Contrasting The Carnal And Spiritual: Matrix (Parte Tres)
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| From a distance, all things seem typical... It is when we zoom in that we see... what has been 'hidden' there the entire time... |
Continued from Parte Dos (Parte Uno)...
When contrasting one thing with another, the light can be seen apart from the dark.
Yet it is the dark that further reveals the light, especially with physical matters.
How much more the spiritual matters.
I mentioned in a previous part that one of the three so-called Abrahamic religions graduated from another.
Christianity (the Christ identity) graduated from the nation of ancient Israel.
Ancient Israel (as does its modern-day political entity) reflected the manners of the neighbors and world around them in regards to hostilities and warring.
If one considers the world 'Today' as hostile, lawless and dangerous, one has yet to consider ancient times where the law of sword and carnal strength was the method, ransom or wealth to prevent death...yet death was not an issue considering tribal and ethnic mentalities.
We witness such mentalities still in the new age of Christ, an archaic incivility.
The law of Moses (what bound the Hebrew / Jew into covenant with God Almighty) had prescriptions for its violation, one being death at the hands of others.
There is ancient evidence of a miraculous sort regarding a new order that was to be revealed, as we shall read, in and through the Messiah.
We read in the following account of Elisha the prophet how God is able to protect His prophets and those who follow their direction.
Consider the lesson learned from the following account:
The man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there.” So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places.
This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, “Tell me! Which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?”“None of us, my lord the king,” said one of his officers, “but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.”
“Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.” The report came back: “He is in Dothan.” Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.
When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.
“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike this army with blindness.” So He struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.
Elisha told them, “This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to Samaria.
After they entered the city, Elisha said, “Lord, open the eyes of these men so they can see.” Then the Lord opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria.
When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?”
“Do not kill them,” he answered. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master.” So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel’s territory.
- 2 Kings 6: 9-23Notice God's hand, God's ability, the grace shown.
It must have been a great lesson for all, even the enemies who were spared their lives and who experienced the power of God.
This is an early example of the protective nature God's children experience every day, until the Day that God decides to end their sojourn on earth.
The manner the earthly journey ends is one that should also be entrusted to God's hand, not our logic nor impulses.
As for fighting over one's life and possessions, there is no such prescription, allowance, directive, remedy nor teaching found in Christianity as understood from Yeshua, the Gospel message, nor the letters to the ancient church.
There is neither such a finding (nor historical evidence) of such manners throughout the ancient church for nearly four centuries after Christ was witnessed rising into heaven.
Where there is evidence of corruption among certain misrepresentative and impersonators of Christ in ecclesiastical positions (carnal 'Christians' - only titled Christian) shouldn't disqualify the peaceful masses of believers who continued (and continue Today) in a peaceful walk with the Lord their God.
To further define Messiah and separate the carnal from the spiritual, let us read:
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a Sign:
The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son,
and will call Him Immanuel.
- Isaiah 7: 14Immanuel means 'God with us' in Hebrew.
Israel (the Hebrews / Jews) was expecting something more than another prophet.
Every warrior’s boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born,
to us a Son is given,
and the government will be on His shoulders.
And He will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of His government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
- Isaiah 9: 5-7The Hebrews were awaiting someone who would be attributed divine qualities.
Not so much a man that became a god (God), but God having become a man.
They were awaiting a Messiah that will put an end to fighting, strife, war, and a peaceful government will be established and ruled by Him.
Considering the manner the ancient church (comprised of believing Hebrews / Jews from Jerusalem, Judea and all places diaspora, and also Gentiles within and beyond) influenced the hostility of secular governments and regions it permeated, this reality was physically witnessed...and continues to be.
The peace that was realized was with those who believed, who submitted their lives and souls to God's trust.
However death came to them (whether in violence or in old age), they passed from life through death to continue eternal life...as was promised.
The believer in Messiah went gladly to their death, without fear and without fighting, but submitting wholeheartedly to God in complete trust:
But now, this is what the Lord says—
He who created you, Jacob,
He who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are Mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I Am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
Cush and Seba in your stead.
Since you are precious and honored in My sight,
and because I love you,
I will give people in exchange for you,
nations in exchange for your life.
Do not be afraid, for I Am with you;
I will bring your children from the east
and gather you from the west.
I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring My sons from afar
and My daughters from the ends of the earth—
everyone who is called by My Name,
whom I created for My glory,
whom I formed and made.”
- Isaiah 43: 1-7We will see other manners that the spirit brought about, and how a carnal attitude arose out of the desert several centuries after Christ that desired people to revert to old way of resolving conflict.
It may not be possible to say 'revert' when speaking to people who never came to believe in peace and full submission to God and man regarding the flesh's temptation to fight over things of this world.
We will see how a man claiming to be a prophet of God was not like Elisha in being protected by God, nor like the Messiah in professing peace and love, but propagated their claims through force and by fear of death.
Continued in Parte Quatro...
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