TORMENT...
Torment is a word that scares most people. Especially those who have gained a certain vue of it through the messages that come out of the religious realm. Many carry a preconceived idea of the word and this idea limits their vue of the truth that God is releasing into humanity.
I have held the common vue for most of my walk and as it is being released (forgiven) from me, things are becoming more clear about who I am within God and what my purpose and reality is. Let's not let this word hinder our progression into God any longer.
Torment comes from a Greek word 'basanzio' meaning to torture, pain, toil and toss. I can see clearly why it would seem that torment is a horrible thing. Most believe that the torment is given to us if we don't accept and believe Christ in this realm. Once we die, we are then ushered into an underworld somehow with fire and darkness and a lake of brimstone, to suffer torment day and night with unquenchable fire. In this underworld, there is Satan and his company, ready and more than willing to afflict this torment upon those souls who couldn't muster up the faith to continue in the heavens with God and his precious saints. Do I go so far as to say that Satan is dressed in a red suit and uses a pitch fork to stir up the flames of torment? But is this truly the case? I do not hold this vue.
The Greek word 'basanzio' is formed from another Greek word 'basanos' meaning touchstone. You may be aware of what a touchstone is, when dealing with gold. If not, it is a stone that is used to test the validity of gold. The stone and gold are struck together and the mark that is left on the stone by the pure gold is unique. Only pure gold leaves a certain mark, and all other materials other than gold leave a different mark of less value. The touchstone is a strategic tool used to identify the materials and to test and prove the validity of them. It is used to distinguish the pure from the impurity of gold. It is used to try the material to see of what sort it is. A touchstone is necessary in the process of refining and perfection.
This word also carries the notion of 'going to the bottom'. When dealing with purity, 'let's get to the bottom of this'. Let's take an axe to the root and see what lies in the bottom and foundation of the matter. Can we not see that the toil and trouble and pressure and pain and vexation that comes upon us drives us to the bottom of what we call our 'wits end' or our sanity? It pressures us in such a perfect way that it reveals our true condition. It forces us to get off of our high horse and lofty thoughts of our selves and lowers us or humbles us. It causes us to turn from our wrong thinking and erring ways. Basanos is meant to humble us into the condition that our brother and savior was in. To humble means to humiliate, and therefore Basanos often brings humiliation among us. It is all perfectly purposed by God for his good reason. It is all leading to liberation and restoration and ultimately perfection and completion.
It appears then, that a torment is used among a man for the same reason as it is for gold. The gold is the condition that God desires humanity to be in once again. The spirit of God is pure as gold, and as that spirit and mind and desire is impressed among a man, he is tried to prove the reception of it. Each man in his due time and in his due way is tested and proved and tried as is gold among the surface of a touchstone. Whatever is not in the way of God, will be burned off as the impurities is burned off of gold. The trying process and proving grounds are endured by man in this physical realm. The touchstone is applied upon man in this physical realm for the sole purpose of determining of what sorts he is made of. To prove and try his heart and mind and intentions and desires. It is necessary in conforming him to the image of God's son and translating him into the wonderful heavens of God's spirit. It is a precise pressure by the hand of God, at all times and in all ways. Let us never forget or doubt that we are not victims of chance, but always being applied to the touchstone for the sake of changing us.
To be tormented is not easy or comfortable or pleasurable or something that a man would ask for willingly. However, it is always best for the man in the condition and position that he is in according to God's perfect vue and ultimate plan for him. It is not uncommon for a man to ask to be released (forgiven) of his torments, as Yeshua asked for his cup to be passed from him in a moment of human weakness, but God determines what is best for him at all times. Yeshua regained his vue quickly of his father's purpose and continued among his determined touchstone. He continued in his torments without saying a single word against it.
Be struck against the touchstone of God and trust its purpose. Trust that it is meant for your good as it was for Job or Paul or Yeshua. Allow pain and torment and toil to enter upon you and suffer a while as did those of the past whom you know were friends and lovers of God. If we work against the touchstone applied to our lives, we may find ourselves enduring the seasons of it longer than we'd prefer. Learn obedience through the suffering of the touchstone as did Yeshua. The touchstone is present all the days of our lives in this physical realm.
Be struck my friend, for it is given by the touchstone of love.
Switchvues
I have held the common vue for most of my walk and as it is being released (forgiven) from me, things are becoming more clear about who I am within God and what my purpose and reality is. Let's not let this word hinder our progression into God any longer.
Torment comes from a Greek word 'basanzio' meaning to torture, pain, toil and toss. I can see clearly why it would seem that torment is a horrible thing. Most believe that the torment is given to us if we don't accept and believe Christ in this realm. Once we die, we are then ushered into an underworld somehow with fire and darkness and a lake of brimstone, to suffer torment day and night with unquenchable fire. In this underworld, there is Satan and his company, ready and more than willing to afflict this torment upon those souls who couldn't muster up the faith to continue in the heavens with God and his precious saints. Do I go so far as to say that Satan is dressed in a red suit and uses a pitch fork to stir up the flames of torment? But is this truly the case? I do not hold this vue.
The Greek word 'basanzio' is formed from another Greek word 'basanos' meaning touchstone. You may be aware of what a touchstone is, when dealing with gold. If not, it is a stone that is used to test the validity of gold. The stone and gold are struck together and the mark that is left on the stone by the pure gold is unique. Only pure gold leaves a certain mark, and all other materials other than gold leave a different mark of less value. The touchstone is a strategic tool used to identify the materials and to test and prove the validity of them. It is used to distinguish the pure from the impurity of gold. It is used to try the material to see of what sort it is. A touchstone is necessary in the process of refining and perfection.
This word also carries the notion of 'going to the bottom'. When dealing with purity, 'let's get to the bottom of this'. Let's take an axe to the root and see what lies in the bottom and foundation of the matter. Can we not see that the toil and trouble and pressure and pain and vexation that comes upon us drives us to the bottom of what we call our 'wits end' or our sanity? It pressures us in such a perfect way that it reveals our true condition. It forces us to get off of our high horse and lofty thoughts of our selves and lowers us or humbles us. It causes us to turn from our wrong thinking and erring ways. Basanos is meant to humble us into the condition that our brother and savior was in. To humble means to humiliate, and therefore Basanos often brings humiliation among us. It is all perfectly purposed by God for his good reason. It is all leading to liberation and restoration and ultimately perfection and completion.
It appears then, that a torment is used among a man for the same reason as it is for gold. The gold is the condition that God desires humanity to be in once again. The spirit of God is pure as gold, and as that spirit and mind and desire is impressed among a man, he is tried to prove the reception of it. Each man in his due time and in his due way is tested and proved and tried as is gold among the surface of a touchstone. Whatever is not in the way of God, will be burned off as the impurities is burned off of gold. The trying process and proving grounds are endured by man in this physical realm. The touchstone is applied upon man in this physical realm for the sole purpose of determining of what sorts he is made of. To prove and try his heart and mind and intentions and desires. It is necessary in conforming him to the image of God's son and translating him into the wonderful heavens of God's spirit. It is a precise pressure by the hand of God, at all times and in all ways. Let us never forget or doubt that we are not victims of chance, but always being applied to the touchstone for the sake of changing us.
To be tormented is not easy or comfortable or pleasurable or something that a man would ask for willingly. However, it is always best for the man in the condition and position that he is in according to God's perfect vue and ultimate plan for him. It is not uncommon for a man to ask to be released (forgiven) of his torments, as Yeshua asked for his cup to be passed from him in a moment of human weakness, but God determines what is best for him at all times. Yeshua regained his vue quickly of his father's purpose and continued among his determined touchstone. He continued in his torments without saying a single word against it.
Be struck against the touchstone of God and trust its purpose. Trust that it is meant for your good as it was for Job or Paul or Yeshua. Allow pain and torment and toil to enter upon you and suffer a while as did those of the past whom you know were friends and lovers of God. If we work against the touchstone applied to our lives, we may find ourselves enduring the seasons of it longer than we'd prefer. Learn obedience through the suffering of the touchstone as did Yeshua. The touchstone is present all the days of our lives in this physical realm.
Be struck my friend, for it is given by the touchstone of love.
Switchvues
