My wife and I recently attended our annual church conference in Colorado, USA, along with a number of others. I was reminded of Matthew 19:29 which states: “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit everlasting life.”

When we were called, most of us had problems with our spouse, family, friends or job. This was part of the ongoing testing process that we go through so that God can see how committed we are to Him and His way. That process continues today and will for the rest of our life.

It can be hard, it can be difficult, but we are promised a “hundredfold” in this life and the opportunity to inherit eternal life. In fact, eternal life will exceed all of our expectations because of our limited  knowledge and capacity to understand all that God has in store for us. But we can appreciate the “hundredfold” that we can receive in this life.

At our conference my wife and I, and others, were treated royally by all of the brethren in Colorado and Mr and Mrs Dave Harris opened up their home to us, and others, for nearly a week. They showed great hospitality to us and other visitors during this time. We were likewise treated with the same generosity of spirit by the brethren in San Diego whom we have got to know over the years. If I mentioned everyone who had shown kindness to us during our trip, the list would indeed be a long one.

Our church family around the world falls into the “hundredfold” category. Over the last 36 plus years we must have met and known hundreds upon hundreds of church brethren which, for us, certainly fulfils this part of Matthew 19:29. Most members who have been in the church for some years will probably be able to say exactly the same thing.

What a blessing it has been – something that we may never have thought about too much when we started attending church many years ago. Looking back we can see how blessed we have been and how profitable it has been to know, learn from and enjoy the company of like-minded brethren.   A blessing indeed and one that we should never underestimate – it is just one of the many blessings when following the ways of God.

Let us make sure that we never take this for granted but appreciate the fact that we have been given a “hundredfold” in this life.

I wonder if it ever occurs to those atheists and agnostics who either deny the existence of God or who have no view one way or another about His existence, that the concerns that they have about perceived “global warming” would, if true, actually PROVE the existence of that greater power that they deny exists? They become so involved in their cause that it may itself become a religion to them!

At the recent Copenhagen “climate change” conference, the leaders of many nations around the world gathered together to discuss this matter, but had great difficulty in coming to an agreement to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions to levels that were agreed by all, and in an acceptable timescale. This was so that a rise in temperature, as anticipated by them, and that could prove disastrous, as they would see it, wouldn’t actually come to fruition.  

The sun is about 93 million miles away from the earth, which is the PRECISE distance to ensure that we have the various seasons and to ensure that we neither burn to a cinder nor freeze to death. And so we get the temperatures that have preserved human life on earth for the last 6,000 years.

You might be forgiven for thinking that those who deny God’s very existence might have thought through this dilemma? They don’t believe that there is an all powerful, intelligent Being Who has set things in order (compare Psalm 19:1; Isaiah 40:22; and Romans 1:20-22). Instead, they believe that this order in the universe was, and is, the product of blind chance. The word “blind” accurately describes their stance, rather than how the universe came into being.

They think that a few degrees can signal the end of civilization as they know it, but believe that the perfect distance of the earth from the sun is the product of blind chance! What folly – but this seems to have been the case with so many since Adam and Eve were first put in the Garden of Eden.

There will be a rude awakening for so many in the not-too-distant future when the Being they don’t believe exists will actually return to this earth.  And that will be good news for them as well as for all mankind, as they finally see how foolish they were to deny God’s very existence in the first place!

The word “conformity” can have both good and bad connotations. It is defined as “similarity in form or character; agreement; action or behavior in correspondence with socially accepted standards, conventions, rules, or laws.”

The world has just kept some of its festivals, and many have conformed to keeping Christmas and New Year because of peer pressure; not wanting to upset children, parents or family; or because it was a good excuse for a few days off work with, in many cases, riotous and wanton celebration.

Of course, there were those who kept those days moderately and in good conscience–although they were “sincerely wrong”–but even such people are becoming the minority, as the supposedly religious “Christian” aspect fades from view for the majority.

Had many not spent lavishly at the end of the year, businesses who rely on this trade may have been put out of business and that could have exacerbated an already fragile economic situation. But that was not the reason that people spent; it was simply what they wanted to do.

People conform for all sorts of selfish and personal reasons: Wanting to belong; not wanting to be ostracized in their society; wanting to be seen at various functions or with organizations; attending church because it’s the “thing to do” especially at Christmas and Easter; and so on. This conformity is something with which a true Christian must not be involved.

However, conformity can be a good thing when channeled the right way. I am referring to conformity to the Way of God, conformity to His Word and conformity to His Commandments (compare Romans 12:2). This is not self-seeking, but a humble approach to the One Who gives us every breath we breathe.

Conformity to God and His Way is totally opposite to the conformity that this world practices, particularly at the time of the year that has just passed. When we conform, let us be in line with our God and not in tune with what the world expects of us. Then we will always be in a winning situation!

Recently, my wife and I moved to a new home. In over 44 years of marriage, this was our ninth move, but we were in our last place for nearly 14 years. Even though we had moved many times in the past, we had forgotten what a trauma it can be, and what needed to be done. We sold our house in just three days, which in the present climate, was very encouraging, but we didn’t remember all the hard work that was to follow!

We all hope to be moving to an altogether different and permanent home in the not too distant future! In John 14:1-3, Jesus said: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

We know from John 2:16 that the Father’s house is the Temple of God, but in John 14, Jesus is referring to God’s spiritual Temple–the Church of God (compare 1 Peter 2:5; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 6:16). (See our Q&A this week for a further explanation.) This does not mean that we will go to heaven before or at the time of Christ’s second coming; rather, we have long understood that these mansions or dwelling places represent rulership positions of authority given to the saints here on earth, at Christ’s return (compare Revelation 5:10; 22:12; Luke 19:17, 19).

In our booklet “Is That in the Bible? – The Mysteries of the Book of Revelation!,” on pages 39/40, we state the following: “The Greek word for ‘mansions’ refers to dwelling places. It literally means, ‘dwellings’ (compare the margin of the New King James Bible). The same word is used in John 14:23, where it is translated as ‘home.’ According to the Nelson Study Bible, ‘Everybody has a longing for a permanent, secure place. Such places have already been set aside for all of God’s children.'”

Those of us who remain faithful to the very end will inherit these promises. Then, we will be truly “at home.” While we will “leave” or “put off” our current earthly home–our fleshly bodies (2 Peter 1:13-14)–we will be “clothed with our habitation which is from heaven” (2 Corinthians 5:2). We will receive eternal “spiritual” bodies (2 Corinthians 5:4; 1 Corinthians 15:44). We–converted members of the Church of God, the “body of Christ”–will become Spirit-born members of the God Family. We will have a future where more important issues will occupy our minds and energies.

It will be a time when we won’t have to be concerned about what our neighbors will be like when we move to a new home. Nor will we have to be concerned about schooling, shopping, transport or other issues that can also face us. We will have much greater things to accomplish. The excitement of moving to a temporary home will pale into insignificance by comparison with what the future holds for us–when we will have arrived at our new and permanent home; when we have been redeemed from our physical bodies of death; and when we have received new spiritual glorified bodies of eternal life (compare Romans 7:24; 8:23, 29-30).

All we have to do to make the most important move, any of us will ever make, is to remain faithful to the very end!

Society often associates privilege with those who have more than the average. It may also associate privilege with advantages obtained through birth into a wealthy or aristocratic family. Finally, in describing privilege, it may focus on other advantages that the ordinary man in the street doesn’t have or enjoy.

Wikipedia states that “privilege” “can refer to special powers or ‘de facto’ immunities held as a consequence of political power or wealth. Privilege of this sort may be transmitted by birth into a privileged class or achieved through individual actions. Compare elite.”

There can be both deference to those so privileged or, very often, resentment from those who feel that life can be unfair and that they themselves may be disadvantaged. It usually depends on which side of the fence you’re on!

But let us apply the word “privilege” to our calling and the Feast of Tabernacles that we’ve just observed. What a privilege that has been and how privileged we are to have been given the knowledge of the truth at this time so that we have the opportunity to be in the first resurrection!

Is the world envious of our “privilege”? Pretty unanimously, the answer must be no as we can be viewed as odd or peculiar for keeping festivals that are considered outdated and irrelevant. What would be the point of resenting those who are looked at as “religious” and outmoded in a secular society? It is extremely doubtful that we are seen as being privileged by anyone outside the Church today.

But conversely, do we consider ourselves privileged to have been called at this time? We should. We must. If we don’t, we could easily miss out on the most stupendous and thrilling future that we could ever envisage. Out of nearly seven billion people on this earth, very few have had the marvelous calling that we have been privileged to have been given. Attitude is so important and God is reviewing and monitoring our approach to our calling.  

If anyone in the Church of God resents any worldly “privilege” that others may enjoy, that would be a hypocritical approach. It would be good to reflect on the fact that WE indeed are the people of privilege if you think about it! “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called” (1 Corinthians 1:26).  And we understand that the first resurrection is the better resurrection (compare Hebrews 11:35 and Revelation 20:6). Now that’s real privilege!

The Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day provided us with a wonderful time to be with God at His Feast site and with other like-minded brethren. What a PRIVILEGE it was to have been there!