Until Heaven and Earth Pass Away
- Pat Adamson
Yeshua is the First Fruits of the early rain (1 Cor. 15:20; James 1:18). The latter rain is on its way and will produce a great harvest, one that today is ripening on the vine right before our very eyes! And very soon, even surrounding this wonderful harvest of souls, there will also be great apostasy in the world – massive apostasy that will dwarf any righteous ingathering one might envision.
When we see cults like “Agape,” or philosophies like “The Secret,” and movements like the “Emergent Church,” we realize that the battle for souls is raging on, all around us (Matt 10:26). These types of groups masquerade as angels of light masking their opposition to the G-d of Scripture through charitable acts and other good deeds. Even so, when the mask is removed their errant doctrines are clearly discernable when measured against the backdrop of Scripture. Their deeds are good – their behavior seems right, but even “right” behavior is not righteous apart from the Righteous Source.
In Matthew 13:24-30, Yeshua provides a Midrash to His listeners using wheat and tares as His analogy. As in all of history, the “tares” (unbelievers) are growing together with the “wheat” (believers). A tare is much more difficult to distinguish when it is growing right in the midst of the believing community. However, due to the limitations of our humanity we cannot identify the source or motive, only doctrine and behavior.
For those of us who value Torah, we are aware that a certain man of “Torah-less-ness” will one day appear on the scene (2 Thess. 2:3) and will be very attractive to many who are “antinomian” in their view of the Scriptures. Antinomians are those who deny the validity of Torah for holy living. How many antinomian folks do you suppose we have in the “universal church” today? The stronger a person’s faith is grounded in Torah, the more stable is his/her foundation and less likely is the person to be deceived.
“Let no one deceive you with empty talk; for it is because of these things that G-d's judgment is coming on those who disobey Him. So don't become partners with them! For you used to be darkness; but now, united with the L-rd, you are light. Live like children of light, for the fruit of the light is in every kind of goodness, rightness and truth - try to determine what will please the L-rd.” (Ephesians 5:6-10 CJB)
So what is it that “pleases Adonai?” The Torah is what pleases Adonai which is at the center of His heart and a perfect reflection of Yeshua. (Psalm 1:1-2; 40:8; 78:1; Psalm 119:1 et al; Deut 30:11-14; 32:46; Prov. 3:1; 7:1-2; 28:9, etc, etc, etc.)
In the NASB, Psalm 19 says: “The Law (“Torah” – Strong’s 8451) of the L-rd is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the L-rd is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the L-rd are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the L-rd is pure, enlightening the eyes.”
Of course, this is talking about the Torah – the ways of the L-rd given to Moses and the people of Israel for all time. As believers, if we truly embrace this Scripture, then we must also embrace the Torah of which it speaks. For the people of the nations grafted in, the Torah was never meant to be a footnote of Jewish history. It is alive and well and relevant for all believers today. Why? Because it is the way of blessing; it is the ancient path of discipleship Yeshua exampled for His followers. It is what pleases the L-rd and it is the sure foundation, confirmed by the Ruach Elohim (Spirit of G-d) that will keep Yeshua’s followers from being deceived.
“Until heaven and earth pass away,
not so much as a yud or a stroke [jot or tittle]
will pass from the Torah”
Yeshua the Messiah (Matthew 5:18)
We yearn for the pleasure of His blessing, and, come what may; we will continue to walk in His love.
