Dear Brethren and Friends,
The world of the year 2023 does not offer us much hope for the future. News reports appear to be only harbingers of even worse things to come. From wars, natural disasters, societal breakdown and countless other issues, individuals and nations are being confronted with problems for which there seems no way out.
But there is a solution, and God will soon intervene to bring peace by establishing His government over the earth. This will be done through the return of Jesus Christ, and that is the great hope the Church of God is proclaiming as is noted in Matthew 24, verse 14: “‘And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.’”
But even more, Christians are living as members and representatives of that coming government NOW:
“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself” (Philippians 3:20-21).
We must be mindful of what Jesus said of His disciples, and that includes all whom God has called, who have repented, been baptized and have received the Holy Spirit—both then and now:
“‘I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world’” (John 17:14-18).
We, as Jesus did, are to live in this world, but we are doing so with the extra help that comes from the Father and Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. Jesus said of Himself:
“‘And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him’” (John 8:29).
Likewise, the Apostle Paul taught:
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).
We have entered the season of the Fall Holy Days—a time set apart by the commandment of God (compare Leviticus 23). Observing these holy convocations with true understanding is only being done by faithful Christians. The people of the world are not aware of, or not concerned with, obedience to any of the biblical instructions from God, including the Holy Days.
While we may seem like an oddity among the societies in which we live, we are not to God! Note this promise from God:
“Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, And the LORD listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the LORD And who meditate on His name. ‘They shall be Mine,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them As a man spares his own son who serves him.’ Then you shall again discern Between the righteous and the wicked, Between one who serves God And one who does not serve Him” (Malachi 3:16-18).
Keep in mind the warning we have been given concerning this age and the generation in which we live, called “Babylon the great” (Revelation 18:2):
“And I heard another voice from heaven saying, ‘Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues’” (Revelation 18:4).
Our keeping of the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day represents our commitment to God that we are coming out of Satan’s deceived world.
Furthermore, we know that God will inspire and strengthen us during these times. He wants us to rejoice in both the knowledge and the abundant blessings we can receive by obeying Him.
As we assemble together to appear before God, let’s express our thankfulness for being among the firstfruits of salvation. We have been called to become a part of the new government of God on earth and to accompany Jesus Christ when He brings peace to the world.
In Christ’s Service,
Dave Harris
