For all my
friends who say that God really doesn’t care what we do once we are saved, I
refer you to this portion Pekudei (Exodus 38:51-40:38).
Throughout
the portion, the instructions on building and assembling the tabernacle, the mishkan, are intricate and explicit. It is
only after all of the instructions are followed, and the mishkan is erected
exactly as Yehovah described to Moses that the Spirit of the Holy One descends
upon it.
Mishkan come
from the Hebrew word shakan, to dwell, or dwelling place. It is related to
shekinah, the dwelling of Yah, or Yehovah. When the Holy One descended to dwell
in the mishkan, it began to fulfill its purpose. But only after Moses and the
workers completed the meticulous instructions for its structure and assembly.
Read the
portion. See how many times the portion repeats, “As Yehovah commanded Moses.”
God oversees
each point and each process. Moses and the workers faithfully follow every
instruction. Details. Details.
The end result?
“Then a
cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of Yehovah filled the
tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation,
because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of Yehovah filled the
tabernacle.” (Exodus 40:34-35)
What an
awesome blessing for following God’s instructions to the letter.
When I hear
people say that they don’t have to do anything except say the sinner’s prayer,
and then go live their life however they choose, I think of how specific these instructions
are. The New Testament compares the church to the temple. The mishkan is the
precursor of the temple, and the intricate building instructions are reflected
in the Torah instructions for each person.
God cares how you live, especially if you claim to be in covenant with Him. And He laid out His instructions for living in the Torah.
Your part of
the covenant is to keep the Torah. Keep the appointed times that Leviticus
chapter 23 says, “Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, concerning
the feasts of Yehovah, which you
shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.” (Leviticus 23:2)
Too many
good people have been deceived into thinking the Passover, Sabbath, Day of
Atonement and God’s other feasts are Jewish. They aren’t. They are “the feasts of Yehovah.” Anyone who
chooses to be in covenant with God should be keeping them, honoring them, and
observing them.
Details.
Some I have spoken with tell me all the ‘Old Testament’ laws were done away
with. Others say all of them except the Ten Commandments are done away with.
Jesus, Yeshua, would disagree.
“For verily
I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no
wise pass from the law, till all be
fulfilled. (even all those
prophecies concerning His second coming) Whosoever therefore shall break
one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the
least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same
shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:18-19)
When asked
what the greatest commandment was, Yeshua said, “You shall love Yehovah your
God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This
is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, You shall
love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and
the prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)
Both of
these two commandments are from the Old Testament, neither of them are from the
Ten Commandments. Most people I speak with say these commandments are still in
effect. That’s a problem if the laws in the Old Testament were done away with. All
of what Yeshua taught came from the Old Testament.
Who is telling you what?
Consider for
a moment; between God, and the adversary, which one do you think will tell you
to keep God’s instructions? Which one will tell you that you don’t have to? Reminds
me of the Garden of Eden.
“And Yehovah
Elohim commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely
eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shalt not eat of
it: for in the day that you eat of it you
shall surely die.’” (Genesis 2:16-17)
“Now the
serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which Yehovah Elohim had
made. And he said unto the woman, ‘Has God said, You shall not eat of every
tree of the garden?’ And the woman said unto the serpent, ‘We may eat of the
fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the
midst of the garden, God said, You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch
it, lest you die.’ And the serpent said unto the woman, ‘You shall not surely die: For God knows that in the day you eat
thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good
and evil.’” (Genesis 3:1-5)
The adversary lies
The serpent
lied, and he mixed the lie with some truth. The end result, Adam and Chava
sinned, and brought death into the world.
“For the
wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23) What is sin?
“Whosoever
committs sin transgresses also the law (Torah): for sin is the transgression of the law (Torah).” (1 John 3:4)
So, someone
who tells you it is okay to transgress the Torah is convincing you to commit
sin, and the wages of sin is death. It’s clear who is going to tell you it’s
okay to sin, the adversary, even if he comes disguised as an angel of light.
Know the Truth
It is vital
to know what the Scriptures teach, and not trust someone else to tell you what
they mean. Read the Scriptures in context, and you will not be deceived easily.