One Thing You Still Lack
CONT., page 5
"Good Teacher, what shall I do?"
Yahshua was personally with His first Remnant disciples for over three years, teaching them and instructing them regarding the kingdom of God. And noting the response of the Remnant in selling all and holding all things in common, one would have to wonder what there was in Yahshua's teachings that evoked this? Also, what was it that changed this practice that must have been laid out by the Messiah? And finally, how would those teachings apply to the second Remnant, the fulfillment of the work begun by the first Remnant?
As we will find, the answers to these questions, along with a comparison of the unique messages of the gospels, provide some of the most conclusive evidence that indeed the covering that resided over the first Remnant, and will be the covering for the concluding second Remnant, is in fact this obedience to the teachings of Yahshua. Let us now see what Yahshua taught, and what was the basis for the first Remnant adopting the unique lifestyle they did for the first year and a half of the church.
Let us begin by seeing Yahshua's response to a man who came to Him and wanted to know what he must do to obtain eternal life. We must digress here though and note a contrast as to what we would normally think would be the answer to this question.
If someone were to come to you and ask you the question - "What must I do to obtain eternal life?" - what would you say? Probably your answer would be to believe in the Son of God. But is this the answer that Yahshua gave - "Believe in Me"? No it was not.
There is no disputing that believing in Yahshua as Savior is essential to obtaining eternal life; but if that was all there was to it, then one question remains - Upon the asking of this direct question, why was it that Yahshua responded with a different answer? Oh sure, one could retort that Yahshua is the Son of God and He knew the man's heart; but doesn't He know ours as well? And is there not more to obtaining eternal life than just believing? James declared regarding this matter - "You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?" (James 2:19-20).
The biggest excuse to not obeying many of the commands of Yahweh is - "I'm saved by faith!" But James went on to say - "For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead."
So when Yahshua was asked by the man - "What shall I do to obtain eternal life?" - He addressed the great value of works. "You know the commandments, 'Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother." This man undoubtedly answered in all sincerity and honesty - "All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?" (Matthew 19:20). Mark records - "And looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him," (10:21) and said to him, "One thing you still lack: sell all that you possess, and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me" (Luke 18:22).
"One thing you still lack," said Yahshua to the man who desired to obtain eternal life and had kept all the commandments He had mentioned. This phrase, "One thing you still lack," is found only in Mark and Luke. Had the Matthew first Remnant lacked in this quality? No, for they had indeed sold all and held all things in common. Who is it that lacks this quality? Christianity and the second Remnant. There have always been small elements within Christianity that have sought to uphold Yahshua's instruction here; but since the disbursement of the first Remnant following the stoning of Stephen, the church whole has never followed in this practice.
"One thing you still lack" is also the words of Yahshua to the second Remnant. Will they follow in the practice of the first Remnant and the teaching of Yahshua? That is yet to be seen; and it is the purpose of this writing to explore this requirement and provoke others to respond in truth. The fact is though, the second Remnant cannot even be the Remnant or the bride that ascends to the Father without a covering. And if indeed selling all and holding all things in common is that covering, as the mounting evidence assures, then they must be covered with such. Will the second Remnant practice this "one thing"? They must!
"One thing you still lack" should be heard and responded to by all who desire to be a part of Yahweh's second Remnant, being covered by the same covering and obedience of the first Remnant.
"One thing you still lack" is the call to every Christian who desires to go on with Yahshua into the work that must be separate from Christianity, that for 2,000 years has failed to fulfill this "one thing."
"One thing you still lack" is the immensely relevant instruction of Yahshua to which not only the first Remnant responded, but equally must the second Remnant.
"One thing you still lack" are the words given to those who already think they have done much towards obedience and faithfulness to Yahweh, yet one more thing is required.
"One thing you still lack" has only one conclusion - "sell all"!
As you would know if you have read The Key To Their Understanding, and to which we have just eluded, the message of each gospel is directed toward different groups. Luke is very clearly the gospel that is written to the second Remnant. We have just seen the relevance of this in the command - "One thing you still lack." Of these two subject parts of the kingdom - Christianity and the second Remnant - it is the second Remnant that must take upon itself this covering of "sell all." Therefore, Yahweh has a message that is specific to the second Remnant. Let us now look at another message that is only found in Luke and, MOST appropriately, is tied specifically to the return of Yahshua and the wedding feast! Once again, this is a message unique to the second Remnant Luke bride. The main text we want to consider here is in bold print; but it is of great value to also examine its context per the immensely relevant verses preceding and following it.
"Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these. But if God so arrays the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you, O men of little faith! And do not seek what you shall eat, and what you shall drink, and do not keep worrying. For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek for His kingdom, and these things shall be added to you.
Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves purses which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near, nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps alight. And be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those slaves whom the master shall find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at table, and will come up and wait on them. Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. And be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into. You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect" (Luke 12:27-40).
This is the command of Yahshua that obviously had great influence on the first Remnant who followed His clear instruction as they fully anticipated His very soon return. Why would they need possessions when Yahshua would return and set up His kingdom? But the first Remnant did not anticipate the breach that was to follow, and Paul came along with the alternate teaching that sealed the close of this covering - "If anyone will not work, neither let him eat" (2 Thessalonians 3:10).
But since this was the response of the first Remnant - fully anticipating the imminent return of their Master - would it not also be the response of the second Remnant who are the Elijah and prepare the way for the return of the Messiah? If you truly believed that Messiah was returning soon, would you have cause to hold onto what you possess that is of this world? Would you too become like the first Remnant and follow the instruction of Yahshua and "Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves purses which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near, nor moth destroys"?
Where are a people who will once again practice these words of Yahshua? Are these words not most relevant to a people who will be His bride and prepare the way for Yahshua's return? And are they not most relevant to a people who are the fulfillment of this message that is uniquely recorded in Luke - the second Remnant? Yes, they are relevant; and the second Remnant is called to and will follow this instruction, even as practiced by the first Remnant.
And let us note here that what Yahshua asks of His second Remnant, is nothing that He Himself has not first practiced. We too must have the same response as Yahshua if we are to receive the kingdom of heaven that He will bring to this earth, so that we might reign with Him.
"The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it" (exclusive to Matthew 13:44-46).
Now, tell me that upon the time of the return of Yahshua there will not be a people who will equally see this great value that is before them and follow in the ways of Yahweh and the instruction of Yahshua and will not sell all for the sake of the kingdom that is imminently upon them? Considering the clear instruction of Yahshua and the faithful example of the first Remnant, can there be any question that just before Yahshua's return, there will be a people who will equally obey and sell all for the sake of the treasure/the pearl of great value? Where are a people who will hear these words, will believe, and truly obey?
Other passages exist that contain messages unique to the Luke second Remnant (and sometime paired up with the Matthew first Remnant) that are worth noting here. In harmony with the two-part bride, you will find that the word "wedding" is only found in first Remnant Matthew and second Remnant Luke, and never in Christianity Mark that will not participate in the wedding or the wedding feast. Nine times the word wedding is used in Matthew. There are nine shoots in the orchard of the bride of Yahshua - "A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a rock-garden locked, a spring sealed up;" and then it goes on to list the nine shoots (Song of Solomon 4:12-15). But you will notice that regarding this spring that is "sealed up," in verse fifteen it is released to be a "well of living water, and streams flowing from Lebanon." This rock-garden locked and stream that was sealed up with the close of the first Remnant, will be opened once again and the stream will become living and flowing water under the second Remnant.
As noted, the word "wedding" is never used in Mark; but in Luke it is used two times. Two is the number of witness, and the Luke second Remnant will indeed be the witness of the soon return of Yahshua.
Another interesting message that is provided to us through a gospel comparison is found in the disciple's response to Yahshua's calling to follow Him. In Matthew 4: 20 we read that when Yahshua called Peter and Andrew, "they immediately left the nets, and followed Him." In Matthew 9:9, when Matthew was called, "he rose, and followed Him."
Similarly, in Mark we read that when Yahshua called these men, they followed in like fashion - Peter and Andrew "left the nets and followed Him" (1:18), and Matthew "rose and followed Him" (2:14).
These are the massages from Mathew and Mark, and they are remarkably similar - in each case they left what was at hand and followed Yahshua. But in Luke with its message to the second Remnant, we see a distinctly and, once again, consistent message. Let us see what Yahweh has to say to the second Remnant that has the unique responsibility to prepare the way for Yahshua's return.
In Luke, Peter and Andrew did not just leave their nets, but "they left everything and followed Him" (5:11). The significance of this clear and total commitment expressed here in Luke is made more sure, in that Yahweh has provided a double witness to this. Not only do we read here that Peter and Andrew "left everything," but when we read the account regarding Matthew, we equally see that he too "left everything behind, and rose up and began to follow Him" (5:28). So Yahweh has given His second Remnant a double witness that theirs is a unique and complete calling - "Leave everything and follow Me!"
This should not be so surprising. Think about it for a minute. If Yahweh were to have a people that would be called out of Christianity and prepare the way for the return of Yahshua, would it not be even more surprising that they would remain indistinguishable from everyone else, particularly in light of Yahshua's teachings? Would it not seem that this unique Elijah work would have a commitment level that would be exceedingly high - "everything"? When the Son of God returns to this earth, is it not reasonable to expect that the Holy Spirit would first call out and set apart a people who would keep His teachings, including selling all and following Him? No, the second Remnant cannot be the same ol', same ol' that has been going on for 2,000 years. He will call a people to be His bride who will obey Him - "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments" (John 14:15). And one of His commandments, a command that is unique to the Luke company, is - "Sell your possessions and give to charity; ... For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
Remember, the Luke company is the fulfillment of that work initiated by the first Remnant; it is the work that completes the house. The second Remnant will and must pick up where the first left off. What must be the level of commitment for the second Remnant? Nothing short of - everything!
We want to address another clear message once again unique to Luke; but before we do, let us consider another revealing account that is most applicable to what we are studying here. It will not only confirm what we have been discovering, but will add more pieces to this expanding picture as well. This is the account of highly prophetic Elijah.
Continue to page 6 of One Thing ... for ELIJAH