Think About It – Light from the Word

YASHUA, the Source of Our Salvation

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16)

It was God’s love that compelled Him to act in favor of mankind. His abundant grace overlooked men’s evil heart deserving of punishment, instead, He took all sins upon Himself and gave us life eternal through forgiveness by His shed blood. He submitted Himself to the most brutal treatment by those He was suffering for. There are no words to describe the extent of His sufferings. He was the sole source of our salvation and beside Him there are no other ways men can be saved. As the Way, He leads us to the Father; as the Truth, He teaches us His word, how to have a relationship with Him; as Life, He gives us life eternal that proceeds from Him. In His sovereignty, He rules over all from His throne in heaven. But men treated Him with contempt by placing a crown of thorns on His head, causing much bleeding. That was in response to His sacrificial love for them. The manner in which they treated Him was inhuman and abusive. In spite of that, He was fulfilling His Father’s will, that of “bruise Him, to put Him to grief and make Him sick.” (Isaiah 53). He suffered pains in His humanity, not in His divinity. He did that voluntarily to fulfill prophecy written about Him. When He entered into the world, He said, sacrifices and offerings You have not desired, but instead You have made ready a body for Me [to offer]; in burnt offerings and sin offerings You have taken no delight. Then I said, Behold, here I am, coming to do Your will, O God – [to fulfill] what is written of Me in the volume of the Book (Heb. 10:5-7).

Sacrifices according to the Law was annulled when He took the position of Redeemer of the world. He became God’s Lamb Who takes the sins of the world. That’s the way John Baptist introduced Him, saying, Look! There is the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world! (Jn. 2:29, 36). He came in the humble state of a stable where the chosen lambs that were to be sacrificed stayed. These were perfect lambs who fulfilled the demands of the Law. YAHSHUA, the Lamb of God found room there among them, and by a single offering, He has forever completely cleansed and perfected those who are consecrated and made holy (Heb. 10:14). YAHSHUA’S redemptive sacrifice was not the only thing He did or does for us. He became our Highpriest. We have freedom and confidence to enter into the Holy of Holies through the blood of YAHSHUA. We have such a High Prist, One Who is seated at the right hand of the majestic [God] in heaven (Heb. 8:1). He intercedes for us. The Bible says that when we pray, the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance. Through the redemption by His blood, we were made children of God, and as children of God we are entitled to all the spiritual blessings. He planned in love for us to be adopted as His own children through YAHSHUA Messiah, in accordance with the purpose of His will- to the praise and the commendation of His glorious grace, which he so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved (Eph. 1:5-6).

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Would That You Had Known

This is a solemn phrase of regret to those at the end the road. Facing the consequences, without a way to mend the decision made. We often regret certain decisions when facing the results of them. But the regret coming to us from God is serious and concerning, because it involves decision He is making against our actions. At the end of our Lord’s life on the earth, He called the attention of Israel, exclaiming, “Would that you had known personally, even at least in this your day, the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For a time is coming upon you when you enemies will throw up a bank about you and surround you and shut you in on every side; and they will dash you down to the ground, you [Jerusalem] and your children within you ; and then will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not come progressively to recognize and know and understand the time of your visitation [that is, when God was visiting you, the time in which God showed Himself gracious toward you and offered you salvation through Christ]. (Luke 19:42-44).

The days were getting closer for our Lord to offer Himself as the ultimate sacrifice for His people and the world. A warning was given, but not received well, for there was not belief to apply to YAHSHUA’S words. His heart was bleeding for the people, as He wept over the city (Luke 19:41). Israel was deaf and blind spiritually to the reality of YAHSHUA’S prophetic words. O how He tried to save them from the coming disaster! His love flowed audibly over the city of Jerusalem; the city of God. Destruction was eminent if they did not repent; YAHSHUA saw the stubbornness of their hearts and wept, as He saw the consequences of their hard hearts looming in the near future. Another time He warned them saying, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who continue to kill the prophets and to stone those who are sent to you! How often I have desired and yearned to gather your children together as a hen [gathers] her young under her wings, but you would not! Then He declared, Behold, your house is forsaken (abandoned, left to you destitute of God’s help)! And I tell you, you will not see Me again until the time comes when you shall say, Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Luke 13:34-35).

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The Incomparable Messiah

When He came to earth, the shekinah glory of God opened heavens and angels sang in celebration, saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased” (Luke 2: 14). Born in a place, where chosen lambs stayed to be used for the sacrifice in the Jewish tradition. They were the ones without spots. No one understood this fact so significant, as if pointing to the reason why He had come: the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). Yes, He came as the Messiah, the only one, comparable to none, He came as the Lamb of God to save men and atone them for their sins. There, in that beautiful night, the earth was touched with God Himself, its Creator.

When He was twelve years old, they went up, as was their custom. And when the Feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy YAHSHUA remained behind in Jerusalem. Now his parents did not know this. After three days they found Him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished and overwhelmed with bewildered wonder at His intelligence and understanding and His replies… And He said to them, “How is it that you had to look to Me? Did you not see and know that it is necessary for Me to be in My Father’s house and Father’s business?… And YAHSHUA increased in wisdom and in stature and years, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52). This was just the beginning.

In another time, when His ministry was starting, after forty days and nights, praying and fasting, the enemy came to tempt YAHSHUA. Unsuccessful, he left YAHSHUA until another opportune time. That opportune time was in the Gethsemane Garden, but in vain. Powerless, he was defeated over and over and stands condemned forever. Messiah YAHSHUA conquered eternal death and nailed it on the cross, saving mankind for Himself. YAHSHUA is the source of life and that can never be taken away from Him. He gave it up willing to save the world. Now, we stand free from Satan’s condemnation and we stand justified before the Lord through faith; we have peace with God through our Lord YAHSHUA Messiah. He is Love; For He loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). He restored us and gave us His Spirit to be with us until He comes for us, or He calls us home. Paul advised Timothy constantly to keep in mind YAHSHUA the Messiah [as] risen from the dead, descended from David, according to the good news (I Tim. 2:8). “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities- all things have been created through Him and for Him; He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together; He is also the head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything, for it was the Father good pleasure for all fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross, through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven” (Col. 1:13-20); “He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb. 1:3-4).

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Fake Peace on the Horizon

Can you hear the trumpets announcing the fake peace soon coming near you? It is as if we were reading the prophetic words from the Bible, in particular the first letter Paul wrote to the Thessalonians. Please read chapter 5:3 with me: When people are saying, All is well and secure, and There are peace and safety, then in a moment unforeseen destruction will come upon them as suddenly as labor pains come upon a woman with child; and they shall by no means escape, for there will be no escape. Middle East nations are uniting in an agreement of peace like never before. Enemies becoming agreeable to peace is a question we need not to ask, for if you are tuned with the Word of God, you will know the times. The book of Daniel says that Israel will enter into a firm covenant with the many for one week (of seven years) and in the midst of it he shall cause the sacrifice and offering to cease [for the remaining three and one -half years] and upon the wing or pinnacle of abomination [shall come] one who makes desolate, until the full determined end is poured out on the desolator (Dan. 9:27). What do we see here is Israel entering into an agreement with many nations, fulfilling the time for its judgment. The Prophet Isaiah prophesized about this covenant saying, “Therefore, hear the word of the Lord, you scoffers who rule this people in Jerusalem! Because you have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we have an agreement -when the overflowing scourge passes through, it will not come to us, for we have made lies our refuge, and in falsehood we have taken shelter…I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plummet; and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and waters will overwhelm the hiding place. And your covenant with death shall be annulled and your agreement with sheol shall not stand; when the overwhelming scourge passes through, then you will be trodden down by it” (Isaiah 28:14-20). The interesting thing is that some of the nations in agreement for peace with Israel now will be the same ones coming to attack it later, prophesized in Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39. We see that Israel is vehemently after this peace, leading the way, under the power of the antichrist, who is active in the world, but not yet his time to be introduced.

After their peace is established in the world, a surprising destruction will take over them. It is important that we born-again Christians be aware of the signs rising up, pointing to the time, when we must be found knowledgeable of the Word of God, in order that we do not follow the deceit spread around the world, for Paul said, The coming of the lawlessness one is through the activity and working of Satan and will be attended by great power and with all sorts of miracles and signs and delusive marvels, lying wonders- and by unlimited seduction to evil and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they did not welcome the Truth but refused to love it that they might be saved. Therefore, God sends upon them a misleading influence, a working of error and a strong delusion to make them believe what is false (II Thess. 2). Who are they? Those who have not believed the truth to be saved. For God has not appointed us (the Christians) to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord YAHSHUA the Messiah, Who died for us so that whether we are still alive or are dead, we might live together with Him and share His life. Therefore, encourage one another and edify one another just as you are doing (I Thess. 5). Who is the lawlessness one Paul is talking about? The antichrist. He is seemly active on the world, carrying his plan to deceive as many as he can today through electronic gadgets and other means.

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We Are That When Under Stress

Stress is the mental strengthener or a destroyer of lives, depending how we handle it. Many of us struggle to come afloat while it carries us under, as water does to the body. For many, alcohol and drugs are meanings used to alleviate their mental estate. In this situation, families are destroyed when parents are separated. Children suffer the consequences that will affect them from generations to come, in some cases. But stress comes to all who are alive. It is not all bad in the scheme of things when it is not the result of sin, but it is for our own spiritual growth. It is in the time of stress that we have the opportunity to force our mind to focus on the words of YAHSHUA: Stop being perpetually uneasy about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater than food, and the body than clothing?… But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. So, do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its troubles (Matt. 6:25,33-34). We might think these to be theories and not applicable in our time, for we do not see it happening. However, YAHSHUA did not promise freedom from stress, but He encouraged us to be of “good cheer,” for He has overcome the world. That is, all the stresses, all the difficulties, all the challenges, no matter how hard and tall the mountain is, even if they are results of reaping the consequences of sins, or not, He has taken the position of High Priest on our behalf. He suffers with us, He sympathizes with us, and carries our burdens with us. He holds His priesthood unchangeably because He lives on forever. Therefore, He is able also to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him since He is always living to make petition to God and intercede with Him and intervene for them; [here is] the Priest to our needs, as was fitting- holy. Blameless, unstained by sin, separated from sinners and exalted higher than the heavens (Heb.7:24-25).

Under stress, we tend to blame the other person for the wrong that is happening, as it was the case in the beginning with Adam and Eve. Neither of them took responsibility for their own decision to sin. Taking responsibility for our mistakes and sins are the first step to victory over the stress, when it comes to us as a result. As “we are what we eat,” so we are that when under stress. For it is in this situation that we show our inner true color. Colors others can’t see, only we ourselves know about them. Some, when under stress, curse God, as Job’s wife told him to do; others, as Job, sought God and cried to Him, never losing faith that endured to the end. Words, as these, I know that my Redeemer and Vindicator lives, and at last, He will stand upon the earth; and after my skin. Even this body, has been destroyed, then from my flesh or without it I shall see God, Whom I, even I, shall see for my self and on my side! And my eyes shall behold Him, and not as a stranger (Job19:25-27) This is a true testimony of whom Job was when under stress. Day, after day, we are confronted with stress we haven’t planned on. Surprises, after surprises, raise the eye brows, not taking them well at first by rejecting the outcome. Pain in sufferings takes a different route in life for the better, when we perceive God’s purpose, if we pay close attention to it, for it will serve to teach us how to control our emotions, which will affect many around us. It is a thing to think first, before letting our emotions get out of control. There should be a quiet place for us to be alone with God, and let all out, in order to feel clean from those hurtful emotions.

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We Are the Sweet Fragrance of Messiah YAHSHUA

The fragrance of jasmine vine flower is most delightful. It covers the garden with pleasant smell, attracting honey bees, bumble bees and other flying creatures to its smell. As a vine, it takes over spreading its branches far, reaching its world with incredible fragrance. It contains about 200 species; it is used by the global industry to make perfume. The rose bush in its different species and colors, is also known for its beauty and fragrance. The world is covered with flowers of all kinds, expressing beauty and pleasant fragrances. A gift our God gave us when He created the world. Some flowers have beauty, but not fragrance, or just a little. Any way, they serve to beautify the world and to bring joy to those who admire and appreciate a garden. The evergreen trees, for example, are just that, with a distinct, but not loud smell. However, they stay alive during the harshness of winter. Life continues feeding them, while snow falls on them and even ice. The strength they display is seen in every winter, while other trees around them fade and temporarily lose their leaves, in a picture of seemly dead, until the sun shines and the warmth of spring penetrates their branches. Some sparkle with beautiful flowers, specifically, cherry blossoms. Life with variety of colors fills the forests, blending with the evergreen trees, complementing them. Life, in its time and space, speaks loudly and clearly the wisdom of the Creator, Who holds it in His control.

Before God created man, he created all that pertained to his emotional and physical needs. He created the most beautiful and perfect garden for him to tend and care for. The fragrances that the garden expressed, brought a sense of comfort and calmness to Adam and Eve and to all created things. It also sustained them. Men and nature enjoyed harmony together, while God walked in the garden in the cool of the day, pleased with what He had created. He smiled, saying: “It is good.” We wonder, how could something so beautiful be destroyed in a split second? How could anybody want to change that beautiful environment of peace and joy? An environment that transcended men’s relationship with God the Creator? As it was, at the decision of Eve, this beautiful and perfect garden became a garden of weeds; it had lost its beauty, its fragrance and its shine, for the dark clouds of sin overtook it. At the disobedience of Adam and Eve, not only they suffered the consequences, but also the entire world of God’s creation with them. In the letter to the Romans, we read that creation waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God’s sons to be revealed; for it was subjected to frailty, not because of some intentional fault on its part, but by the will of Him Who so subjected it; that nature itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and corruption into the glorious freedom of God’s children; we know that the whole creation has been moaning together in the pains of labor until now, and not only creation, but we ourselves too, who have and enjoy the fristfruits of the [Holy] Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for the redemption of our bodies, our adoption (Rom. 8:19-23).

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But God Will Receive Me

YAHSHUA said, Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes Him Who has sent Me, has everlasting life; he does not come before the judgment, but he passes from death to life (John 5:24). Passing from death to life is surely being transported from hell to the eternal home with YAHSHUA our Savior. In this natural world, we are very much preoccupied with things of no eternal value in a way that we become distracted from our most important future. It is this promise that keeps us free from fear of death. Our transitory and fleeting existence on this earth is but a dream that came and went in the course of the night. Death, therefore, is just a transition from earth to our eternal abode, called heaven. The process is painless and fast, depending where we are going. Paul said, But I am hard pressed between the two. My yearning desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far, far better; but to remain in my body is more needful and essential for your sake (Phil. 1:23-24). When we are attached to our heavenly home, nothing in this world should prioritize our mind, as YAHSHUA told to the disciples, Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you, for I am going away to prepare a place for you (John 14:1-2). The hope that He is preparing us a place in heaven is reason good enough to shift our attention and priority to it. The thief cried while facing death, Lord, remember me when you come into kingly glory! And YAHSHUA answered him, Truly, I tell you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise (Luke 23:42-43). Today, we can cry to Him in repentance and He will change our destiny from death to life.

It is important for us to be born again in order to enter the kingdom of God. For it is not through the natural birth, but through the spiritual birth that we are connected to the promise of eternal life. YAHSHUA said, What is born of flesh is flesh; what is born of the Spirit is spirit… You must be born anew! (John 3: 6-7). This gift was given to us when at the cross YAHSHUA bought us with His precious blood. There, He reconciled us to the Father. As He was purchasing us from the power of Satan, He cried, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? (Ps. 22:1). He suffered the pain of hell for us all who received His redemption. With that, He gave up His life and died. That was just the beginning of something of eternal value- men’s reconciliation to God. That’s when heaven’s door was opened for those whosoever will. A beautiful gift was presented to the world, sealed with YAHSHUA’S precious blood. That’s why at the end of our journey we can say, “God will receive me.” It is as the psalmist said, As for me, I will continue beholding Your face in righteousness; I shall be fully satisfied, when I awake beholding Your form [and having sweet communion with You] (Ps. 17:15). Imagine that! The future so beautiful, complete with joy, peace, not mentioning the breath-taking place itself. Just thinking about seeing YAHSHUA of Whom we heard so much; seeing His scarred hands and feet- the proof of the price He paid to purchase us, will give us strength to go through fires life brings us. Paul said, I consider that the sufferings of this present time (this present life) are not worth being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us and for us and conferred on us! (Rom. 8:17). The certainty of knowing where we are going after this life, is the reason why we are not afraid of death. The transfer of God’s saints to heaven is very precious in the sight of the Lord (Ps. 116:15). But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave; for He shall receive me (Ps. 49:15). How can a holy God care for such sinner as we are? What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him? (Ps.8:4) These are David’s words acknowledging God’s excellent name and power over the world. In a humble attitude, he uttered these words for the world to know, which have lasted and will last forever.

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Mount Moriah, A Holy Site

“After these events, God tested and proved Abraham and said to him, Abraham! And he said, Here I am. [God] said, Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love and go to the region of Moriah; and offer him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains of which I will tell you…On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance, and he said to his servants, Settle down and stay here with the donkey, and I and he young man will go yonder and worship and come again to you. Then Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering, and laid it on [the shoulders of] Isaac his son, and he took the fire in his own hand and a knife; and the two of them went on together. And Isaac said to Abraham, My father! And said, See here is the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering? Abraham said, My son, God Himself will provide a lamb for the burnt offering. So, the two went on together.” (Gen. 22:1-2,4-8)

Let’s assume that it was almost dawn when Abraham arrived at the place God ordained him to go. Before him, everything stood clearly. It was as if Abraham was living in the future although, he did not perceive the spiritual meaning of what he was seeing. The place, yes, the place, most definitively was where Adam and Eve stood before the Lord listening to their fate as a consequence of their rebellion against Him, but again, that place was also where God promised them a Redeemer. Many years later, Abraham stood in that place, as he called, “The Lord will provide” with certainty of those words. These were prophetic words the Lord was speaking through Abraham, confirming His promise to Adam many years past. Now, Isaac needed to hear them. His life was at the point of being sacrificed in that mount called, the Mount of the Lord. Even though tied to the altar, Isaac still believed the words, “The Lord will provide a lamb for the sacrifice” on this mount. Abraham and Isaac could only understand what was happening in their tangible way, but not in the spiritual realm. They could not perceive that in that place, God the Father, God the Son, God the Spirit were standing alongside with them, agreeing that was to be the place His Son was to be sacrificed. Redemption was going to take place where our parents sinned, for it needed washing with the redemptive blood of the Lamb of God; the only blood free from stains of sin; the only blood with the washing power. In fact, in the course of God’s timing, His Son came and was crucified in that place for all to see. And like Abraham and Isaac, people of that time, saw many things that were happening, but they did not perceive their meaning; they did not perceive the anguish of God’s Son in His cry, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? was their cry in hell, because they had rejected the Son of God; they did not know that YAHSHUA was suffering their pain of hell, where the presence of God was completely void. No, they did not, instead, they offered Him vinegar to drink to ease His pain. They did not perceive that the earthquake they felt was the earth responding to the touch of YAHSHUA’S blood when it was shed upon it; that Nature trembled at the touch of the Creator’s blood. Yes, nature did, but men did not.

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Stuck Emotions, What Are They?

“Emotion is a complex experience of consciousness, bodily sensation, and behavior that reflects the personal significance of a thing, an event, or a state of affairs. It is a strong feeling, often accompanied by a physical reaction. Aristotle defined emotions as “all those feelings that so change men as to affect their judgements, and that are also attended by pain or pleasure.” (Britannica).

When God created man, He created him with body, soul and spirit. The soul dictates man’s doings. It is a word for the intellect, the will and emotion. Without the soul, man would be without action. Emotions are feelings; they can be happy or sad depending on circumstances. So, emotions are affected by positive or negative circumstances. They are expressed through tears, especially in women. It is the part of the soul and it affects the organs of the body. When we cannot let go of past emotions, we hold them in the organs, weakening them with diseases. One thing that many of us hold onto is bitterness with unforgiveness. The emotion that expresses anger gets stuck in the liver, if not dealt with. The Bible tells us, “Be angry and sin not; do not let the sun go down on your anger- do not give the devil an opportunity” (Eph. 4:27). A child, when traumatized in the atmosphere of abuse against him, will without a doubt, suffer the emotional consequences of stuck emotion through his life. This will constitute an open door to the devil, who prows over us to destroy us. As a matter of fact, the mind is a battlefield most fought for, since it is through it that Satan has access to its control. Peter said, Be well balanced, be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring, seeking someone to seize upon and devour (I Peter 5:8).

Good emotions are essential for the construction of a good and strong character. The Bible encourages us to be kind, compassionate, loving, forgiving. While our Lord YAHSHUA was being crucified, He prayed forgiveness for those who were crucifying Him. The emotion that reflects the Lord in our life is love, for love forgives and overlooks an offense. In love we develop positive thoughts that guide us to positive emotions. Paul said, For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things (Phil. 4:8). The main reason for stuck emotions is unforgiveness and self-pettiness. Learning how to let go and let God take vengeance on those who offended us, is a good way to let go of them. Stuck emotions are doors for the devil to control our thoughts. Cain expressed jealousy toward his brother and in anger, he killed him. He held unto the fact that his offering was not accepted by the Lord, but his brother’s was. “Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin.” The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why do look sad and depressed? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you, but you must master it” (Gen. 4:6-7). Stuck emotion in the life of Esau against his brother, Jacob, almost caused him to kill him. To this day, stuck emotions of anger and jealousy have governed his descendants as well as in Ismael’s the half-brother of Isaac and in Esau Jacob’s twin brother. For this reason, the Middle East is a place empty of peace. Only when the Prince of Peace -YASHHUA comes will He bring peace to all.

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Friends Who Would Not Give Up

The word friendship is a warm word, connecting the world together in a bond of peace, for it overlooks an offense and forgives it. The blessing that a friend brings is noticeable in times of one’s trials. Solomon said, “A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity” (Prov. 17:17). This is a good definition of friendship. The harmony existent in friendship makes one secure and confident in one another. The foundation of the love existent in friendship comes from the unselfish heart; a heart that knows how to deny self to reach out to a friend no matter what the circumstance. David and Jonathan were good examples of good friends. We see it when Jonathan risked his own life to save David’s in time when his father wanted to kill him. He had no jealousy toward him knowing that David was to be the future king after his father’s death and not he. Even in its imperfection, friendship offers much good to those who have friends. In the report of Luke 5:18-10, there is a perfect example of friends helping their paralyzed friend to get to YAHSHUA for healing. Guided by faith, they lifted their friend up on the roof and lowered him through the tiles in front of YAHSHUA. This was an amazing act of courage compelled by compassion. Those men overlooked the possible danger ahead of them and the damage they were causing to someone’s roof, if that was the case. Faith took them to the Healer even if they had to break through a roof. The Bible tells us that when they could not find a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him with his stretcher through the tiles into the midst, in front of YAHSHUA (Luke 5:18-19).

When YAHSHUA saw their faith, He said, Man, your sins are forgiven you (Luke 5:20). YAHSHUA saw beyond the physical condition of this man. He saw the root cause of his problem. For him to receive his physical healing, his spiritual condition, had to be dealt with first. So, it was that this man left the place spiritually and physically healed at the words of YAHSHUA, “I say to you, arise, pick up your stretcher and go to your own house. instantly [the man] stood up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went away to the house, recognizing and praising and thanking God” (Luke 5: 24-25). That was the day of his freedom, not only physical, but spiritual; a day of celebration in recognition and acknowledgment of the Son of God by all who witnessed the miracle. as we read, “And overwhelming astonishment and ecstasy seized them all, and they recognized and praised and tanked God and they were filled with and controlled by reverential fear and kept saying, We have seen wonderful and strange and incredible and unthinkable things today!” (Luke 5:26) The healing of that paralyzed man caused great awakening in the lives of all those present. The deed of friends toward one friend, resulted in more than his physical healing; it resulted also in the awakening of the crowd of Whom YAHSHUA was: the Messiah, the Son of God, Who was to come. As a result, a short- lived revival happened that day in the hearts of the people, although years later, the same crowd cried, Crucify Him, crucify Him!

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