22-23 Vayakhel Torah 2026

We need to remove things from our life that are bad for us. Look good spiritually. I remember years ago that some of the young people I knew wanted to fit in with others, so they began smoking tobacco cigarettes because others were smoking. They did this even though there are warnings on packs of cigarettes that say that smoking tobacco can harm your health. You would think they are lacking some of their reasoning ability. This shows us that we can choose to do things that are not sensible. It is one thing to do something in ignorance, but it is another to do things that are contrary to our existence. 

The same is obviously true for our spiritual life. Our spiritual life refers to how we act and behave, what gives us meaning or purpose, and our relationship with God. It is generally to be thought separate from the person, but our spiritual life reflects how we have decided to relate to life and to God, and it becomes part of us. God does not look at our spirituality as something separate from who we are. Proverbs 15:3 NKJV says, "The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good." 

The true God wants us to be good people. This is an important verse. Deuteronomy 6:17-18 NKJV says, "You shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, His testimonies, and His statutes which He has commanded you. And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the LORD, that it may be well with you." The creator God knows what is best for us and the commandments God has given us are, "right and good," and they are intended to help us in life. 

We become a spiritual person with integrity and other virtues by our own free will that God has given us. It is the part of us that seeks truth. Without this ability, our ability to observe and come to conclusions would not become well developed. It is one of the reasons that we can form conclusions and also come to the conclusion that there must be a true creator and God.

To not follow God's good commandments works against having a good and satisfying life and can produce evil in life and society. Psalms 37:27 NKJV says, "Depart from evil, and do good;
and dwell forevermore." We are to stop doing evil and instead do what is good, namely, keep God's good commandments that are intended to help us in life. Just look at all the pain and troubles in this world. That is enough to demonstrate that we need the truths that God wants us to live by. Psalms 25:10-11 NKJV says, "All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth,
to such as keep His covenant and His testimonies. For Your name’s sake, O LORD,
pardon my iniquity, for it is great." Do not be fooled by the word covenant. Strong's Dictionary says that covenant can also mean agreement. Each of us has the opportunity to come to an agreement to believe in God and follow His commandments that are truths for life. Some philosophers say the word covenant refers to Israel. In actuality, every person has the ability and chance to accept the true God or not. When we agree (make a covenant) to follow God, we also often keep His testimonies, His commandments. It would make sense that if we truly believe, we live how God tells us to live.