I remember watching a video once about the history of the world. It was from an atheistic and satirical perspective. The narrative started with the big bang, went through evolution, and eventually wound up with the real history of humanity. There were certain moments that, while comical, demonstrated how people actually view what happened. Whenever a certain event would happen, the narrator would say, “Hey, we could make a religion out of this!”
When he got to the part about Yeshua (whom he called ‘Jesus’) dying on the cross, he said the same thing. And this is honestly how a lot of people view moments like this in history; something big happened, so people formed a religion around it.
I consider myself a realist which may confuse people since I am a man of faith. I view the entirety of Scripture as a very real and grounded work; everything from the universe coming into existence, the return of a man once dead and alive again, to the establish of the Kingdom on earth.
Paradise Lost
Yah once established His original plan on earth with humanity in a paradise. The Garden of Eden was exactly that – a paradise or utopia. Man had dominion over all living things, the ground produced all their food, they had fellowship with God and one another… it was perfect. But there was a choice given between choosing God or self established as a form of liberty which was whether to eat of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil or to obey God in not eating it. Man chose to disobey God and eat the fruit.
The curse was brought upon the world and we’ve been there ever since. This is a real problem for humanity.
Paradise Restored
Sha’ul/Paul called Yeshua the “second Adam” or the “last Adam” (1 Cor. 15). Yeshua was/is fully obedient to the Father and for that reason, He will be able to restore humanity to how things were intended to be. He says he will in the Gospels, he is foretold to do so in the Apostolic Letters, and the events that foretell what lead up to the restoration is revealed in the Book of the Revelation.
Why all this talk about paradise and utopia? Because that is more or less what humanity is currently working towards – a utopia. Not to get too political on you, but it is important to note that our governments and politicians are attempting to make their own nations as well as unify with others in order to create a planet that is without violence, without need, without pollution, without sickness, etc. The problem is, they have no idea how to do it. They think they do, which is why they keep pitching the idea of global vaccinations, clean energy, lack of guns, absence of dissenting opinions, population control, and open borders. The term “the great reset” is the hot-topic.
It sounds nice, but once you take a look around and realize that this is in the form of “submit or else” and that someone has to rule it all, it becomes a frightening recipe for a dictatorial and totalitarian world order.
The Real Deal
While [secular] humanity strives (and ultimately fails) to make this type of world a reality, it will only actually happen one way – Yeshua must return and establish the Kingdom of the Father “on earth as it is in Heaven”. This will be the real utopia/paradise. But this leaves humanity as it is in the here and now with a bit of a conundrum; do we continue to strive for world peace or do we sit back and wait on Messiah’s return?
Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-18, Luke 24:44-49, and Acts 1:8 give similar but slightly different variations of what has become known as the “Great Commission”:
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make people from all nations into talmidim (disciples, students), immersing them into the reality of the Father, the Son and the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit), and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember! I will be with you always, yes, even until the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20
I believe he made this statement with the understanding that the message of the Kingdom would be rejected by many people; and indeed, it has been.
However, for those who choose to live a life for the Father in obedience to the Torah (being “immersed into the reality of the Father”), paradise has already been found. That’s not to say that they will not have struggles or face death, but they have a new hope to look forward to that one day they will see a world without all the wickedness we see today and that Messiah will reign over a righteous Kingdom. There will be no sickness, disease, or death. There will be no crime, sadness, or fear. It can only be accomplished through Him, the Messiah, at the behest of the Father. No one will seek for riches, power, or authority of their own because, as in Acts 2, we will have all things in common.
What’s Truly Real
The restoration of the Garden of Eden will be the establishment of Yah’s Kingdom; and no one will have any more need of anything. But this future reality will only belong to those faithful to the Father. Someone who strives to create their own kingdom will lose it.
“Whoever aims at preserving his own life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will stay alive.”
Matthew 16:25, Luke 17:33, & John 12:25
The purpose of our lives as lived for the Father is to make those around us aware of the Kingdom. As you may have guessed, it is a very selfless lifestyle. Torah is about loving Elohim and others. There’s not much room for “self” in such a lifestyle other than loving others as you love yourself. (Matthew 22:36-40, Deut. 6:5, Lev. 19:18)
When it all comes down to it, we must live our lives as in the Garden. We are looking forward to the Kingdom of Yah while working towards bringing as many along with us as possible. THAT is the reality of our very existence.
We must strive to be a people where none would dare eat the fruit. A life lived for Yah is a very gratifying and real thing to experience. It’s not just a religion, in the traditional sense, but a life that brings the reality of the Kingdom to a world in need.
Don’t forget to check out our Hebraic Health section for recipes and fitness tips!