Chutzpah and Tikkun olam

Last night I watched an amazing documentary on Israel. Though they spoke of many things including chutzpah (which is audacity), what caught my eye was the final phrase Tikkun olam, which means repair the world.

This week has been a multitude of insights from the Lord, and I don’t know where to start.

He has had me all over the OT. So I guess I should just start with the beginning, which is not where I began.

But, for the sake of simplicity, let’s go:

We read in Genesis 2:16-17 where God speaks to Adam:

…”You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.”

And then further down in Genesis 3:1:

Now the serpent was more craft than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made, he said to the woman, “Did God really say, “You must not eat from any tree in the garden?”

Like Eve, from the beginning you and I have the truth laid out before us, regardless of how it has been spoken into our lives.

Yes, verses 16 and 17 were spoken to the man. But it would be folly to think that these words were not spoken into Eve’s life – whether by the voice of God, or by her husband.

You see, it makes no difference how God’s Word is spoken into your life – Truth is Revealed!

Even in creation, which is spoken of in Romans 1:20

But you and I have the very Word of God

John 14:6 says, I am the way, the truth and the life

Rev. 2:7 encourages us "He that hath and ear, let him hear ...I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God."

Like Eve, it is not the good we have been given that holds our attention for long. No we actually will begin to take that glorious good and take it for granted. Then rather than living joyous and thankful lives we indulge ourselves with discussions of our lack.

The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the tree in the garden.But, God said that we must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and we must not touch it, or we will die.”

“You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Gen 3:1-5

You see, having convinced ourselves of the good of self-indulgence, for whatever the reason, we are swallowed up, we are trapped by our sin.

Whether you are reading of these things for the first time or the hundredth time, we all have revealed before us the Tree of Life –  as well as the way of rebellion, following our own indulgences...which lead to death. (Romans 6:23)

Like Eve we have chosen our own way. And we know, our eyes are opened, it is death!

Face it, there is nothing you can do about it!

BUT WAIT! The second half of Romans 6:23 is “...the gift of God is eternal life.”

No, there is nothing you can do!

But God has, since the beginning, God has provided the way.

Our answer lies in the the Tree of Life, which is Salvation in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our answer lies in Christ alone!

God understands what it will take to save you, even the very end of Himself. This is why He has sent His own Son that He died for me, and you.

              That He would suffer and even bare for eternity the scars of that suffering in His body!

 Scars inflicted by my,
                                        by your self-gratification – self-satisfaction – self-aggrandizement.

Sister, whatever it is that you desire above Him –it will be your eternal death – yes you will surely die!

Whether like Adam you walked into it with your eyes wide open,

                                                       Or

Like Eve you were deceived about the very nature of God……….. Today is the day!  Confess and Repent!

I John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

I John 4:15 continues with “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in him, and he is in God.

Repent ladies  and receive His forgiveness, and live!

I started this message by referring to two Jewish words, chutzpah and Tikkun olam. Though both are really cool sounding, and in the case of Tikkun olam, right sounding ideas, let me say it is with audacity that mankind has tried to repair the world.

Let me say also that we have failed.

Oh yes we like to blame God, but in that garden ,that good and right garden, even in our own lives today, He has never denied us the Way, the Way which would truly repair the world.

 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall have everlasting life

If you have never come to the end of yourself, and acknowledged before God that you are a sinner in need of a Savior, and you so desire salvation today, begin by calling out to Him now.

Join me as I pray:

Father, Abba,

Today someone may read these words and feel within their heart the longing and desire to surrender their lives to you. I pray O King and Creator, that You do what only You can do and lead them in that one and only way. That they might repent of their sin and rejection of Your Son Jesus Christ. That they may receive Him into their life. Father. I trust that as by Your Holy Spirit You have begun this good work of salvation in their lives, that You will also complete it. I pray You will lead them to a good bible believing church, that they may grow in the knowledge and grace of Christ Jesus. Amen