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Yahweh says to us, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isa 55:9)
Among human beings, one of the things that causes each person’s thoughts to be unique is perspective. None of us have had the exact same experiences, learned all the same things, or grew up under the same conditions. Because of this, we have different viewpoints, different outlooks, and this causes our thoughts to be different from one another.
One of the things that separates Yahweh’s perspective from that of any human being, from any created being, is that of time. Our Father is eternal and everlasting, without beginning or end. (Psalm 90:2) He is not affected by the passage of time, and all that He knows and experiences must be translated into a form that we can understand when He inspires us or sends us messages through prophetic channels. We have certain verses that demonstrate this difference between the Creator and His creation:
“Then spake Joshua to Yahweh in the day when Yahweh delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, ‘Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon, and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.’ And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. And there was no day like that before it or after it, that Yahweh hearkened unto the voice of a man, for Yahweh fought for Israel.” (Joshua 10:12-14)
“For a thousand years in Thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.” (Psalm 90:4)
Of the very beginning we read, “And Elohim said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. And Elohim saw the light, that it was good; and Elohim divided the light from the darkness.” (Gen 1:3, 4)
From the perspective of physics, we cannot even begin to explain what happened during the day described in the Book of Joshua. If the earth had stopped spinning, everything from gravity to the wind to the tides would have been drastically affected. If the sun had stopped moving for several hours, that would also have had a dramatic environmental and cosmic impact. Truly, our Father’s ways are higher than ours, and that applies to every physical and spiritual reality.
When the Psalmist says that a thousand years in Yah’s sight are as a day, this speaks to His control over human history, and also has things to reveal to us about his patience with humanity, both as a collective set of nations, and as individuals who are called by His Spirit to repent and be converted.
The verse from Genesis shows us that before there were lights in the sky to measure time, before there was any matter at all, Yahweh was there, and had the power to act. Things of the spirit are different from the material world with which we are familiar, and this is why Yahweh spoke often in metaphors, and the Son spoke often in parables. What is true is true from all perspectives, but may be harder to grasp for some without an illustration, without something on which the can anchor their imaginations.
To communicate with us, not only must our Father use symbols and ideas that we are capable of understanding, but He must also affect us at specific points in time, as we perceive it. He sends to His servants voices, visions, and sometimes angelic visitations. But as with much else, we might not perceive these events to occur at the right time.
Because we do not know all of the past, and because we know very little of the future, the only appropriate attitude in the face of an encounter with Yahweh’s wisdom, whether it is revealed to us directly, or whether it is send to us through a messenger, is humility. We have said that in this last generation, during this time of the investigative judgment of the living, names come up for examination when they are exposed to the truth of the Gospel, when they are made aware that the power of Heaven is at their disposal, should they choose to repent of their sin and be healed. How they react to that knowledge becomes their testimony to the universe, of whether they will be a sheep, or a goat. It reveals whether they are willing, or at least willing to be made willing, to surrender that which would doom them to destruction, and accept the great gift of everlasting life instead.
We are talking today about time and timing. When they are brought into this knowledge, it is then that they are called. The One who is infinitely wise has said, “This is the best time for such a person to be made aware of My love for them, and My invitation.” But again, we have this difference of perspective. Yahweh, who knows all things, knows when it is most beneficial, most timely, for an individual to encounter messengers of the Victory. Rarely, though, are individuals whose time has come in agreement with the divine mind regarding this timing.
Rarely do we find someone who receives the message with joy, saying, “I was just praying for someone to come and tell me this blessed truth.” It often comes as a surprise, as a shock, and it is here that Satan finds an opportunity to strike.
We know the familiar parable of the Sower, and when Yahshua was explaining it to His disciples, He said, “When any one heareth the Word of the Kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.” (Mat 13:19)
That word “understand” is an interesting one. Let’s look at it in the context of that very chapter, Matthew 13. We read a few verses above that one, “Therefore speak I to them in parables, because they, seeing, see not; and hearing, they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, ‘By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive, for this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.’ But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.” (Mat 13:13-16)
The kind of “understanding” necessary to grasp the Gospel is not intellectual strength, nor is it the learning of great thinkers in the past. That kind of understanding is good in its right setting, but the kind that grasps the gift of Yahweh is that which is based on a willingness to understand with the “heart,” as Isaiah says, and to put away the dullness caused by unrighteousness. This kind of understanding may be received from our Father as a choice, for it is written there, “their eyes they have closed.” They have chosen not to see. James points out a similar idea, writing, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of Yahweh, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (James 1:5)
The implications of this are serious; those who lack wisdom when presented with new information only lack it because they have chosen not to ask. James here is speaking about the same kind of wisdom and understanding that Yahshua is in Matthew 13. If I ask Yahweh for knowledge about some earthly thing, I should not expect to receive it immediately. For that kind of knowledge, we have books, videos, and other natural sources. But knowledge regarding the Gospel? Knowledge regarding what men need most? Our Father will not deny that knowledge for an instant.
Now, it is true that some have said, “I have prayed and prayed, but I still don’t understand what people are saying to me about the Gospel.” There is no condemnation in that. Yahweh does not force this knowledge into our heads; I imagine that would be destructive to our personalities and our individuality. Instead, He provides the knowledge immediately; He makes it available immediately, and it may consumed and understood at a reasonable pace.
Remember, Yahweh does not, with the Holy Spirit, pour out all the information at once. If He did, then the independent and isolated worshippers would be correct. They would need no Bible study, once they accepted Christ. They would need no Church and its covenant of membership. They would need no accountability from other human beings. But that is not the way our orderly and perfect Father designed us or the Plan of Salvation. In teaching agape-love, He teaches also brotherly love. Agape and philadelphia cannot exist apart from each other. John asks, “He that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” (1John 4:20) Tthere is agape and philadelphia. One is eternal, and the other exists in time, in how human beings treat one another. That is why the last Church, which is founded on and perfectly manifests divine love, reveals, and is identified by, its brotherly love. The Church of Yahweh, which is perfect in His agape, is rightly identified by the title Philadelphia in the prophetic works. One is an expression of the other, and both are perfected in the saints.
The truth lies in both promises. Yahweh liberally, freely, pours out His knowledge instantly upon those who ask Him. We, then, receive and apply that outpouring as quickly and as completely as we are willing and able to do so. We move quickly, but we do not rush. We walk, but we do not fall behind, in Yah’s perfect Highway of Holiness.
Those who refused to do this, to ask for wisdom, and then to receive knowledge as quickly as they are able, are the ones that Yahshua describes in the parable. They have fallen by the wayside. They did not let their roots down into the rich soil that the Father instantly provided in response to their prayer. When we ask Him, He plants us immediately in the fertile ground of His atmosphere of Heaven, but we must choose to open our eyes, to let our roots absorb the goodness of that environment.
When we are called by Yahweh to give our lives to Him, Satan sees his opportunity, and tries to sweep as many seeds as possible out of the soil and onto the wayside. He tempts, he distracts, he teases, he frightens. Any and all emotions except for love and peace can be his weapons at this critical time, and he uses them with great expertise. One is enticed by the love of the world, and so, when he hears the message, it is dull and hateful to him. One is afraid of repeating a previous, negative experience with organized religion (and really, anything done by our Father must, by its nature, be “organized”) and rejects the messenger, who seems to be saying “the same old thing as last time.” One places the respect of friends, and the opinion of family, over the changes that the Gospel would bring to his life, and he says, “Maybe someday… maybe one day it will be convenient, but today, I am not ready.”
That last one is particularly deadly, because the individual who says this can still convince himself that he is a good person, a sincere Christian; he just has things to deal with before he can consider giving up all sin. We see this testimony, phrased in different ways, even from those who have been attending Churches, even teaching in Churches, for years and years. When will they be ready? When will they believe that Yahweh knows more than they do, and has called them by name at the perfect time? They say, “Oh, just as probation closes, then I will be ready. Just before Yahshua returns to destroy the wicked with the brightness of His coming, then I will decide not to be among the wicked.” Satan has made them his utter fools, and has addicted them to the most dangerous of all games, a gamble with their eternal destinies.
Those who do not feel they are ready when this message comes to them are actually in good company. There is no sin in not “feeling” that one is prepared to answer the Father’s call. It is what one does – not what one feels – that reveals genuine righteousness by faith. Yes, sincerity and an innocent heart are important factors in bringing righteousness out through one’s words and actions, but they are only sufficient if there is a willingness to not only hear, but also do the Word of Yahweh. As it is written, “But be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the Word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass; for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect Law of Liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” (James 1:22-25)
It is in the doing of the Word that sincerity and good feelings are vindicated, are given value. Otherwise, they remain just lifeless impulses, and do not benefit the individual’s soul, nor any around him who might have otherwise heard a convincing testimony of conversion.
There were many who felt they were not ready when Yahweh called them. We may read a few examples:
“And Moses said unto the Yahweh, ‘O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since Thou hast spoken unto Thy servant; but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.’” (Exo 4:10) When called, Moses kept making excuses as to why He was not the right person for the job, at least, not at that time. As you read Exodus 3 and 4, you can see the conflict that Moses experiences. He does not feel that He is the right person to lead the Israelites out of captivity; at the same time, He does not want to refuse Yahweh’s call altogether. Thus, he says, invoking an excuse based on time, “I was not a good speaker before this, and even now, I am still not a good speaker.” He speaks of the past and the present, but he does not believe that Yahweh has made him ready at this present moment, nor that in the future He will always be prepared.
Similarly, the prophet Jeremiah did not feel ready when he received the call to prophetic ministry. “Then the Word of Yahweh came unto me, saying, ‘Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.’
Then said I, ‘Ah, Lord Yahweh! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a child.’
But Yahweh said unto me, ‘Say not, “I am a child,” for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces, for I am with thee to deliver thee,’ saith Yahweh.” (Jer 1:4-8)
Notice that Yahweh knew exactly what Jeremiah was going to say, and gave him the answer even before he raised the concern. Yahweh knew that Jeremiah would protest based on his youth, but He began by saying, “I knew you from the womb. I have been with you since the time before you were even born. What does your age have to do with your ability to serve me?” This also, just as with Joshua’s global experience, shows our Father’s power over time.
These are valuable testimonies for us to read, because we need to know that Yahweh understands our feelings. He knows that we will be tempted with doubt when His invitation is made known to us. He knows every instant of our history… every abuse we have suffered, every experience that might give Satan the advantage. Even so, at the perfect time, He calls to us, and waits to see that we will grasp His promises and overcome. He is proud of His people, because we are those who have said, “I reject the power of the past over my present choices.” We say, we declare to the universe, “I trust my Father’s promises more than my own flawed experiences and imperfect judgment. I put away all pride and self-reliance, and I commit my soul to my Father’s keeping.” That is the voice of a warrior, and the voice of a saint. That is the voice of one who will live forever.
Yahweh knows how we feel. He knows that we will not feel ready. Nevertheless, He asks us to trust Him, and to go where He calls us to be. We read of this experience in the New Testament, the testimony of Paul, who was formerly known as Saul: “And it came to pass that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from Heaven a great light round about me. And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, ‘Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?’ And I answered, ‘Who art thou, Lord?’ And He said unto me, ‘I am Yahshua of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.’
“And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of Him that spake to me. And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said unto me, ‘Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.’” (Acts 22:6-10)
Here was a rare experience recorded in the Scriptures. It was no doubt a frightening one, even for the onlookers. Saul had no idea his life was about to change on Damascus Road, and yet, even though he had strong feelings of fear, He asked with sincerity, “What shall I do,” and he accepted the answer, which was essentially: “Forget what you think your purpose is. Join yourself to My people, and there you will receive your mission.”
Consider another immediately correct response, this from the prophet Isaiah: “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then said I, ‘Here am I; send me.’ And He said, ‘Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.’ Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.” (Isa 6:8-10)
Now, this is interesting. This is the very passage that Yahshua quoted when talking about the seeds that fell by the wayside in Matthew 13. The cure for the wayside seeds is to do what Isaiah did, to answer immediately, “Here am I; send me.” The problem with these seeds that become victim to Satan is that they dwell too much on the things that Yahweh is trying to get them to ignore. Factors of the past, uncertainties, troubling feelings… none of these make the acceptance of the Gospel any easier, and prevent them from setting down roots in the new, healthy soil. Thus, forget them, put them away. There is no transgression in feeling them, as Moses and Jeremiah did, but in letting them have the power over one’s decision, that is the choice to close the eyes, lest he sees, and becomes converted.
Feel what you feel, but trust in Yahweh anyway. Experience what you must, but do not ignore, or delay, the perfect timing of our Father as measured by infinite wisdom. When you are called, and when you hear the words of invitation, you may know that you are ready, and that you have all you need to say, “What do I do?” and then accept the answer.
These examples we have been reading about, Moses, Jeremiah, Saul, they all felt they were not ready, but they overcame. Some, like Isaiah, said, “I am not worthy,” but immediately responded to the invitation. Some, like Moses, said, “I am not worthy,” and required a little persuading. But they heard the voice of Yahweh, and they obeyed… and as a result, they did amazing things, and lived extraordinary lives of faith. Do not think that your life is any less valuable than theirs, nor that your story will be any less important in what will become the legends told in Heaven.
But what of those who felt as they did, and did not act according to their conviction? We have examples of these as well: “And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, ‘Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.’” (Acts 24:24, 25) Felix experienced what Moses and Jeremiah did, but unlike them, he let his emotions decide his actions. We have no record in the remainder of the Bible of any “convenient season” arriving for Felix.
Two chapters later, King Agrippa meets with Paul, who says, at the end of his statements, “‘King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.’ Then Agrippa said unto Paul, ‘Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.’” (Acts 26:27, 28) Almost… almost did Agrippa submit to the voice of the Spirit. Yet, despite stating that Paul did nothing worthy of his imprisonment, Agrippa sent him away, and did not continue to learn from him. Paul had appealed to Caesar regarding his treatment; therefore, as a Roman citizen he had the right to state his case, and was sent on for trial. Even so, he was commissioned to issue a great invitation to his captors, but these men, used to the power and privileges of the world, found it too difficult to break free from their own bonds. Even though Paul was the one in chains, these two men remained prisoners of the flesh.
We may never feel ready for the work that Yahweh has prepared for us. In fact, I would think that in most cases it may be a positive requirement that we don’t. If we felt ready, we would be tempted to take credit, to say, “Yahweh helped and inspired me, but my preparation made this work a success.” In a sense, this is true, but for our sakes He will not share or give his glory to another. (Isa 48:11) When we are one with Him, it is safe to claim the victory and testify that we share His divine nature; even so, all honor goes to He who gifts us the ability, opportunity, desire, and drive. In holy matters, all of these things come from Him, and He opens the way as we walk, just as we step forward in the way, and not a long distance ahead.
Judgment, victory, Church membership, ministry work, all these are applications. All these are things to which our Father has called us. And we are learning new light, about conscience, Law, inclusiveness, and the balanced point where we reject ecumenism, but embrace individuality. Ecumenism claims it doesn’t matter what you believe. The true religion of freedom claims that it matters very much what you believe, that knowledge of the Father and Son is everlasting life, but that this knowledge may lead different people differently, and that is okay.
At the core of our faith, we must agree with each other about what the character of our Father is. This is what we are primarily called to do, and when our names come up, it means that we are ready to participate in this conversation, in this process of teaching and learning. What His personality is like we will all know, and also that this might express itself in various ways through different people. But what is not permitted is the leaving matters that affect our consciences and destinies unaddressed. This is true for matters of our own behavior and in the behavior we observe in others. A part of the Church membership covenant, a part of its reason for existing, is to teach us our Father’s love in our love for one another.
This, at times, requires us to correct one another. We are to focus on our own sanctification, but if I see a brother doing something that to me would be a clear violation of the Commandments of Yahweh, I might ask him how he sees the matter. I am not bringing condemnation; I am not spying on his privacy, but if he is comfortable doing something publicly that I might think is wrong, I would like to be educated. Perhaps my conscience is too sensitive. Perhaps his is not sensitive enough. But if I come to him with love and a desire to understand, with no criticism, then we will both grow.
We must know that when our names come up in the judgment, when this message comes to us, it means that our Father has determined we are ready even if, like Moses, or like Jeremiah, our feelings may tell us otherwise.
And once we choose His promises above our feelings, we are called to find others who are willing to hear the voice of Yahweh when it sounds in their ears. This is the nature of the final harvest in which we are participating. Yahshua is gathering His precious jewels, and polishing them for eternal display. We have a work to do, of learning, of teaching, and of resting in our Father’s promises. We have a work to do, of setting an example of joyful compliance. We have a work to do, of convincing others to not reject, and not delay, the invitation to this unity of the faith. We must teach those in the valley of decision not to delay, because not only are their souls in the balance, but also the souls of all those whom they will in turn be called to help. The choices we make, the example we set, and the testimony we give, these are all matters of life and death for those in the world, and our Father has chosen this very moment to have us in the world to accomplish His perfect will.
Let us be grateful that we have been called to this grand privilege, and to walk worthy of those who follow perfectly in the pace, and according to the timing, of the True Shepherd.
David.
An Enduring Witness
“The truth of God received into the heart is able to make you wise unto salvation. In believing and obeying it you will receive grace sufficient for the duties and trials of today. Grace for tomorrow you do not need. You should feel that you have only to do with today. Overcome for today; deny self for today; watch and pray for today; obtain victories in God for today. Our circumstances and surroundings, the changes daily transpiring around us, and the written word of God which discerns and proves all things—these are sufficient to teach us our duty and just what we ought to do, day by day.” [Counsels for The Church, p. 79]
“An understanding of Bible truth depends not so much on the power of intellect brought to the search as on the singleness of purpose, the earnest longing after righteousness. ” [The Great Controversy, p. 599]
“Shall I wait for a more convenient season? All the sophistry of Satan is bound up in that one word, ‘wait.’ O that those who are now moved by the Spirit of God, would make a decided stand for God and for the truth!” [The Review & Herald, September 19, 1893]