- How Does God Measure Man's Success?

How does God measure mankind's success? Might I add: And, how does He measure our failures? Certainly not in the way mankind determines success and failure, as Yeshua's Holy Word will prove. Nevertheless, I shall keep to the query regarding success: which in effect does respond to our failures, as well. Noah definitely is a good Biblical figure with whom to begin. We also shall look at Job and, yes, even Christ Himself. Still, there are many Biblical examples of Adonai's yardstick, which measure will be summarized at the close of this response, as compared to humanity's ruler: never shall the twain meet.

First, how does man measure man's success? Quite simply, he determines success by educational levels achieved, importance of a job performed, amount of money earned, the quality and quantity of things that money can buy— such as clothes, a car, and a house as well as an abundance of food and delicacies on the dining room table— and, even by the woman on his arm: beautiful, perfectly formed to the eye, and possessing an impressive background. All this holds true of women as well: more so in today's societies.

Let us now discover how God measures mankind's success.

NOAH: Genesis c.6-c.10, Authorized King James Version Bible (AKJV)

The Lord begins by condemning humanity by the time Noah is 500 years old, in that they had become very flesh and worldly minded— 6:5,11~ And, God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence."

At that time, Yeshua determined to reduce man's life span to no more than 120 years, as opposed to a lifetime of almost 1000 years. This would begin after mankind once again multiplied following the great flood. Since then, it has been further reduced to 60 up to 80 years. Yet, Elohim's first thought was to utterly destroy all that He had created; but then, He looked upon Noah with GRACE. What success did He see in Noah that was worthy of Noah being saved from this planned destruction?

(Genesis 6:9~, AKJV) Noah was a JUST man and PERFECT in his generations, and Noah WALKED with God.

There is not another verse in existence where God may have considered any monetary successes Noah might have achieved prior to the great flood; therefore, it is obvious Adonai does not consider such worldly achievements when it comes to His Almighty judgment rendering either utter destruction or eternal life for each human.

Instead, El's opinion is based upon the achievement of attaining a just manner, perfection of heart and a walk with God: these three behaviours allude to the Father's Doctrine, His Twelve Statutes— bearing in mind they were verbal until Moses' time— which is as Jesus instructed, "Do my Father's will." Christ exemplified, this is to say magnified, and taught as well as made honorable the Father's Twelve Precepts (AKJV, Isaiah 42:21). To magnify is to live and teach those statutes as an example for others to follow and to honor our Creator. To make honorable is when others begin to live them also, that they may find honor with their Creator.

Despite the fact a flood of planetary magnitude— such to destroy all living things on earth— did not occur until 100 years after Noah began building the ark, which surely must have caused Noah some heckling and scoffing from friends and neighbors, c.6:22 reveals that he did "all that God commanded him." Noah was age 600 when the flood came and he died at 950 years of age: another 350 years after the flood receded.

Noah having obeyed El reveals two vital facts: 1) confirms for us God's opinion of Noah; and, 2) suggests yet another saving attitude we all should possess: faith and trust in the Lord, no matter how daunting or painful a command might seem or actually be or what we might have to suffer while our faith is tested. One point The Revelation makes about Elohim opening His files to the redeemed is that, ultimately, they each declare Him just and righteous in His final decisions. Nevertheless, we are shown His pure justice throughout the Bible, both against wickedness and for righteousness.

An important fact to note about Noah is that GRACE began with Noah. It did not begin with Christ, who did and still does represent humanity's last chance to obtain grace. Grace was to survive the great flood having destroyed the wicked of that day. Grace, today, is to be given opportunity to become like Noah through the strength then demonstrated by Christ, thus avoiding the end purging fire of God's final Wrath. Grace is being given the time to become "perfect as Christ was perfect and as God is perfect" and as Noah and Job were judged perfect.

Grace was not and is not and never was meant to be a replacement for Yeshua's Twelve Precepts: rather, grace is an offer to become obedient to El's Law, thereby saved from a fire reserved for those who consistently disobey His Statutes. Christ not only showed us how to obey but also revealed the rewards in doing so. Now, let us take a look at Job and why God found him worthy of grace.

JOB: the book of

It is clear Job was monetarily successful, as briefly noted in verse 3 of chapter 1; yet, the first and most vital point made about Job appears in verse 1: "That man was PERFECT and UPRIGHT, and one that FEARED GOD, and eschewed [AVOIDED] EVIL." There is no verse in Job citing God having at any time judged Job based his monetary success. Therefore, mention of Job's worldly success is merely that: a brief mention lending strength to all Job suffered as well as providing a reason for monetary and physical wealth having been restored to Job as a reward for having succeeded spiritually.

One might say, then, why did the Lord allow Lucifer to bring afflictions upon Job: the kind that took from Job every thing and every dear person he had in his life and, ultimately, his own heath? In Job's case, this was a test: would those monetary things and people mean more to Job than the god he appeared to worship. Still, throughout the book of Job, Adonai repeats His statement that there is no man as perfect and upright as Job: who fears God, which means Job obeyed, and who avoids evil.

Jesus declared this very thing to us: (paraphrased AKJV, Matthew 10:37-39) "If you love mother, father, sister, brother, friend, or even your life more than me, you are not worthy of me." Additionally, if we seek the riches of this world or refuse to give up riches already attained, we are not worthy of Christ and His Father. After all, it is written, (paraphrased AKJV, Luke 6:20; James 2:5) "I have chosen the poor of this world. They are blessed, for the kingdom of God is theirs."

To have excess and not share it with less fortunate brethren is to be found unworthy: according to the description and ways of Jesus' true followers of His true church, which isn't found denominationally. (see AKJV topical Bible "Truth Gathering" ©copyright 2003 by Bonita M Quesinberry, Infinity Publishing, http://www.buybooksontheweb.com/description.asp?ISBN=0-7414-1686-7; c.30, 'Upon This Rock, Christ's Church,' pgs. 485-507; also, there is a previous TSaS response regarding Christ's church— either in the Post Archives or Files sections of its website)

And, who are our brethren? The same brethren of Christ. (AKJV, Matthew 12:50) "WHOEVER DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER in heaven, the same is my brother and sister and mother." And, (AKJV, Luke 8:21) "My mother and my brethren are these which HEAR THE WORD OF GOD, AND DO IT."

Those who worship the Father and follow in Christ's footsteps are not guaranteed riches of this world. So, to think Mark and Luke meant otherwise is to err and cause Jesus to have contradicted Himself. In fact, Jesus taught and lived a vow of poverty. Rather, we are guaranteed only a roof over our heads— albeit, we might not own it, unless it is very humble— food in our mouth and sturdy clothes upon our backs. In other words, the very basics of life, often provided by others, and certainly appropriate for a life that is exceedingly temporary. (see AKVJ, Mark 10:29-31; Luke 18:29-30)

As for monetary wealth, Christ's people are guaranteed the riches of heaven and a mansion in which to live: all to be paid-in-full upon redemption and not before— most appropriate for a permanent life— after all, we have to earn it first. Once the earth is restored to like Eden, we then are given earth's riches: but not before.

How we live truly reveals the life we pursue: permanent or temporary. The wealthy live this life as though it were permanent yet they die anyway; and, the poor live it as though temporary yet die anyway. The difference is revealed upon Christ's return. Which of the two will gain God's Kingdom and His permanent riches?

Exactly as with Noah, Job's endurance of suffering while refusing to turn away from God, serves to confirm the accurateness of Eloi's opinion of Job as well as, once again, demonstrates those other redemptive attributes: faith and trust in God. In Job, however, we are given a glimpse of still other traits found favorable by El: 1) Job's abject humility demonstrated by feeling he somehow had offended God, rather than accuse and/or curse God; and, 2) despite Job's immense grief and suffering, rather than pray for himself, Job prayed for his friends: while they were condemning him, instead of lending moral and spiritual support to Noah.

CHRIST: the gospels, a man exemplifying how to obtain grace (see also "Today, Jesus Said… Let Me Introduce Myself" ©copyright 2002 Bonita M Quesinberry, Infinity Publishing: the complete life of Christ before anything was to the literal end, by chronologically paraphrased AKJV scriptures— http://www.buybooksontheweb.com/description.asp?ISBN=0-7414-1240-3)

Christ was born sometime in October of 3 B.C. into the very poor, humble home of a carpenter: where He was raised and grew spiritually until He began His ministry in 27A.D. at age 30. From that day forward, until He died in April of 31A.D. at age 33 years and 7 months, Jesus essentially lived on the streets and parks or gardens or up in the mountains; but occasionally, He did stay overnight with friends. And, He traveled on foot.

According to Old Testament prophetic descriptions of our Messiah, he even was not pleasant to gaze upon; in fact, many turned away in disgust from looking at this short black man with a deformed body and badly disfigured face. (see AKJV, Psalm 119:141> Isaiah 52:14; 53:2~,3-13> Song of Solomon 1:5)

There was nothing about this outward man to encourage people to follow Him; and, certainly, Jesus possessed nothing of monetary value sufficient to cause world leaders to identify Him as a king, muchless anything else: other than as a deluded pauper with grand illusions and who must have been cursed by God, as far as they were concerned.

In God's infinite wisdom, He perfectly created Jesus: providing Him with absolutely no attributes the world looks upon with favour— neither physical beauty nor an abundance of earth's riches— thereby implying what it is the Father hates that we humans to aspire to; yet, El instilled within Jesus a desire for perfection many people then and today cannot resist: they and we all even forget that, physically, He was downright ugly— a fact never presented from pulpits. Think about it. If this description were presented to the world, exterior beauty and riches would fall away; racial prejudices would be non-existent; and we all would take a closer look at those physically afflicted and marred.

Thousands followed, and today follow, this man declared King of the Jews who, contrarily, rode into town not in a fancy chariot but upon a lowly donkey's back: an unbroken foal, at that. What attracted people, nonetheless, were Christ's words and His loving ways and His miraculous feats attesting to the identity He claimed. He taught only God's Truth and lived it, providing us the perfect example to emulate. He was and remains fully measuring up to God's yardstick of perfection: to which we also must measure up or fail to be chosen: leaving us subject to the pit of fire and brimstone.

Had Noah not been found a righteous man, there would have been no man living after the great flood. Had Job not been found a righteous man, nothing would have been restored to him. If Christ were not who He claimed to be, then He was a liar and we all shall perish; yet, Jesus must have been the Son of God. After all, He was resurrected from the dead and ascended to the throne of God: the facts of which are better documented than any murder case in history. Love and obedience will find us being resurrected and ascending to God's Kingdom. So, in summary, how does God measure our success?

GOD'S YARDSTICK: measuring mankind's success to determine his or her sentence of life or death

1. Love for God: following His will and His Son in utter respect and humility
2. Love for humanity: to pray for and help others, despite personal afflictions
3. Walk in Fear: respectfully and humbly obey Yeshua's Twelve Statutes
4. Be Perfect: avoid evil at all costs: giving good for evil
5. Be Just: fairness and equality in all things
6. Have Faith in: belief in everything God does and says— Trust
7. Have Faith of: same as Christ's belief that God would resurrect Him from the dead,
therefore He did not fear death— Trust

Isn't the Lord awesome! He never ceases to amaze me: when I prepare a response that, in the end calls for a simple summary of all that was written, it always concludes with seven points: a feat wholly out of my control and not even considered at the time I'm putting an answer together. Once again, we encounter Ishi's perfect number seven and it begins with love: the two royal commandments upon which hinge, that is to depend, the Ten Laws.

Without possessing unconditional love, we absolutely cannot obey wholly the remaining Ten Statutes: thus, grace is of no value to those who are disobedient in any single or multiple Precepts (AKJV, LOVE: Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 6:5; 10:12-13; 11:1,13; 13:3-5; Joshua 23:11; Matthew 19:19; 22:37-38; Luke 10:25-28> LAW: Exodus 20:3-17; Deuteronomy 5:7-14,16-21). Grace was of no value to the people of Noah's day; so, they did not enter the Ark— despite Noah's warnings during the 100 years— and they all perished.

If we go by man's yardstick, some more than measure up while others fail miserably. The results are the same with God's gauge. Man's judgment of failure cannot utterly destroy the person so judged; however, God's rendering of failure results in utter destruction. So, as Peter and the other apostles said, "We ought to obey God rather than man." Of course, they merely were echoing the great preacher of Ecclesiastes. (Acts 5:29; Ecclesiastes 12:13)

Still, the only thing that counts is do we measure up to God's benchmark? The hour is late, my friend; so, isn't it time to stretch up to meet the height El requires? After all, it really isn't such a tall yardstick, quite easily attainable. You see, it's a choice we make: for or against— love or hate, obey or disobey.

In closing, I hear many people wonder about this "peace beyond understanding" spoken of so much today in the midst of a world torn by war. And, how does one get this peace "the world cannot know?" For that matter, how can we be happy in a world gone mad, full of senseless violence and destructive drugs? Kings David and Solomon answered clearly, "Great peace have they who love God's law: and nothing shall offend them. Happy is he who obeys the law." (Psalm 119:165; Proverbs 29:18)

Obviously, Noah and Job discovered this peace and happiness by having chosen obedience to Yeshua: and, it gave them as well as Jesus the tremendous strength necessary to endure terrible hardships, afflictions, and even death. It is this same strength that God's people need today in order to endure Laodicea's terrors just days before Christ's return. We are there. It is upon us: Jesus is even at the door.

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Truth Seekers and Speakers
A unique Biblical Q&A forum
By Bonita M Quesinberry, R.C.
source:http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/11-9-2003-47398.asp