The Gift of Time

The High Holy Days are a given period of time for us as God’s children, and even the world, to realign ourselves with our God’s invitation and get ready for both the coming Bridegroom and the Wedding Supper of the Lamb. It’s much like a parent who says, Oneeeee, twoooooo…” not wanting their child to be subject to unfortunate consequences if they disobey.  To that end, our Heavenly Father has given us a cautionary gift to reconsider the outcome of our actions and attitude of heart. It is a given period of time to make the right choice of preparation!

Many of us limit our understanding of repentance to a mere changing our minds and going in the opposite direction, as though we would continue on a lateral plain in the other direction. This is not the Biblical view of repentance. To turn from sin and pursue righteousness is not on the same lateral plain at all, but an ascension up and onward in Christ Jesus! 

The word repentance is compromised of two words: re (return) + pent (the highest place, ie, pentacle). In Judaism it means to return to the top. Repentance is an opportunity from wherever we are to return to our high place of upright character – the place of our God-like-ness, God’s highest will for our lives. Beloved, when we repent, we begin our ascent in patterns of glory! 

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Cor 3:18

Praise the Lord! This is the very heart of the High Holy Days, a appointed period of time for us to repent (return to our top spot) by choosing God’s highest will for our lives – He yearnssssss for this victory in our lives!

Lord God is my strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds' feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]!  Habakkuk 3:19 Amplified

God allows us the opportunity to choose His ways. We are free to choose, but once we make a choice then we are bound to our choices. There is a world of difference between submission and subjection. Submission is the power to act by choice in a state of self-control. Subjection is obligatory, a position of something being imposed upon us without the power to choose. To choose God’s highest will for our lives is to take FULL responsibility (whether good or bad) for all our choices, thoughts, actions, emotions, motives, intentions, desires and even hurts to proactively align ourselves with Him by choice.  A good rule of thumb is that if it’s in your skin, it’s yours!

This is our access point to genuine and authentic power – submission to Him and His will in our lives! Whatever authority and spiritual force we walk in is directly equal to our submission to God and His truths! As we submit, God IS building up our inner new man (the real us that will live in eternity with Him) created in true righteousness and true holiness until we reach the full mature stature of Christ – this is the walk of chosen character, Christ being formed in us! 

Repentance, returning to our high place, is our opportunity to re-sync ourselves in, through and by Him as the ultimate and purposeful living experience. Friend, those who choose His ways on the inner battlefield of the conflict between flesh and spirit resound in victorious proclamations of the righteous and are heard by the seeker at heart. We have been invited to submit by choice, but regardless, our choices will be subject to His Day of Reckoning -- God has given us time to make right choices!

In the High Holy Days, God has illustrated for us the completion of His redemption for mankind. His marriage covenant, salvation, secures for us a mutual relational position, as His Bride, with Him throughout eternity. He so desired this face-to-face intimacy that He would rather die than live without us and so He did! The Lord is both the Host and Provision of His Feasts, through the SUMPREMACY OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS! There is coming a day when our faith will be consummated – and we will know Him even as we are known! What will we choose in this given period of time?