The Lie of the New Age Movement; the Truth of Surrender to Yahshua!
And Thoughts on the Book of Philippians

I recently saw a movie that I do not wish to name as I do not recommend it, yet Yah has amazingly used this movie to remind me of something He has wanted me to write about.  Paradoxically, while this movie showed the selfish, darkened twisting of the subject, Yah used that to show me more vividly the pure handling of the subject.

This is the idea that to “pursue a joy for life” actually brings joy.  It does not.  To pursue “enjoyment” or “happiness” or really anything, as the main goal of one’s life, does not ever bring that which is sought for.

However, when one decides to lay his life down to Yahshua of Nazareth and fit his life into the commandments of His Word, in other words, when one chooses to make Yah the top priority or the center of his life, then true enjoyment of life, true happiness results.  This is because Yah, who loves us very much, is able to bring pleasures to us in the right context, and thus the enjoyment is truly lasting.

For example, I went to go see this movie, and it turned out to be a rather bad movie, because one of its unspoken themes was that a person can enjoy life totally divorced from Yah and His Word.  However, because I do make Yah the top priority in my life, even by seeing what I would consider a “bad” movie, Yah prompted me to write this article about what brings true happiness.  In other words, because I didn’t just go see the movie to see it, but rather it is in the periphery of me loving Yah with all my heart, even what could have been a negative experience turned into one of great joy by glorifying Him!

Yahshua made this point very clear, when He said that the person who loses his life will find it.  One must totally abandon everything to Yahshua, trusting that He is good, that His commandments are good, and when one does so, then true joy can begin.

Now, this does not mean everything is always rosy.  Yahshua did say His yoke is light, but He also said we must take up our cross.  Paul said we enter the Kingdom of Heaven through much tribulation.  But, the point is, when Yah is at the center, even the painful tribulations in our lives serve only to bring us closer to Him.  After all, all things work for the good to them who love Him and are called according to His Purpose.

I would rather have the pains and rejections and hardships and tribulations of following Yah with everything in me, while having that lasting and enduring joy only He can impart, than to try to pursue my own happiness and ambitions, while always feeling disconnected, lost, and plagued with inner chaos.

Giving our whole selves over to Yahshua is really the best thing we can do, form the present moment and for every moment we experience from now throughout eternity.  It is the only way to truly enjoy life.

And this new age concept that one can find inner peace or happiness or enjoyment with out making Yah and His Word the center, is the greatest lie of all, for the very thing it promises, it never actually delivers.

Philippians

In Philippians 3:13-14 Paul writes: “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of Yah in Messiah Yahshua!”

Paul is expressing from the deepest part of his soul, his utter and DESPERATE NEED, his complete craving, to know and grow closer and closer to Yahshua!  This push toward Yahshua must grow in intensity every moment, and we must reach out, pressing onward, closer to Yah day by day!  

Oh, how we need this now!  In the dark days that we are in, we need that deep and anguished-like yearning to draw closer to Yah with every breath we take, with every moment we live. We DARE NOT be content with our present relationship with Yah!  No!  We must know Him more, understand His Word more perfectly, drink in Who He is into our lives more deeply.  We must strive to be closer to Him tomorrow than we are today!  WE MUST!!!!

Daniel John Lee 

www.spiritandtorah.com