I See the End is Near...

WOW, God is getting me through this week. Yesterday, I felt okay, despite not eating for 4 days. It's funny how our minds are trained to think that we need whatever it is we are fasting from. Yes, we do need some nourishment to stay alive, but going without for a time isn't going to kill us.

In the Scriptures, Jesus tells His disciples to "beware of the yeast of the Pharisee's." Back in the Bible times, when it was time for Passover, the Israelites would get rid of any yeast products and sweep the entire house clean of yeast. Today we can look at yeast as the things of this world, whether that be teachings, beliefs, things we do, how we act, etc. Jesus was telling His disciples to beware of the stuff the Pharisee's were trying to get everyone to believe because it was not something that a consecrated person should grab a hold of in their lives.

Today, there is some much yeast that we let slip into our lives that we do not look like the consecrated people Jesus wants for us to be. In Exodus, when God performed His miraculous signs, Israel did not see any harm come to them. There was a distinction between Egypt and Israel. Where is the distinction today? What gets into our minds, eventually ends up in our hearts, and can shape us in a very negative way. This time of fasting has been a way to sweep away the yeast of this world and get ourselves focused on Jesus. Maybe as we continue on through the weeks, we should begin fasting, or should I say getting rid, of other things in our lives that do more harm than good. Food isn't bad in itself, as long as it doesn't run your life. But what about TV, books, magazines, internet viewing, etc. that can lead to wasted time, not to mention dangerous thoughts? The soft porn, the everyone gets a divorce or has an affair, the it's alright to not get along with others, that we see on TV and read in books and magazines. This is what can affect us in our daily lives. I'm not saying that TV, books, magazines, internet, are evil. I'm only saying that these things can be a means of pollution. They have elements of yeast in them. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 5:6, "a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough." Think about it.