POSTED 20 NOVEMBER, 2008

Walking By Faith or Fear?

by Mark Huey
mark@outreachisrael.net

reproduced from the McHuey Blog

Post-Election Choices

As the dust continues to settle from the recent election cycle here in the United States, and the seemingly endless post-election analysis is masticated by the old (MSM) and new (Internet and blogs) media outlets, I am reminded of how I felt when our country elected Bill Clinton in 1992. At the time, I was living in Dallas, Texas. My irritation over the candidacy of Ross Perot that split the Center-right vote, allowing the Center-left minority to prevail, was palpable. The thought of the electorate actually choosing a known unscrupulous character to become president was to me disturbing to say the least.

In my search for answers to many questions, I turned to the Holy Scriptures. I remember comparing the United States to the times in the history of Ancient Israel when wicked kings by choice or inheritance ruled over Judah and/or Israel. Many answers came to mind as I read and re-read the accounts of how God would appoint judges every forty or so years, or allow a wicked king to rule over His chosen people. I considered the results as Israel’s history waxed and waned from different levels of wickedness to eras of relative righteousness. The pendulum swing of generational changes of emphasis was obvious. As a student of history, I could observe the patterns on an individual basis, but also recognize that movements were societal and cultural—and through it all God was still accomplishing His purposes for humanity.

As I pondered the historical record, I questioned the Lord as to whether the election of who I considered to be an ungodly man was some form of punishment or judgment. Or was this simply another step in the march of time as the Lord ultimately unfolded His plan for Creation? I was reminded that mercy triumphs over judgment (James 2:13). Hallelujah!

I did not know in the 1990s that having a debauched leader would be used in my life to provoke me to seriously ask questions of God that would eventually lead me and my entire household to seek greater personal and corporate holiness by walking by faith and not fear. After all, a common passage that many Believers share is the simple admonition articulated by the Messiah Yeshua to His anxious Disciples concerned about their own generation:

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:33-34).

Now with the wisdom gained from sixteen years of life transpiring, and over thirteen years of pursuing the Holy One from a Messianic perspective—I am not as anxious about the recent election results as I would have been without the experience gained through time and study. Even though from my research about the candidates, I have considerably more serious questions about President-elect Obama than I did about President Clinton, I still remain confident that the Almighty ultimately controls government (Romans 13). My prayer is that God will use the obvious dramatic shift back toward liberal and socialistic policies to provoke His chosen remnant into further seeking His kingdom and His righteousness!

However, I am reminded that there will be a strong tendency for many leaders and teachers in various religious circles, and specifically in the Messianic community of faith, to generate fear in order to manipulate some of their gullible followers seeking direction. We have to remember that many may not yet have the wisdom of prior experience or the measure of faith (Romans 12:3), which is required to look beyond the machinations concocted by self-serving prognosticators.

Fellow seekers, you have been warned!

In the coming weeks, months and years of the new Obama administration, if you have not heard already, you will start to read or hear about many things, or certain variations on some these subjects:

1.  speculation about the new president’s name in conjunction with Islamic prophecies, or doubts about his origin of birth

2.  blood red moons and their significance marking the start of the Seventieth Week of Daniel

3.  celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles in wilderness campgrounds so that when the Great Tribulation comes, God will lead you to safety in a Greater Exodus (perhaps even led by the Sukkot gathering’s leader)

4.  new end-time charts derived from the Books of Daniel and Revelation, along with new recalculations of recalculations pointing to the so-called Biblical Year 6,000

5.  wars and rumors of war in the Middle East, Gog and Magog, World War III, etc.

6.  conspiracy theories about different groups who are controlling the world: the Illuminati, Freemasons, Trilateral Commission, Council on Foreign Relations, Bilderbergers, etc.

7.  a New World Order setting up a one-world economic system in order to buy or sell

8.  a mark of the beast microchip implant being required for human commerce

9.  people haphazardly connecting natural, seasonal climatic patterns to whatever happens in the Land of Israel

10.  the Temple Mount Faithful preparing to lay the cornerstone for the Third Temple in Jerusalem

11.  the end of the Mayan calendar in 2012 somehow connected to goings on in Israel

12.  martial law imposed on Christians with restrictions on freedom of speech because of religious intolerance

This list of alarming subjects could go on and on because the theories and hype purported to be “sound” Bible interpretation has been around for a very long time. For over twelve years, we have heard and read some very fascinating hypotheses that bring in one, two, or all of the above things I have listed. While at times, these theories have been produced with considerable conviction by their promoters, we have instead learned over the years to rely principally upon the warnings given to the Disciples by Yeshua in His Olivet Discourse. When asked about the End of the Age, Yeshua made it absolutely clear that what Daniel prophesied about the Abomination of Desolation would require there to be operating animal sacrifices:

“As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?’ And Yeshua answered and said to them, ‘See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, “I am the Messiah,” and will mislead many. You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand)’” (Matthew 24:3-15; cf. Daniel 9:27).

Down through the years we have counseled many questioners to keep their eyes on Jerusalem and the Temple Mount, and the ultimate establishment of another functioning sacrificial system at the new Temple. Without the sacrificial system revived, these words from Yeshua do not make relative sense. At the same time, though, it is clear that when one tabulates all of the prophecies regarding the restoration of all Israel, and the things that have to actually precede it to prepare God’s people, that we do have a long way to go. Our Father’s plan for the ages will only be enacted when His people are prepared—as the end-times are more about Israel’s restoration than the rise of the beast. Understanding this truth will help you if you are frightened of the end occurring imminently.

Yeshua has said that before He returns the gospel of the Kingdom will be proclaimed in the whole world as a testimony to all nations. This is a message of both personal and national salvation—a message that is yet to be heard. After this is completed, only then will the end come. Our ministry advocates that developing your walk of faith so that you can continue the work of His Kingdom is what and where every Believer should be focusing his or her time, talents, and resources.

Obviously, we are closer to the End of the Age today than we were sixteen years ago. You need to constantly ask yourself if you are being driven by fear-induced teachings, or if you are being led by the Spirit. Is your faith expanding to not only seek His Kingdom, but enabling you to discover what work you have been created to perform in His Kingdom? Let us be those who seek after His righteousness (Mark 12:28-34)!

Based on a survey of ancient history and more recent history, I believe that the new American president and his administration will be used by God just like He has used other rulers down through the ages to bring people unto Himself. Questions are great, but in the end, the only answer and the only hope for mankind is still Yeshua and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2)!

Hopefully in the coming years while the Lord tarries, many more seekers will choose to walk with Yeshua by faith and not tremble in fear due to sensationalistic false teachings that take our eyes off of the Perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). I pray that in so doing, the faithful will have the opportunity to not only further embrace seeking His righteousness, but proactively share the gospel of His Kingdom through loving works and actions.

Accordingly, may we all continue to move closer to His Kingdom as we await His return!

Until the restoration of all things…

Mark Huey (B.A., Vanderbilt University in History and Graduate Studies at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University) is the Director of Outreach Israel Ministries (www.outreachisrael.net). He is the author of several books, including: TorahScope, Volumes I & II, and Counting the Omer: A Daily Devotional Toward Shavuot. He is also co-author of Hebraic Roots: An Introductory Study.