The Pursuit

The Messiah of Israel, Yeshua, sought after the righteousness of Torah more than anyone before Him and more than anyone since. The Savior and Redeemer of mankind pursued righteousness and captured it. He embodied it, so it was never actually out of His reach, but He had to be "tested in all ways as we are". His humanity needed to be fitted with, and embrace the yoke of obedience to G-d - and scripture tells us that He did all this to absolute perfection. We are His disciples - a term lost to most in today’s self-serving culture. We are to emulate His halakha to exacting precision. We are to think as He thought, speak as He spoke, walk as He walked, where, when and how - without exception and in power. He laid down His perfectly righteous life (righteous by what standard? by the Torah, of course) so that we could be empowered to walk righteously before G-d. He laid it down so that He could brutally and completely destroy any and every thing that could keep us from doing just that - sin, death, destruction, lethargy, discouragement, apathy, unbelief. He has pursued us with all the tenacity He pursued righteousness. He will live, think, breath, walk, obey, perform, heal, teach, crucify the flesh and love through us! He will raise us to newness of life and (one day) physically resurrect us to Himself through Himself!

In complete contrast, those that appointed themselves the representatives of G-d largely went after their own interpretation of what G-d said - what they thought applied, even what they added themselves. They came up with an understanding and developed a religious view often different from, and sometimes completely opposed to the heart of G-d. How do we know this? Because when the Word of G-d showed up, He had a lot of problems with what they were teaching! While he merely clarified some things, He condemned many others. How did they end up this way? They certainly meant well, didn't they? Century upon century of listening to spiritual men speak, rather than internalizing the words of G-d - not taking G-d at His Word and not taking Him seriously can birth much error. Just two degrees off course today, at a steady pace, will have you miles away tomorrow. Some were so far off track, they forgot there was a track to begin with. How many of us are off track today? Would many find themselves in very similar situations if they'd only stop and honestly examine their hearts? G-d is saying to us, "Return to me and do those things I showed you in the beginning." (Revelation 2:5)

Our lives should exhibit all the power of the ministry of the life of Yeshua. Selah. While our intimacy with G-d should eclipse what the ceremonies of the Law were pointing to, being the "shadows of the things to come" - our lives should mirror them - fleshed out, separated to G-d. Observation (and absorption) of God's Law and total intimacy with Him are not mutually exclusive. That is something most miss, but it is absolutely key. Many are taught that Torah and Spirit are at odds with one another. It is the source of centuries of  theological misunderstanding and calamity - and is solely the work of our enemy. It would be his crowning achievement if mankind (erroneously believing that G-d changes and because of this, His Word is open to our interpretation) would finally and completely cease from believing what He has said. We can be certain of this because when the enemy was first given the opportunity to interact with us in Gan Eden he asked, "Did G-d really say?"

Yeshua said (in Matt 5:17-19) that the Law would not (in any way whatsoever) be done away with before these heavens and this earth are - and that anyone who taught that it had been done away with would be held accountable. Earth is still here, so what does that mean? For us, it means that the life we now live (as vessels of the love of Messiah) should perfectly fulfill the Law & the Prophets and that we are to teach others as well. For many others, it means their theology needs serious calibrating.

What does the Law, and what do the Prophets (constantly) speak of besides walking in fellowship with G-d and Israel supernaturally, completely redeemed by Him (against all odds, nations of earth, and powers of the enemy)? What, besides every nation on earth (finally) collectively worshiping the G-d of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob in Jerusalem and bringing sacrifices to The Lion of the Tribe of Judah in Israel? What, besides all nations celebrating The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), believers entering the New Jerusalem (the city of G-d) through the gates named for the 12 tribes of Israel - and G-d’s Word, His instruction (Torah), going out to the entire earth from Jerusalem?!

Not much else. Except that Messiah will soon come so that it will all be possible. Our lives should reflect that reality - that coming age - Ha Olam Haba. It is going to be the most enthralling and magnificent thing we (or this entire universe) has ever seen!

How else could we possibly “provoke the Jews to jealousy”? Is there any sign that they desire what believers in Messiah currently have? How could they? If it looks, sounds, acts and behaves nothing like G-d does, in most instances. For the most part, it looks, sounds, acts, thinks, speaks, walks and behaves nothing like the Messiah of Israel did, does and will again. Where are we? How on earth did we get this far from the Source of Living Water? Will we be able to blame the false religious system (self-righteousness & self-interpretation) of the Pharisees when we stand before our Sovereign L-rd?
Why aren’t we seeing the full unstoppable momentum of the Gospel that we should be seeing at this point and what can we, as individuals and as a collective community do about it?

We need to humble ourselves and pray.