WHEN THE VEIL IS LIFTED YOU WILL FIND FREEDOM !

As a follower of Jesus, I often think of where the world and everyone in it must have been in terms of their ability to be FREE. We often think of Freedom from a perspective of being able to do the things we like to do, and want to do. Our Life, Our Way. Our Will ! In the religious environment that existed when Jesus came to earth and began His Gospel Task, the world He walked in was comprised of Pagan worship and practices, along with Jewish worship based upon the Torah, and also Traditions that were added from the Religious leaders and administrators of the time period; Oral Law was deemed every bit as important as Torah Law. Paganism and God’s chosen people of the Mosaic Covenant often clashed. The Jewish Leadership consisted of Pharisees and Sadducees; both Jewish Leadership but with different understanding and beliefs when it came to Mosaic Law. Both groups made up the ruling counsel, wielding Power and Authority over the common Jewish people. I find it interesting that when Moses brought the people to Mount Sinai, experienced God in the burning Bush, and conferred with Him regarding the Ten Commandments, the people did not want to hear directly from God themselves. They counted on Moses to “Tell Them” what God had to say. Moses himself covered his face in a veil; God’s presence upon him was simply too much to gaze upon and comprehend for the Israelites. It symbolically revealed “humanity’s DISTANCE from God’s HOLINESS. Divine Glory in comparison to Sinful Mankind ! The times Jesus walked in were not the epitome of FREEDOM ! Tyrannical Roman Rule; Religious Control and Judgement….all with no ability to truly seek God’s Forgiveness without the permission or intervention of a High Priest. Forgiveness of Sin required blood sacrifice in the form of unblemished animals. Offerings were also made in many other forms for a multitude of reasons; all requiring a continual restarting to address a new set of failures. The Law can seem very challenging, and yet it was God’s Template for the Right Way to live and do things. Torah Law is absolutely important to see and understand God’s Character, His Holiness, and His Ways. Many “Christians” see it as an ancient relic; no longer of importance or needed…because Grace has replaced it. IF GOD GAVE US A TEMPLATE ON HOW TO LIVE, WOULD HE DISCARD IT ? WOULD GOD REPLACE IT WITH AN AGENDA TO DEFINE OUR OWN TEMPLATE SIMPLY BECAUSE OF GRACE ? My Belief is that GOD NEVER CHANGES. HIS WORD IS FOREVER, AND IT IS ALWAYS A PART OF US ! I also believe that God’s Commandments are NOT designed to make things Difficult. On the contrary, they GUIDE US INTO FREEDOM AND GRACE:)

BUT THE ONE WHO LOOKS INTO THE PERFECT LAW, THE LAW OF LIBERTY, AND PERSEVERES, BEING NO HEARER WHO FORGETS BUT A DOER WHO ACTS, HE WILL BE BLESSED IN HIS DOING. James 1:25

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE WAY IS BLAMELESS, WHO WALK IN THE LAW OF THE LORD ! BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO KEEP HIS TESTIMONIES, WHO SEEK HIM WITH THEIR WHOLE HEART, WHO ALSO DO NO WRONG, BUT WALK IN HIS WAYS ! YOU HAVE COMMANDED YOUR PRECEPTS TO BE KEPT DILIGENTLY. OH THAT MY WAYS MAY BE STEADFAST IN KEEPING YOUR STATUTES ! Psalm 119: 1-145:21

GOD IS NOT MAN, THAT HE SHOULD LIE, OR A SON OF MAN, THAT HE SHOULD CHANGE HIS MIND. HE HAS SAID, AND WILL HE NOT DO IT ? OR HAS HE SPOKEN, AND WILL HE NOT FULFILL IT ? Numbers 23:19

THE GRASS WITHERS, THE FLOWER FADES, BUT THE WORD OF OUR GOD WILL STAND FOREVER. Isaiah 40:8

Do You Know Jesus ? Do You Follow Jesus ? We should contemplate exactly WHO JESUS IS, AND WHY HE CAME TO EARTH AS A MAN. Scripture tells us in John 3:16: “ FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.” The Ultimate Sacrifice by The Father to Save humanity from sin, and Restore the relationship between God and His People, providing a path to Eternal Life With Him ! Scripture also tells us in Matthew 5:17-20: DO NOT THINK THAT I HAVE COME TO ABOLISH THE LAW OR THE PROPHETS; I HAVE NOT COME TO ABOLISH THEM, BUT TO FULFILL THEM. Each of us has to come to a discernment and understanding of God’s Law, and God’s Grace. There are a multitude of Scriptures that discuss them, and they take Deep Meditation and Reflection to gain a place of their meaning and importance in each of our lives. I personally have come to the understanding that they work in Perfect Balance. Jesus lived His Life according to “Torah Law (aka God’s Law). He walked in God’s Commandments and Ways ! He fulfilled them with His Life ! Likewise, HE fulfilled the very Words of the Prophets…and He Still Is ! Jesus lives in Heaven, sitting at the right hand of God The Father, and HE WILL BE RETURNING TO FINALIZE HIS MISSION; The establishment of His Kingdom:) I will NEVER be perfect here in this life, but I will be when I join Him in His Kingdom. My task here is to Abide In Him, being close and obedient, becoming who HE desires me to be ! THIS IS FREEDOM ! Our ability to abide in RELATIONSHIP and receive the GIFT OF THE GOSPEL lifts the veil that blinds us, and allows us to SEE AND SEEK GOD:) OUR PURPOSE IS TO BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, AND BE FREE TO BECOME A NEW CREATION IN JESUS CHRIST ! NO LONGER IN “BONDAGE” TO SIN, OR MAN MADE TRADITIONS AND LAWS THAT GOD HAS NEVER SPOKEN. How arrogant in our own wisdom and self rule have we truly become TO THINK WE ARE WISE, but alas, it was THE SAME from the very beginning in the Garden.

YET FOR US THERE IS ONE GOD, THE FATHER, FROM WHOM ARE ALL THINGS AND FROM WHOM WE EXIST, AND ONE LORD, JESUS CHRIST, THROUGH WHOM ARE ALL THINGS AND THROUGH WHOM WE EXIST. 1 Corinthians 8:6

BUT GOD SHOWS HIS LOVE FOR US IN THAT WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US. Romans 5:8

JESUS SAID TO HIM, “I AM THE WAY, AND THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME. John 14:6

FOR FREEDOM CHRIST HAS SET US FREE; STAND FIRM THEREFORE, AND DO NOT SUBMIT AGAIN TO A YOKE OF SLAVERY. Galatians 5:1

Are you living in FREEDOM ? Is your life fulfilled in the Love, Peace, and Rest that comes from and in a Relationship With Jesus ? Our world and culture has no understanding of these things, but I Pray that ALL may have their Heart’s Opened to SEE AND HEAR THE GOSPEL ! A life without God will always be devoid of Truth and Purpose. A life WITH GOD will always be full of Hope and Promise; not free from challenges, but also NOT WALKING ALONE. Remember, Jesus is ALWAYS seeking to find the One Lost Sheep…..IS IT YOU ? LIFT THE VEIL/JAA

LIVE AS PEOPLE WHO ARE FREE, NOT USING YOUR FREEDOM AS A COVER UP FOR EVIL, BUT LIVING AS SERVANTS OF GOD. 1 Peter 2:16