Sabbath Thought - Fall Harvest

This past Tuesday the earth's moon was in the news, because a lunar eclipse was going to happen. Even areas that would not see the full eclipse, the moon would take on a reddish hue. When this happens, the moon is called a "blood moon". This full moon is also called the "harvest moon" since the fall harvest of the northern hemisphere is underway and it is the full moon closest to the Autumnal Equinox. This recent lunar event also has another greater meaning attached to it that most of the world is ignorant of. The recent full moon signals that in roughly two weeks when the new moon happens, God's fall Holy Days commence.

On October 3rd God's people will gather for His Feast of Trumpets. The Feast of Trumpets is a holy day of hope, but it is especially meaningful because it pictures the triumphant return of Jesus Christ. When He returns, it will be to begin to restore God's Kingdom on earth. Christ will stop mankind's mad race toward destruction. He will also "marry" His bride - His Church. With His return He begins in earnest the "harvest" of mankind into the Family of God.

For most of mankind's history, the meaning of our existence has been debated and philosophized. What is the purpose and meaning of life? The philosopher's, theologians, and academics have all come up with their ideas, but they fall short of the true meaning because to understand God's plan of salvation it takes His Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:14). What the Church of God understands and teaches regarding God's plan of salvation only comes from His spirit revealing it. God is about the business of bringing many sons (and daughters) into His glory (Hebrews 2:10). In a very real sense, this means becoming part of God's family for eternity.

God uses physical things as types to help show the spiritual work His is doing. This helps us to understand what God is doing. Our gardens' bounty is ready to harvest (if we have a personal garden), and the farmers are busy harvesting the crops they have patiently waited for all year. God framed His holy day season around the agricultural season of the northern hemisphere because it helps us to understand (in part) the harvest He is seeking.

We find God's holy days laid out for us in Leviticus 23. Passover shows us the harvest God is seeking was started by Him through the perfect, sinless sacrifice of His Son. We follow up with this "planting" in observing the Days of Unleavened Bread by preparing and caring for our own ground so God's truth can grow in us. God has begun collecting an early harvest, pictured in the Feast of Pentecost, through His church - His first-fruits. Those first-fruits are now diligently working to assist in the great Fall Harvest. When Jesus Christ returns, pictured in the Feast of Trumpets, the stage will be set for God to begin to work with the balance of mankind - first by removing Satan who seeks to destroy God's harvest (pictured in the Day of Atonement), then with mankind that lives into the Millennial reign of Christ (pictured in the Feast of Tabernacles). God finally "harvests" the overwhelming majority of mankind by resurrecting them, giving them access to His spirit, and showing them His plan and desire for them to be in His family for eternity (all pictured in the Eighth Day/Last Great Day).

What a harvest God will accomplish! This Sabbath is part of that harvest. We gather as His family before Him to remember the hope and the purpose we have now, but also to learn more of His way of life so we can assist Jesus Christ in the final harvest of mankind that will be accomplished. We will reign with Him (Revelation 5:10), and we will serve with Him to teach the rest of mankind God's plan of salvation.

Let us remember what God had the prophet Isaiah record: "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels," (Isaiah 61:10).

I wish you an inspiring and hope filled Sabbath,

Dan Dowd

21 September, 2024