (AENT)
The following passage sums it all up:
Matthew 7:21 21. It will not be that just anyone who says to me “My master, my master.” Will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22. Many will say to me in that day, “My master, my master. By your name, have we not prophesied? And by you name have we cast out demons? And by your name have we done many miracles?” 23. And then I will profess to them that from everlasting, I have not known you. Depart from me, you workers of iniquity! (AENT)
Why do people trust in carnal and material things to get them through this world, especially when such things lead to self-destruction? I now understand why YHWH wants His People to be Set Apart.
ReplyDelete