TK Torah Keepers

My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me. ⁵ Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. ⁶ And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. ⁷ Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah. ⁸ I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest. (Psalm 55:4-8 KJV)

The psychologists have repeatedly demonstrated that human beings typically respond to the threat of danger in one of two ways, “fight” or “flight”.  For most people “flight” is the preferred response.  I remember Mr. Kim, my Tae Kwon Do teacher use to teach his class that the “Tae Kwon Do Walk” is the most important skill to develop.  He emphasized that this “walk” was the primary move and foundation of any self-defense.  He would have us line up and then begin walking, placing one foot in front of the other, as he would call out “left, right, left, right,” building up the tempo of his cadence until we were all running around the dojong.  Then he would say, “Now that you have mastered the ‘Tae Kwon Do Walk’ you can walk away from trouble before it begins!”  I can personally attest to the successfulness of this ancient technique.  I have employed this primary form of self defense on numerous occasions and am still alive to tell about it.  On occasion, however, circumstances are such that we cannot run away.  We must stay and face the accuser or the adversary.  Our Master has warned us on numerous occasions in his teachings the cost of being his disciple.

And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. (Matthew 10:22 KJV)

Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. (Matthew 24:9 KJV)

But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake. (Luke 21:12 KJV)

Our Master also taught us not to be afraid of what men may do to us, but rather to remain faithful and fear God.

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28 KJV)

YHWH sent Yeshua to be a light for those sitting in the gross darkness of the world.

For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but YHWH shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. (Isaiah 60:2 KJV)

 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. (Matthew 4:16 KJV)

Then spake Yeshua again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12 KJV)

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. (John 9:5 KJV)   

Not all men welcome the light

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. (John 1:5 KJV)

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. (John 3:19-20 KJV)

As the body of Messiah we too are to be a light to the world.

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. (Matthew 5:14 KJV)

While we may seek to live peaceably among all men, all men will not let us live peaceably. Yeshua knew that we would face persecution, oppression, resentment, and rejection because of our association with him but he sent us into the dangers of the darkness nonetheless.

Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. (Luke 10:3 KJV)

Even in the Messiah’s high priestly prayer, he asked that the Father would not take us out of the world, but that he would protect us in the darkness of this world.

I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. ¹⁵ I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. ¹⁷ Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. ¹⁸ As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. (John 17:14-18 KJV)

While we should not needlessly place ourselves in danger, the calling of YHWH through Yeshua is that we be his body in the world.  As the body of Messiah we may expect that we will take our share of name calling, false accusations, beatings, floggings, beard pulling, rejection and possibly even death.  But we must not simply run away and hide.  We are called to be a light even in this darkness.  Even in this peril of adversity we must fulfill the Master’s teachings.

But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, ²⁸ Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. (Luke 6:27-28 KJV)

To do fulfill this calling in the Spirit of Messiah, we must truly believe the gospel that Yeshua has indeed overcome the power of sin and death.  To genuinely stand our ground and not run and hide our light in the face of gross darkness, we must believe that just as we suffer rejection, humiliation, beating and even death for our association with Messiah, so too will we be raised from death because of our association with the Messiah. While our instinct may be to fight or fly, our Master has commanded us to stay and shine.  At these times, may the Father truly bless us with courage, conviction and faith!