Anchor Yourself in the Kingdom of God
We have just walked through all seven annual festivals of God, from Passover to the Eighth Day (Leviticus 23). Together they reveal His remarkable plan to offer eternal life to every human being created in His image. Now we carry that vision home. The festival season may be over, but its meaning must continue to guide us.
Society’s winds of change are blowing strongly these days. Lawless opinions multiply in media, religion, education and politics, and the pressure to conform comes from every direction. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12). God’s answer is to stay rooted: “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river” (Jeremiah 17:7-8).
A tree stands through strong winds because its roots are deep. We, too, must deepen our relationship with God and anchor our lives in His Kingdom.
First, remember that God is always sovereign in heaven and on earth. “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein” (Psalm 24:1). Although Satan exercises influence in this present age, his authority is temporary and limited by what God allows. God’s festivals remind us that history is moving toward His purpose and reinforce His sovereignty now and forever.
Second, treasure the understanding God has given you. Your eyes have been opened at this time, while others’ eyes have not yet been opened. “But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear” (Matthew 13:16). To God we are “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9), called as firstfruits to assist Christ in His Kingdom. The world cannot even imagine what we just celebrated. “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10). This wonderful calling is a reason for gratitude, humility and loving service.
Third, remain faithful to the worship and way of life God has revealed. Only the Body of Christ (the Church) can judge what and how we observe His laws. “Therefore, let no one judge you in food or in drink, or in respect of a feast, or of the new moon, or of the sabbaths . . . but the body of Christ” (Colossians 2:16-17, Modern King James Version). Paul had just warned them to beware of “philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men” (Colossians 2:8). God, not the surrounding culture, defines His law and worship. Under Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, His Body teaches and guides faithful observance. We follow Christ and the apostles in keeping God’s Sabbath and Holy Days (Luke 4:16; Acts 20:16; 1 Corinthians 5:7-8).
As the hours of daylight lessen, dark holidays and customs increase society’s pressure to conform. Halloween features occult practices God forbids (Deuteronomy 18:10-12). The false emphasis on Christ’s birth, tied to ancient sun worship and the winter solstice and buried in materialism, distracts people from biblical instructions. Easter-related fantasies have roots in ancient fertility rites, while the emphasis on a supposed resurrection observance minimizes Christ’s Passover sacrifice (1 Corinthians 5:7-8). Meanwhile, God’s weekly and annual Sabbaths remain a sign of our relationship with Him (Exodus 31:13).
We are part of a generation in which human-devised transportation and information technology are advancing at a remarkable pace. Prophecy speaks of those two components as heralds of “the time of the end” when “many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase” (Daniel 12:4). Just look at human transportation, along with the boom of AI tools. These are catapulting society into a time when humanity is forecast to clash with the Kingdom of God.
After each Feast, the challenge is not simply to remember its joy but to let God’s truth shape our choices throughout the year. “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away” (Hebrews 2:1). We do that through prayer, studying His Word, faithful Sabbath observance and loving fellowship. Jesus gave us the priority: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). This is our daily way of life.
When the currents of this world grow strong, remember God’s promise: “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast” (Hebrews 6:19). Our confidence rests not on society’s stability but on God’s faithfulness and Jesus Christ’s return.
Remember what God has taught you through the annual festivals. Be convicted by what you just rehearsed, including the truths that unite us as one Body in Christ. Hold fast to these truths and live them each day. The Kingdom pictured by God’s festivals is coming—and God is preparing us to be part of it.
Course Content
John Elliott
John Elliott serves in the role of President of the United Church of God, an International Association.
