Boker Tov and shalom to everyone.
There lingers a question in my train of thought to the following, What is salvation? All to often and not so much in Judaism, salvation seems to be the most requested song. The quest to obtain salvation, is there a formula or a password perhaps? Maybe a catch phrase. Is it linked to the afterlife? Or the thought of an afterlife. Christianity preaches the, ‘Book of life.’ I on the other hand feel that it’s something all together different, maybe even separate. G-d informs us that He does not desire that the wicked [sinful, deliberate] should perish, but that they should turn [Shuvah] from their ways. What does it mean to turn? When driving a vehicle or walking we know what it means to turn. When you make a purchase say a high-priced item such as a luxury automobile or home, although you may not own it outright, it is in your name. You go about making payments on that item. One day a financial meltdown happens upon you, the monthly note you had been paying/applying towards ownership can no longer be done. The bank comes along, that item is now their property. G-d on the other hand is and will always be. You cannot put a finger on Him perse, but none-the-less He exists. So back to one of my previous questions. To turn towards, away from your ways of old. To turn to G-d, does this mean for the first time, the twentieth time or what exactly? We know from my last statement that G-d is and will always be. Do we make a left turn or a right. Is it a matter of acknowledging the Creator or acknowledging our wrongful ways? It is both of the above. You may be asking, ‘What if one does not accept that there is a G-d.’ Where does he or she turn? Remember, He is and always will be. We are here not because of some accident or because we didn’t ask to be. There is a Creator. In order for a marriage to take a place there must be a MAN and a WOMAN. What is it all about if not for the CREATION and only the CREATOR. As a young man growing up; David looks upon his FATHER and MOTHER. He sees for himself the bond, the happiness and their togetherness. David too desires to have what they have one day. As the years go by David himself enters into marriage, and as more time goes by he too brings a child into the world. The child is a girl and they name her Cypora. You and I are here for meaningful and purposeful reasons. Rather your physical parents planned you or not. Life is a gift, nothing more and nothing less. As we should know, there is rightful living and wrongful living. There is deliberate sin and there is also unintentional sin. Deliberate means to do so knowing quite well what one is about to do. Unintentional means just that, unintentional. Genesis 4: 6 -8 – And HASHEM said to Cain, “Why are you annoyed, and why has your countenance fallen? Surely, if YOU IMPROVE YOURSELF, you will be FORGIVEN. But if you do not improve yourself, sin rests at the door. Its desire is toward you, and YOU CAN CONQUER IT.” Cain spoke with his brother Able. And it happened when they were in the field, that CAIN rose up against his brother and killed him. From the above passage we SEE many things. First, G-d clearly speaks with Cain. G-d warns Cain of the possibility of sin and that Cain can conquer the temptation. Cain had intention and acted upon it. What does it mean that Cain would be forgiven. Forgiven for what exactly? Did you know that it is wrong in the eyes of G-d to hold a grudge and harbor anger. We must see and acknowledge that is it through our acts that we are deemed righteous or wicked. You and I must also acknowledge that we must turn. To turn is to act. The act of believing in someone does not qualify as doing. Salvation for you or I does not come from someone elses doing, but our own. Ezekiel chapter eighteen is dedicated to that subject. We can attempt to deny that we have a Creator. Please do not. Many people do deny G-d. Rather they think we are of the ape or not does not apply. I Lawrence Wohl believe through knowledge that there is a place after the physical experience. Our days should not be spent on the focus of that place or some reward. My reward is the life I have been given. Just like the answer can be found in the question. An apple seed is planted, many years pass and that seed now has become a full-grown fruit bearing tree. As I said the answer is in the question. The life we have been given along with the physical body contains all that we need. The physical body is needed and is an important part of our existence. It is with great sadness what has become of many people. I Lawrence Wohl will spend my days constantly turning and to no end. To sum things up at least for now. Salvation, for a lack of words is in the doing of the here and now. While you are here don’t just exist. Live
