Who we REALLY, TRULY are – our essence…

I found this article on Jewish World Review today:  (article link)

While the article referenced above is written to a Jewish audience and uses Jewish terminology, it is true for ALL of humanity, most especially for those who claim to know and worship the Creator of All Things, the Holy One of Israel.

The point of the article (and the book it refers to) is that we are a part of the image of G-d in this world. We are not our bodies, our jobs, our position in the community, our weight, our ethnic identity, our bank balance or anything else that is not US. The Image of G-d housed in the unique being G-d created as YOU – THAT is your essence!!  We are all windows – with the Light of the World shining thru. Notice in the picture how the building is illuminated from inside. That’s what we are as G-d’s house – the edifice of of “living stones, being built up into a spiritual house”. (1 Peter 2:5)

Y’shua/Jesus said in John 9:5 “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” After He left the world, He left US as the light of the world. We are also lanterns – containers holding G-d’s light in this world. He tells us in Matt 5:14-16:

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

It is instructive that Y’shua/Jesus says this right before He addresses the issue of the Law and the Prophets:

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. “ (Matt 5:17-19)

In the book, a story is told of the author having been sent to a concentration camp. He was stripped of all he had – naked. He clung to his papers, the results of his entire life’s work. He tried desperately to talk the guards into letting him keep those papers.

“You don’t understand. This is my life’s work! It’s just meaningless paper to you.” But the Nazi just repeated, “Throw it into the pile!” Frankl obeyed the order. He, too, was left with only his naked existence. All he was is that he was. “

Then, he was given a uniform that had been worn before in the camp – the last wearer had just been sent to the gas chamber. He put on the torn, filthy uniform and reached into the pocket to find a crumpled piece of paper.

“He took it out and saw that it was ‘the Shema,’ the Jews’ daily declaration that G-d is the absolutely one and only reality. This little piece of a prayer book that another Jew had managed to keep was Frankl’s exchange for his collection of manuscripts. Frankl realized that when he gave up his life’s work, he got the Shema. “

It is the same with us – when you have nothing left – after the job loss, the stock market crash, the crippling accident, the fatal fire that took your family and all that you owned – you are still YOU. You still have G-d…and if you will allow Him, He will show Himself thru you in ways you couldn’t have imagined when you were still wrapped up in the “stuff” we’re told matters.

As so many thru the millennia who have been imprisoned for their faith and their witness have testified even unto death:

“You can’t take G-d away from me
You can take my life, my land, my liberty
Lock me up, I’ll still be free
’cause you can’t take G-d from me”

(Can’t Take G-d Away – Audio Adrenaline)

Again, from the article:

“Even when you are freed from your disorders or addictions you are still not yet free to be the total you. To be all that you can be you need to know who you really are, who is your eternal root, what is your divine purpose and service on earth.

Living the mitzvas (commandments) empowers you to connect with G-d and be your true godly self. At first you may feel that obedience to G-d and the disciplinary life of mitzvas is submissive and restrictive. Ironically, however, submission and obedience to G-d becomes a source of empowerment and freedom. Through the mitzvas you can experience G-d as the essential power within you; seeking to become expressed through you. At this point, you no longer experience the commandments as acts of obedience, but rather as the free expression of your true inner divine self as an aspect of G-d.

Remember, the GREATEST commandment is to LOVE! (Matt 12, Mark 12). You express the power of G-d thru you when you LOVE. You show His light in the world when you love. You show the world who you are and Who you belong to. You shine His light and become His hands and feet in this world. (That is the subject of an upcoming blog post.)

You demonstrate your sojourner status in this world when you keep the other commandments, as well. You demonstrate your “otherness” – you are in the world, but you are not of it. (1 Peter 1:1, 2:11) Your citizenship in is heaven (Phil 3:20)…remember that! Resurrection life – ETERNAL LIFE – started the second you accepted G-d as the ruler of your life!  More on that later…