At The Crossroads

This is an interesting time to be alive. Things that were absolutes not so very long ago are called into question now .... or even denied! In my own lifetime, I have seen many of these changes; and now I am witness to the questioning, the challenging, the groping for answers that now takes place.

When I was growing up, we believed in God; we prayed; we went to church and we knew that there was judgment after this life, and if love of God didn't keep us on the straight and narrow path, the fear of judgment did. It was only as a working adult that I came to the realization that there were those who just didn't believe. Whether they were raised in homes that were not God-centered or they left the faith for reasons of their own, I don't know. They just didn't want any part of "God".

A few weeks ago, dear Hubby and I were confronted by a mutual acquaintance who started the dialogue with, “I've seen your video bible teachings online. How can you believe such bulls--t?” In the first place, years ago, in polite company, one's beliefs, although they may not have been shared, were respected. Elders and teachers were respected. It was a tough conversation. I must admit that dear Hubby handled it a whole lot better than I did. For the life of me, I cannot understand the aggression ... unless ... they feel threatened by what the bible says. And if they don't believe what the bible says, then why do they feel so threatened if it is of no consequence? So without all the gut-wrenching details, suffice it to say that this acquaintance is searching, but is 'too smart' to be 'hooked' by such drivel.

On the other hand ...

Just today, an acquaintance of mine asked if we could have lunch together. She is a beautiful soul, full of love for our Savior and His Word. She wrestles with what all Believers wrestle with: How to be in and stay in our Father's will; and how to please our Creator / Redeemer / Bridegroom / King. Having been raised in mainstream Christianity, she is having trouble reconciling recent revelations. Cultural norms, familial expectations and other concerns keep presenting road blocks (or at least speed bumps) to embracing the life of a Torah Observant Believer in Y'shua. But, she is knocking and continuing to knock, asking and continuing to ask and seeking and continuing to seek. Coming to this life is a process – two years, at least. It takes time to discard the habits of a lifetime and embrace the teachings of the Word ... like getting the Sabbath on the right day, ditching the pork and shrimp, and celebrating our Creator's feasts and not the ones of our current culture. The two years are an average, of course. The point is it takes a while to overcome the misunderstandings created by linguistic and cultural differences. But it can be done!

So here in a relatively short period of time, dear Hubby and I have been exposed to two very different examples of people at the crossroads. One of the things I learned along the way is that for every 'one' who verbalizes a thought, at least 'ten' were thinking about it. That means that all around us are people who are concerned with thoughts of God, the after-life or about the Heavenly Kingdom, whether they verbalize it or not. This puts a greater onus on those of us who believe the Word to act like it! We have an audience – a judgmental one at that – wherever we go! Do we have to be 'at the ready' to deliver a sermon? Well no, and yes ... as my favorite quote (attributed to St. Francis of Assisi but actually a paraphrase of his teachings) attests: “Always and everywhere, preach the Gospel. If necessary, use words.”

May it be our Father's will to gather the dispersed 'Lost Sheep' back into the fold having them submit to the authority of the One True Shepherd Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. May He give each aching, hungry heart what it needs to turn to Him. Where illumination of the Word is needed, may the Word have sudden clarity.  Where objections need to be overcome, may the objections evaporate like smoke. May the stony hearts be massaged into hearts of flesh, b'shem Y'shua who paid the price to reconcile us back to the Almighty.

Although we will not fully grasp all the ramifications of faith, we have in the words of Isaiah / Yeshayahu 35 'a clue':

Isa 35:1 The desert and the dry land will be glad; the `Aravah will rejoice and blossom like the lily.

2 It will burst into flower, will rejoice with joy and singing, will be given the glory of the L'vanon, the splendor of Karmel and the Sharon. They will see the glory of YHVH, the splendor of our Elohim.

3 Strengthen your drooping arms, and steady your tottering knees.

4 Say to the fainthearted, "Be strong and unafraid! Here is your Elohim; He will come with vengeance; with Elohim's retribution He will come and save you."

5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped;

6 then the lame man will leap like a deer, and the mute person's tongue will sing. For in the desert, springs will burst forth, streams of water in the `Aravah;

7 the sandy mirage will become a pool, the thirsty ground springs of water. The haunts where jackals lie down will become a marsh filled with reeds and papyrus.

8 A highway will be there, a way, called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not pass over it, but it will be for those whom He guides — fools will not stray along it.

9 No lion or other beast of prey will be there, traveling on it. They will not be found there, but the redeemed will go there.

10 Those ransomed by YHVH will return and come with singing to Tziyon, on their heads will be everlasting joy. They will acquire gladness and joy, while sorrow and sighing will flee.

Shalom b'shem Sar Shalom / Peace in the Name of the Prince of Peace

Yocheved