Isaiah 64:6 states that our righteousnesses or good deeds are as filthy rags. We all have further to go. Today I am starting a short message in 3 parts on going further in our walk with the Most High Father, after we have repented of our sins and accepted Jesus Christ of Nazareth as redeemer and saviour. In the first section I will share some of the things the Holy Word, the Bible, tells us about ourselves. The second section will focus on warnings if we don’t move, progress, or go higher from that state. The final section will highlight guidance from the Word on how to go deeper in our relationship with YashaYah.
The first aspect the Word points out about ourselves is that we are often wise in our own eyes. However, this earthly wisdom is described in the Word as foolishness. “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God…..The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain” (1 Corinthians 3:18-20).
The Apostle Paul tells us that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of Yah (Romans 3:23). He warns us that we know only in part and we do not always see the things of Yah clearly, stating: “For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; For now we see through a glass, dimly” (1 Corinthians 13:9-12).
The second aspect about us the Word highlights is our need as social beings to conform to social norms. This is not unique to our generation. Contrary to Yah’s instructions, the Israelites mingled with and accepted the practices of the heathen nations after their rescue from Egypt. Today our governments are secular institutions which no longer base their laws on the Word of Yah. Accepting and embracing laws that are opposed to the Word of Yah place us in opposition to the Most High Father. Mark 7:8 states: “You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” Because we want to fit in, we don’t want to rock the boat or stand out as different, we compromise and as such we become man-pleasers. “For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (John 12:43).
This characteristic was also shared by the religious class, the Pharisees, who crucified Christ who shed light on the evils of the day. “Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God” (Luke 16:14-15).
The third aspect of ourselves is our unwillingness to take a stand, and as such we become lukewarm fence-sitters, prideful in our own wisdom and stuck in our ways. Some may even understand that what they are doing is not approved by Yah or instructed in His Word, but thinking of themselves as not as wicked as those who rape, rob and kill, are not prepared to give up their ways. If that is you, this is what Jesus says about you: “For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing; not knowing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:17).
This is a hard judgement from the Word of Yah to those who are wise in their own eyes, who believe their good deeds in their church, charitable giving to the poor, paying their taxes and their good standing in society make them acceptable to Yah. However, the Word calls haughty eyes and a proud heart sin (Proverbs 21:4) and the man who operates as such a mocker or scoffer (Prov. 21:24).
Only you and the Most High Father know which of these assessments apply to you. I will leave you with the advice from Apostle Paul: “For by the grace given to me I bid everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith which God has assigned him. (Romans 12:3).
Until next time when we continue to look at the warnings to us from the Word of Yah.
My Prayer
Father Ahayah, thank you for your Word that is a lamp to our feet. Father, we desire to be in right standing with You as we see the increasing darkness around us. Please forgive us our sins and for the many ways in which we have strayed from Your ways. Holy Spirit, please help us to take a critical look at ourselves and guide us to come in line with Yah’s will for our lives. We pray in the mighty name of YashaYah of Nazareth. Ameyn.