True Essence Of Thanksgiving Day
May the true essence of Thanksgiving Day be with us all. Most of those who will be observing Thanksgiving Day in North America are among the most materially blessed people on earth. Yes, the majority of Americans and Canadians enjoy levels of plenty, comfort and convenience that much of the world’s population can barely imagine. Yet very sadly, many still find much to complain about. The Almighty Father in heaven Yahweh warns us against trusting in our material prosperity and earthly possessions. Rather than think that we have gained our wealth by our own efforts, we should fully understand that it is the Elohim of the heavens who gives the power to gain wealth (Deuteronomy 8:17-18). Today, we are going to share with you what the true spirit of Thanksgiving Day is. How are we suppose to celebrate this day with true thanksgiving to our Creator. As always, we will let the Bible interpret itself and teach us the benefits of thanksgiving in a spiritual way. May you have the eyes to see and the ears to hear for this heavenly message.
What is the true purpose of Thanksgiving Day to all of us? On this very day we are suppose to thank Yahweh, our Elohim for the sacrifice of His only Begotten Son Yahshua the Messiah to pay for our sins. We are thankful for Elohim’s forgiveness and grace. Remember, Yahshua taught us to pray, “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). We are thankful for the gift of the Holy Spirit after repentance and baptism (Acts 2:38). We are thankful not only for the sacrifice of our Messiah, but that He is alive as our High Priest, Savior and Intercessor! “He always lives to make intercession for us” (Hebrews 7:25). Notice this amazing truth: “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to Elohim through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:10). Yahshua is our living Savior and great High Priest, as the book of Hebrews on Bible emphasizes! And He is coming as King of kings and Master of masters! We are also thankful for the promised future. We are thankful for the true Gospel—the message Yahshua preached about the coming Kingdom of Yahweh on earth, when all nations will learn the way to peace. We know that this present world will not literally end—because Yahshua the Messiah promised that for the elect’s sake He would return, just in time to prevent all of us from destroying ourselves (Matthew 24:22)!
Indeed, this world needs the Kingdom of Elohim on earth! If you live in North America do you realize how much you are blessed when compared to many countries around the world? The United Nations Development Programme currently estimates that more than 800 million people live on less than $1.25 a day. Can you imagine living in such poverty? How thankful are you? As Yahshua Messiah said, “To whom much is given, from him much will be required” (Luke 12:48)! We must be faithful stewards of our blessings, and we must be willing, nationally and individually, to give to others. We especially need to give the good news of the True Gospel to the rest of the world! Our purpose should be to live Elohim’s way of life—and to share that way of life with the rest of the world! Elohim’s ways should be our nation’s ways. Notice these words of Moses on Bible: “Surely I have taught you statutes and judgments, just as Yahweh my Elohim commanded me, that you should act according to them in the land which you go to possess. Therefore, be careful to observe them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes, and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people” (Deuteronomy 4:5-6). Yes, Elohim will bless those nations who recognize that their national purpose is to grow in holy character—to truly exemplify all biblical values as shining lights in a dark world, to live by Yahweh’s own Ten Commandments, and by His statutes and judgments, and to proclaim the good news of Elohim’s soon-coming Kingdom, ruled by the righteous King of kings and of the Master of masters, Yahshua Messiah!
Yes, there is good news for the future. Most people who traditionally celebrate Thanksgiving day do not know that the Bible speaks of a future time when the whole world will celebrate a kind of biblical Thanksgiving—called the Feast of Tabernacles. All nations will go to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles under Yahshua! The Bible describes a future world at peace under the rulership of the Messiah—a world He will begin to establish when Yahshua returns from heaven to Jerusalem, the future world capital. “And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east” (Zechariah 14:4). Yes, the Messiah, Yahshua, will unify all the nations under His righteous rulership. He will bring His holy representatives from all the nations of the world to Jerusalem to worship during the annual Festival called the Feast of Tabernacles. Yes, there is a coming time when all nations will worship the King of kings and the Master of masters with thanksgiving! Until then, Yahweh has given His Church the commission of sharing with all nations a vision of that future, and calling all nations and peoples to repent of all sinful ways (Acts 17:30). Let us be clear here the Thanksgiving Day is not mentioned as one of the biblical Holy Days of Elohim on Scripture, but it’s okay to give thanks to Yahweh on this day, to honor Him, to glorify Him, and to revere His Name!
In closing, you have to acknowledge and to understand the true essence of Thanksgiving Day by asking yourself these questions: Will you fulfill your true purpose as a thankful person? Are you even thankful that you live in a relatively prosperous nation? That you now have all the freedom to worship according to your conscience? That you have many opportunities to grow in education and human potential? That you have family, friends and perhaps a good job? We should even be very thankful for the sunshine and fresh air around us, and for the food and beverages we are able to enjoy. We need to remember that any unthankful nation that refuses to submit to its Creator is sowing the seeds of its own destruction. The apostle Paul foretold what the prominent human characteristics would be at the end of this present age: “For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of Elohim, having a form of holiness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! (2 Timothy 3:2-5). But our Elohim is very patient. He is giving everybody a little more time to change their lives individually and nationally. Yahweh is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). May we all be genuinely filled with true thanksgiving—thankful for Yahweh’s will and for the love of Elohim and Yahshua the Messiah. May we seek to love, obey and serve the Source of all our personal and national blessings! As the apostle Paul wrote, “But thanks be to Elohim, who gives us the victory through our Master Yahshua Messiah (1 Corinthians 15:57). All these things we humbly pray to Yahweh through Yahshua our Savior and Master and King, Amen. Halleluyah, Shalom to all!
