"How WORTHY Are You?"

OU know at least someone who has passed away, and "gone to their reward," as we like to say.   But do you know which reward that is?

    For that matter, do you know what reward you are even now qualifying to receive?   Will it be a robe of white, and an incorruptible body, or will it be perishable flesh and possibly a fiery end in a lake of fire and smoldering brimstone?

    If someone you cared for has died, will you qualify to be with them in the resurrection, if they are counted worthy to receive this reward, or will you qualify even if those around you are unworthy?

    What are the good fruits that we must have, to be counted worthy of repentance and fit for the Kingdom of heaven, when it finally arrives here on earth?

    In Luke 3:10-14 Yahvhanan (incorrectly: "John") the Baptist gave some specific examples to those who responded to his message.   And what was that message?

    "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Sovereign, make straight paths for Him.   Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. .  The crooked roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways smooth.   And all mankind together will see Yahveh's glory [salvation] revealed'" (Isaiah 40:3-5; Luke 3:4-6).

    Yahvhanan warned the "offspring of vipers," then seeking "to flee from the coming wrath" (Luke 3:7):

    "Produce fruit worthy of repentance...the ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." (verses 8-9).

    When the people asked him what they should do, in response Yahvhanan told them:

    "The man with two tunics [coats, shirts] should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same." (verse 11).   To the tax-collectors he said: "Don't collect any more than you are required to" (verse 13; i.e. don't steal under the pretense of collecting taxes), and to the soldiers, "He replied, 'Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely -- be content with your pay'" (verse 14).

    In other words, Yahvhanan the Baptist's message was firmly rooted in the spirit and intent of so-called "Old Testament" law, which you would be wise to study and incorporate into your life by way of obedience.

    For example. let's take the fifth commandment, which is the first commandment with a promise (Ephesians 6:2), as taught by Paul to the Ephesians:

    "Children, obey your parents in the Sovereign, for this is right.   'Honor your father and mother'...that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on earth" (Ephesians 6:1-3; cf. Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16).

    What sort of honor is included and intended by this commandment?   The word "honor" (kaved; Strong's Concordance Hebrew Dictionary listing #3513) can mean: "be rich," as used in Genesis 13:2 (KJV*) in relation to Abraham, for example.

* KJV = King James Version, based on a 1611 English translation of "Old" and "New Testament" scriptures, along with the so-called "Apocrypha."

    And in Proverbs 3:9-10 we read: "Honor Yahveh with your substance [wealth; NIV**], with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine"   And we know that children are to honor their aged parents (as much as they are able) by helping pay for their needs, according to the Savior's teaching relating to the Pharisees and teachers of the law in that age:

** NIV = New International Version, a newer modern translation of scripture in contemporary English.

    "For Yahveh said, 'Honor your father and mother' and 'Anyone who curses his father or mother shall be put to death.'   But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to the Almighty One,' he is not to 'honor his father' with it.   Thus you nullify the word of the Almighty One for the sake of your tradition.   You hypocrites!

    "YasaYahv was right, when he prophesied about you: 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.   They worship me in vain; their teachings are nothing but rules taught by men'" (Matthew 15:4-9; Mark 7:6-13; cf. Isaiah 29:13).

    Again, we learn this same principle in relation to widows: "Honor widows who are really in need.   But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to Yahveh" (I Timothy 5:3-4).

    Like "honor," the word "worthy" is also often used in scripture to denote income, as in: "Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his keep" (Matthew 10:9-10).

    Or, as the book of Luke quotes the Messiah: "Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker is worthy of his hire" ("deserves his wages" -- NIV; Luke 10:7).

    And both of these words appear together in the following context: "The elders who direct the affairs of the congregation well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching" (I Timothy 5:17).

    The context goes on to reveal precisely what this "double worthy honor" is (or should be): "For the scripture says: 'Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain,' and 'The worker deserves his wages'" (Verse 18, cf. Deuteronomy 25:4; Leviticus 19:13; Deuteronomy 24:14-15; and also see: I Corinthians 9:7-14***).

*** Please notice, in this last scripture, how Paul does not teach contrary to the law but in fact uses the "Old Testament" law to support his scriptural teachings.

    So, based on these inspired scriptures, how worthy are you to partake in the blessed Kingdom of heaven on earth?