A Now Moment in Life

 The other day, an old friend and I had our weekly meeting.  He helps me with my Hebrew, and I help him with issues of the faith. Although he has been a believer for many years now, because of ADD and other comprehension difficulties, he has a hard time with abstract biblical concepts.  Even though he is familiar with many of the biblical stories and believes the gospel, his grasp is restricted to a more child-like faith. On the other hand, his wife is a firm believer with extensive knowledge of the scriptures.  She also keeps up with events unfolding in today's world and relates them to biblical prophecy, especially the end times.

Before our recent meeting, his wife compared my friend to one of the five proverbial virgins who did not have enough oil in their lamps to make it to the midnight hour.  Along with that observation, she exhorted him to take an interest in Matthew 24’s end-time description and in Revelation.  My friend told me frankly and straightforwardly that he wasn’t interested in these speculations and interpretations of biblical events pertaining to the future, and that even if he did, what does it have to do with oil…. ?!

For my part, I wasn’t about to try to convince him that looking into the future for fearful disasters would help him fill his lamp.  But I did say that he needed to understand his present moment-by-moment relationship with Yeshua and the Father in the Holy Spirit. Having an awareness that He never leaves or forsakes us and that He is present with us, pouring out His oil of love and embracing us with His faithfulness, we will be experiencing His kingdom of peace and contentment.

In the wake of these shared thoughts, I asked my friend how he felt. He responded positively, stating that these words made him feel good.   I continued to ask him to think about a news article concerning an asteroid that was supposed to hit the Earth, causing many to die. I then asked how that made him feel.  His reply was like any of us would respond, scared, fearful, and ill at ease.  So why would we, in any given moment, engage ourselves and our emotions in unknown future events distracting our present relationship with He Who is the Way, the Truth, and our Life?  We can only know His present Presence in a moment-by-moment conscious awareness. This is why Yeshua instructed His followers in Matthew 6:25-34: “For this reason, I say to you, do not be anxious for your life… Are you not worth much more than they [birds]?  "And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life's span?  And why are you anxious about clothing?... "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.   Therefore, do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

"He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:27-28).  

Yeshua admonishes us to be careful and discern what we draw from the past or speculate about the future and then bring into our present thought life.  When we seek Him first, above all else, we are set on the Way that leads to the Truth and Life that make up Elohim's Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy. Being in a state of worship, we are known in YHVH's present presence, allowing us to partake of His goodness and faithfulness, which yields the fruit of the Spirit. Children typically live in the moment with very little care about the past or future. This is one of the reasons why Yeshua states so emphatically: "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven and, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3;19:14).