Righteousness – Light from the Word

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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Who Will Stand with Me for Righteousness?

The world goes around in circles in relationship to its spiritual estate. The air is filled with unrighteousness and no one takes notice of it, so it seems. There is no noticeable distinction between Christians and non-Christians in the way one chooses music, in the way they dress, in the life-style one chooses to live. Christians support businesses that practice profanities, and immorality. Stores openly let them know where they stand in matters that should concern their faith, but their eyes are closed and ears deafened by choice in order not to sacrifice their worldly pleasure. We elect officials who stand against our beliefs in order to support political parties. Meanwhile, where children disappear from the womb of their mothers, for the sake of women’s choice. The world has become morally filthy and hard to live in it. We ask the question, “How long, O Lord before You take vengeance on this world?” However, we forget that He is looking for intercessors who will stand in the gap for righteousness. We are depressed, carrying the load of grief, but without focus to fight the evil taking over our lives. Our land is polluted beyond remedy. Only our Lord can do something about it, if we, the minority of His people, would stand for Him in this warfare against unrighteousness. Iniquities abound, separating us from God. Prayers are not answered because of it; we live a mediocre life of faith; “we do not call-in righteousness,” while unrighteousness multiplies.

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For the Lord Is Our Judge

(Isaiah 33:22-24)

When we think of the word judge with all that it represents in the courts of law, we come to honor such title with respect. When having to face him for some reason or other, at his mercy, as the person who determines our destiny- winner or loser in the case presented to him, we fear that he will determine us to be guilty, even though innocent. It is our fear that it will happen upon the false evidences presented to him, as many who were innocent, found themselves serving life in prison, even sent to die, for the crime they did not commit. When this elected official, with authority to decide cases in a court of law is God fearing, we feel confident that he will be spiritually discerning to make the right decision, according to his faith in God. Today, however, judges have great political power over the people. They can reverse decisions to bring about chaos in the country to conform to the agendas of those who are wicked, for they have been bought out through bribes. It is a thing of money that compels them not to take the stand for righteousness’s and justice’s sake. We have experienced it firsthand in this country and others. But Our God, the Lord is God of gods and Lord of lords, He is the Great, the Mighty, and awesome God, Who is not partial and takes bribes (Deut. 10:17); He is the Judge of all judges; someday all judges will have to face Him for judgment. So, it will be the judges being judged by the Sovereign, the Almighty Judge of all the earth. To Him they will give accounts of all the injustices they performed in the courts of law, destroying lives to no end. God, Who established the law, said, You shall not do injustice in court; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor (Lev. 19: 15).

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Elisha, The Prophet With Double Portion

Those were days of unprecedented happenings, when God dealt with the nation of Israel through His prophets and their performed miracles. We see this in the lives of Elijah and Elisha. Like no others, these were both actively involved in the lives of people. However, Elijah was a prophet of judgment; he shut the heaven and stopped the rain for three and a half years; he brought down fire and on Ahab’s soldiers. He is more like John the Baptist, a loner; Elisha, a prophet of mercy. A prophet that mingled with the people. His ministry parallels that of our Savior, YAHSHUA. Elisha’s name means God’s salvation; YAHSHUA’s name YAHWEH will save. Elisha’s ministry started in the Jordan River, after Elijah is translated to heaven. He takes his mantle and parts the Jordan’s water; YAHSHUA started His ministry after being baptized in the Jordan River. They both raised a woman’s son from the dead; both fed the multitude with small resource, with food leftover. Elisha’s bones brought life to a dead man, after his body touched his bones. YAHSHUA resurrection brought many to life, when the earth shook, the rocks were split, the tombs were opened and many bodies of the saints were raised to life (Matt. 27:51-52).

Elisha was a disciple of Elijah and his successor, as Joshua was to Moses and succeeded him after Moses’ death, to continue leading the Israelites to the Promised Land. Following his master to the place where he was to be translated, Elisha asked him for a double portion of his anointing, to which Elijah said, You have asked a hard thing. However, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you (II Kings 2:9-10). Elisha saw Elijah’s departure to heaven in a chariot of fire and horses of fire, as he went up by a whirlwind into heaven. He threw his mantle to Elisha, confirming the double portion of his anointing. Elisha, then took the mantle and parted the waters of the Jordan River. Elisha, when called to the ministry, left everything behind, including his career to follow Elijah. A young man from a well to do family, never looked back. To start with, he severed the links of his life style by slaughtering the oxen he was ploughing with at the time of the call, the wood he used as fire wood to cook the oxen for his friends and family, perhaps to say goodbye. Off he went to pursue his new career as a prophet. YAHSHUA said, No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God (Luke 9: 62). Elisha mastered on this one. Still very young when called, he persisted to the end looking ahead, never backward. He was a hero of the faith in every sense of the word. “A man of whom the world was not worthy.”

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In the Year King Uzziah Died

The Prophet Isaiah registers a beautiful experience he had with God after King Uzziah died. King Uzziah was a very successful king in the early years of his career as king. The secret laid on the fact that he sought the Lord. It was his desire to seek God (2 Chron. 26: 5). God blessed him and he became very successful in all he did. He was a distinguished and successful politician. He went against the Philistines and broke down the walls of Gath, of Jabneh, and of Ashdod, and built cities near Ashdod and elsewhere among the Philistines, and God helped him against the Philistines and the Arabs who dwelt in Gur-ball and the Meunim. That Ammonites paid tribute to Uzziah, and his fame spread abroad even to the border of Egypt, for he became very strong (II Chron. 26: 6-8).

But King Uzziah’s successes turned him into a prideful king. The Bible says, but when [King Uzziah] was strong, he became proud to his destruction; he trespassed against the Lord his God, for he went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense (vs. 16). Burning incense by other than the sons of Aaron was a terrible breach of the Levitical Law. He well knew about it, but for whatever reason, he was driven to commit this evil against the word of the Lord. His pride arouse when the priest Azariah confronted him. He was enraged; and while he was enraged with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead before the priests in the house of the Lord. King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death, and being a leper, he dwelt in a separate house, for he was excluded from the Lord’s house (II chron. 16:18-21).

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Planting Seeds

(Galatians 6:7; Numbers 32:23)

. . . But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against God and know that your sin will find you out (Numbers 32:23).

Life is a tool for planting seeds wherever we go, whatever we do, or say. In fact, we are marked by our past, through the seeds we plant and fruits we harvest- good or bad. It is like nail on a board; although the nail is removed, its mark remains. We plant seeds from the time we know between good and evil. Every seed we plant carries consequences affecting our future. Moses, the servant of God, warned Israel a few times about the consequences of their disobedience, saying: Behold, you have sinned against God and know that your sin will find you out (Numbers 32:23). The seed of disobedience is a spirit of rebellion against God. Its consequences will follow us as long as we live, for it will bear fruits of all kinds that will affect our future, if not dealt with. Rebellion is defiance; it is a refusal to submit to established authority. A clear example of it is Satan leading the angels’ revolt against God, resulting in a consequential outcome for mankind, when our first parents fell prey to him. From that time on, mankind has been indirectly planting generational seeds. However, we do plant seeds marked by our choice of decision we make every day. Whatever we sow, that we will reap many times over. We can never plant a seed and gather only one fruit. It just does not work that way in nature; it does not happen in life, either. For this reason, the Apostle Paul instructed us not to be deceived, God will not be mocked, for whatever we sow, that we will harvest. The law of sowing and reaping in life it is certain as it is in nature.

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He Who Guards His Mouth

Mouth, Tongue = Words

(Proverbs 13:3; Psalm 19:14; I Peter 3:10)

“He who guards his mouth keeps his life, but he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.” A loose tongue has the power to destroy a city. It is like fire out of control when no one can tame it. Solomon said these in the book of Proverbs: These six things the Lord hates; indeed, seven are an abomination to Him. (1) proud look (2) a lying tongue, (3) hands that shed blood, (4) a heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans (5) feet that are swift in running for evil (6) a false witness that breathes out lies and (7) he who sows discord among his brethren (Prov. 6: 16-19). Out of seven three has to do with the tongue – mouth, being the seventh the one God abominates. When the human heart is evil, evil will come out of the mouth. The mouth is the door from which the heart expresses itself. When rebuking the Pharisees of His time, YAHSHUA said, You offspring of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil? For out of the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man from his inner good treasure flings forth good things, and the evil man out of his inner evil storehouse flings forth evil things. But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every idle word they speak. For by your words you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced (Matt. 12: 34-37). When we perceive evil coming out of someone’s mouth, we understand that his heart is full of it. Although one cannot see what is going on the heart of man, one can see it through the hearing of the ears.

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There Were Two… Then There Was One

At that time two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left; two women will be grinding at the hand mill; one will be taken and one will be left (Matt. 24: 40-41).

When the disciples privately asked YAHSHUA important questions pertaining to the destruction of the temple, His return and the end of the age, YAHSHUA, before answering them, warned of several things that were going to take place previous to the end: false messiahs who will lead many astray, wars and rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes, all these will precede the end of the age. YAHSHUA also warned them of persecution, the rise of the false prophets, and lawlessness. To this He said that the love of many will grow cold. That is, the love for God and for righteousness. We are witnessing lawlessness everywhere we go in increasing measure in our time. We see in this the words of Paul, and Jude being fulfilled in reference to people’s behavior and attitude. Paul prophesied that in the last days there will be perilous times of great stress and trouble, for people will be lovers of self and utterly self-centered, lovers of money and aroused by and inordinate desire for wealth, proud and arrogant and contemptuous boaster. They will be abusive disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane, without natural affection, relentless; they will be slanderers, intemperate and loose in morals and conduct, uncontrolled and fierce, haters of good, [they will be treacherous, rash inflated with self-conceit, lovers of sensual pleasures and vain amusements more than and rather than lover of God. For [although] they hold a form of piety, they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it (II Tim. 3:1-5). And Jude confirmed the words of Paul by saying, they will be scoffers, following after their own ungodly passions, agitators setting up distinction and causing divisions – merely sensual, devoid of the [Holy] Spirit and destitute of any higher spiritual life (Jude 18-19).

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The Righteous Are Living Memorials of God’s Faithfulness

(Psalm 92: 15)

The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree; they shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon, planted in the house of the Lord, they shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap and verdure. [They are living memorial] to show that the Lord is upright and faithful to His promises; He is my Rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him (Psalm 92: 12-15).

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Blessed Are the Persecuted for Righteousness Sake

(Matthew 5:10; II Thess. 1; I Peter 4:13-14; John 15:19-21)

Stephen was a man full of faith and full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:5). Noted for his outstanding faith, he suffered persecution and ultimately death through stoning. No harassment could touch his faith to diminish it. Instead, it grew deeper and deeper to the point of death, and death by stoning. Just before it happened, he saw the glory of God and YAHSHUA standing at His right hand (Acts 7:55). With uncontrolled anger, for not being able to convince him to give up the faith in YAHSHUA, the people dragged him out of the city and stoned him. Not even that, however, erased his steadfastness to the faith, neither his courage to face death. Instead, Stephen prayed, Lord YAHSHUA, receive my spirit, and falling on his knees, he cried out loudly, Lord, fix not this sin upon them! And when he had said this, he fell asleep [in death] (Acts 7:58-60).

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