Dear Brethren and Friends,
We have recently been privileged to take the annual Passover as the Bible instructs, followed by the seven Days of Unleavened Bread. The more we keep these “feasts of the LORD” (Leviticus 23:2, 4, 44), the more we should appreciate what they really mean to us. Each year, over the course of about six months, we keep God’s annual Feasts (Leviticus 23:4) from the Passover in the early spring right through to the Holy Days in the autumn, which reveal what God has in store for His faithful and chosen people (1 Peter 2:9). Each year, our commitment should deepen as we look forward to a future of which the world has no concept or understanding.
God’s plan for the whole of mankind is so logical. Christ’s death on our behalf; putting sin out of our lives; the receiving of God’s Holy Spirit; Christ’s return; Satan being bound for 1,000 years; Christ ruling as Head of State in the Kingdom of God on the earth; and the Great White Throne Judgment when all who have died in ignorance of Christ’s supreme sacrifice will have their opportunity for salvation. God does not deal in a series of uncoordinated, meaningless and unbiblical days that have no relevance to His people either now or in the future. He reveals, through the power of His Holy Spirit, a plan of such breathtaking love and magnificence that we must ensure that we never become complacent with such revealed knowledge. It is truly exciting knowledge and understanding for those who remain steadfast and faithful to this way of life. Since that fateful day, nearly 2,000 years ago, when the New Testament Church of God came into being on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2), many have strayed from the knowledge of the truth and their marvelous calling.
Christ asked the question: “when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8).
He also said: “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 24:12-13).
Those of us who have held fast to the truth of the Living God, must continue to do so right up until the very end of our lives or to the return of Christ if that event precedes our death.
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, uses the analogy of a race where endurance is required (Hebrews 12:1), and where he was striving to ensure that he didn’t lose out (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). He realized that we can indeed lose out if we are not diligent in, and steadfast to, our calling. But we are involved in something infinitely greater and more important than a physical race. We are involved in a matter of life and death and once we have set our course, there can be no looking back (Luke 9:62). When we understand the enormity of what God has in store for us, looking back to our former life before baptism is something that will not interest us at all.
The Days of Unleavened Bread teach us that sin is our enemy and MUST be put out of our lives. Society, however, travels along a different path diametrically opposed to the way of God. That is hardly surprising because, Satan, the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4), has deceived the whole world (Revelation 12:9). We are swimming against the tide of society which becomes more hedonistic as each day goes by. God will not allow this to go on forever. There will be an accounting and we must not be found wanting. The next Holy Day in God’s marvelous plan is Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out on those who repented and were baptized (Acts 2:38). With the help of God’s Holy Spirit, which was given to us at baptism, we can move forward to put sin out of our lives. Again, the logical pattern of God’s Holy Days can be clearly seen. How grateful we should all be to understand such wonderful information.
As we see conditions in the world worsening by the day, the anticipation of our future in the Kingdom of God is wonderful revealed knowledge—exciting beyond words. Holding on to our marvelous calling with increasing fervency is a sure fire way to ensure a glorious future for eternity!
In Genesis 11, we see that God was so unhappy with man’s conduct thousands of years ago that He said that “now nothing will be restrained from them” (Verse 6, Authorized Version). And that is precisely the same approach that we see today in an ever increasingly secular society in western nations. God is not in the picture and His Name is blasphemed in every strata of society and by all age groups, even the very young. The ungodly and unbiblical theory of evolution is taught as fact (For a thorough discussion of that man-made idea, please read our free booklet, “The Theory of Evolution—A Fairy Tale for Adults? ”) God’s ways are seen as unnecessary and the blessings for obedience for our nations—especially Great Britain and the United States of America (Leviticus 26:1-13 and Deuteronomy 28:1-14)—are now surely a thing of the past (For more information, you might want to read our free booklet, “The Fall and Rise of Britain and America.”)
God is patient, much more than any human being. He will send His Son, Jesus Christ, back to this earth at precisely the right time, but as we await that climactic event, the Holy Days point us in the direction that we should live our lives. Putting sin out of our lives is the lesson that the Days of Unleavened Bread teach us, and using the gift of the Holy Spirit—as the next Holy Day, Pentecost, clearly reveals—enables us to progress steadfastly and faithfully towards the Kingdom of God. We will need to keep ourselves continually “unspotted from the world” (James 1:27) and to ensure that our wonderful calling is faithfully adhered to. Then, all that effort will be rewarded beyond our wildest dreams in the future when we shall be like Jesus Christ (1 John 3:2).
What a future to look forward to, and with such anticipation! Let us never take this precious knowledge for granted. Our reward is guaranteed if we remain steadfast and loyal to God, and the right knowledge of Passover, the Days of Unleavened Bread and Pentecost are Feast days and Holy Days in the plan of God that will help us achieve that end. To prepare for the Feast of Pentecost, please be sure to read the pertinent sections in our free booklet, “The Meaning of God’s Spring Holy Days.”
With Christian love,
Brian Gale
