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				You Go! I Am Coming! By Robert Berendt God provided a blueprint for us to follow through His Holy Days. As we honor them, we honor God. Through the keeping of these days, we demonstrate our belief in God and Christ guiding our footsteps. bout 40 years ago, when God was calling me into His truth, the strongest driving force that I felt came through an understanding of the magnificence of the life of Jesus Christ here on earth. I considered myself a Christian, and I firmly believed that being a Christian meant being a follower of Jesus Christ. I realized I had been giving lip service but not following in His footsteps. I had not really believed He was who He said He was. I had not understand the full importance of the Bible guiding my feet. I have found, since then, that I was not the first to lack in belief towards Jesus Christ. Many scriptures exist demonstrating almost all those present with Jesus failed in their comprehension until after His resurrection. His resurrection, however, captured their attention. One story I have found to be most motivational and inspiring is recorded in John 7. I have found many clues in this chapter that have helped me better understand some of my own shortcomings. First of all, I realized that I, like the brothers of Jesus (verse 5), did not believe Him. In my case it had to do with ignorance due to not studying the Bible, and in relying on the explanations of men who I thought were constantly striving to live by the Bible. I actually listened to ministers tell me "this is what the Bible says -- but..." I cannot accept any "buts" today. The Bible is the only recorded Word of God -- and is not to be tampered with. Chapter 7 is broken into several logical parts according to our thinking. Verses 1-9 record the disbelief of the brothers as to who Jesus was. Verses 10-24 tell of Jesus bringing the Word of God and living by it. Verses 25-31 reveal the ongoing search for the Messiah. Verses 32-36 tell of the puzzled queries of the Pharisees. Verses 37-39 yield the promise of the Holy Spirit, which was to come. Verses 40-44 ask the question "Who is He?" Verses 43-52 express the rejection of Jesus by the religious authorities. I did not want to remain among those who rejected Jesus. I wanted to emulate Him. I considered myself a Christian, and I firmly believed being a Christian meant being a follower of Jesus Christ. I realized I had been giving lip service but not following in His footsteps." One point of great interest to me was that this whole chapter records events taking place during a time called the "Feast of Tabernacles" (verse 2). I was somewhat confused, because I thought it was a Jewish feast. How amazed I was to learn that, as recorded in Leviticus 23:33-44, it is God's feast. Jesus did go and keep this feast as He kept every feast day God had given to His people. He went though His life was in danger and despite the fact He had to walk or ride a donkey and perhaps ride in small boat over a distance of over 100 miles (160 km) as the crow flies. He traveled past hostile villages and through dangerous territory to attend the Feast of Tabernacles. I had never even heard of this feast. How could I be like Jesus Christ and not do the things He did in His worship of God? I could not reconcile these facts, so I have kept the feast ever since 1965. What a blessing to understand the significance of these great days as well as the grandeur of all of God's Holy Days. Living by God's doctrine John 7:16-19 has strong words to say about what I was learning. Jesus said He was living by the doctrine of God the Father -- not His personal doctrine. He says, "If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority." Jesus went on to state He was sent by God, the religious leaders did not know God, and thus they could not recognize Him. How greatly the position of nonrecognition is paralleled today. What a duplication of the past is evident when we see the image, deeds, footsteps and direction of Jesus Christ changed, manipulated, canceled or mocked. In a way, humans have continually sought to kill Christ rather than follow Him. A true Christian will follow His example. In John 7:37-38 Jesus spoke boldly in the temple telling of the promise of the Holy Spirit to those who believe in Him. Those who thirst for truth and oneness with Jesus Christ and God the Father will be given this great gift. I learned much about the precious gifts of God through the keeping of His Holy Days. The Feast of Tabernacles is the one time where a person could spend eight or more days in fellowship with those of like minds -- like-minded with one another, and more importantly like-minded with Jesus Christ. It is the oneness with Jesus Christ that binds us all together. Believing is not enough -- actions reflecting belief must follow. These days were set aside by God to look forward to the time when the Kingdom of God will be established on earth and Jesus Christ will be the great King and Priest. Justice, godliness, lawfulness and peace will be poured out upon the earth. God's law will go forth to all the nations and there will be no more wars. This glorious time, which lies in the future, is taught by keeping these days. That future moment is being experienced and reconfirmed by those who determine to attend. I also learned that a person can keep this season even if something like an illness or other serious matter prevents traveling to a chosen site. You can even keep it at home -- but the will of God is we join together and keep these feast days in larger groups. God's ministry tries to choose convenient places in which to meet. People are expected to adjust accordingly. Our first feast days in the past were kept in tents due to the cost of travel and our restricted finances. No doubt Jesus Christ knew what life in a tent meant. Belief is not enough Believing is not enough -- actions reflecting belief must follow. James 2:19-20 states that demons believe. They also tremble. We humans ought to see that belief is not enough and trembling is not enough. As James wrote, "Faith without works is dead." Our works involve following the example of Jesus Christ who taught and lived in the flesh according to the doctrine of the Almighty Father. I want to emulate Jesus Christ. I want to emulate the Father. I believe all humans have some sort of desire to find the Creator of life and learn of Him. God says He has placed eternity in man's heart (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Humans worship almost anything -- but that is not good enough. It is through Jesus Christ that we can grasp the true direction. If we are to be like Him, we need to accept and capture His values and way of life. I am speaking of the godly values. We do not need to wear a robe and sandals and live in the Middle East. We do need to clothe ourselves with the spiritual garments God has designed. Recommended reading Please request our booklet , which will provide more insight into God's overall plan for mankind mirrored through His Holy Days. Copyright 2005 by United Church of God, an International Association All rights reserved.

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Other Articles by Robert Berendt
Origin of article "You Go! I Am Coming!"
Keywords: Bible doctrine Bible, understanding the Feast of Tabernacles 

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• Keys to Unlocking Understanding of the Bible
• Letters From Our Readers - Nov/Dec 2005
• Your Truth, My Truth or THE Truth?
• Tongues and Slaying in the Spirit
• The Covenant of Salt
• Daring to Behold!
• The Bible: A Blessing to Humanity
• What Do You Believe and Why?
• Preface
• How Should We Understand Scripture?

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• Take a Vacation from the World - Part 1
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• The Bible's Holy Days: God's Blueprint for Peace on Earth
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