We will soon be celebrating God’s Feast of Tabernacles and Last Great Day. It is a time when we come out of this world and picture the soon-coming Kingdom of God, the most joyous eight days of the year! During the 1980s, the wcg Feast was the largest convention on Earth. The wcg had 84 Feast sites worldwide in 1981. We will have 17 this year. Though smaller in numbers, God’s Feast of Tabernacles is the most important convention on Earth.
Theodore Roosevelt once said, “The one thing I want to leave my children is an honorable name.” Our Father has given us the great gift of His honorable name. Deuteronomy 14:23 references the place where God chooses to place His name. The word name comes from the Hebrew for “reputation,” shem. Shem, for the most part, upheld his father Noah’s name. We have the responsibility of representing God and His great reputation at whatever Feast site we attend. We receive compliments all the time about what a wonderful group we are.
In the festival department, we have the honor and blessing of planning for the Feast and future Feasts year round. We can see God’s great hand in opening and closing doors for us, which helps to show Pastor General Gerald Flurry where God wants His great name placed. It’s up to us to take God’s honorable name and reputation with us to the places where He has placed His name.
Let’s consider the following points to help us uphold God’s perfect reputation at the Feast.
Interaction with God
Most importantly, we must maintain our schedule of prayer, Bible study and meditation during our busy Feast schedule. Strive to get to bed at a reasonable time each night so that you can wake up refreshed and ready for the next busy day.
Moderation
Philippians 4:5 says to let our moderation be known unto all men. The Feast is a time when we can often enjoy fine food and fine drink, but we must always be on guard against excess. Too much of a good thing can very easily affect our Feast spiritually. Remember to get plenty of rest so you can attend all services and Church-sponsored activities. The Feast is a very busy time, and we need to be physically and spiritually alert each day.
Strive to keep group get-togethers to a reasonable size within your room. When group get-togethers overflow into hallways, patios and lawns, it is not acceptable, and the resort properties treat it as a party. The Church could get penalized with fees in some cases. Let’s strive to let our light shine and be blameless in the area of moderation (Philippians 2:15).
Interaction With Staff/Vendors
The various resort staffs are working to serve us; we should be able to find many opportunities to serve them in return. It may be just a nice smile, a thank you, or a tip to our maid, waiter, waitress or bellhop for their work. Strive to be complimentary toward them. This will show how much you appreciate them.
Remember to bring all housing problems directly to your hotel monitor. He can help resolve the problem. You can find the name of your hotel monitor in the Feast brochures that will be handed out on opening night.
Interaction with Family of God
Work hard to make sure your interaction with all ministers, department heads, managers, assistants, volunteers and all Feast goers is at the highest standard.
If you are asked by our security crew to return to your hotel room to get your name badge, don’t be offended. They are just trying to keep the world out of our services.
Strive to serve the brethren, whether you are able to volunteer for one of the crews or serve through enthusiastic fellowship. The Feast is a great time to reconnect with old friends, but it also provides an opportunity to get to know the whole Family of God. The worldly staff will watch our interactions, and it will rub off on them either positively or negatively. The various staffs should clearly see our special love for each other and our great unity on display. They should see us truly rejoicing (Leviticus 23:40).
Remember, we are a light to this world (Matthew 5:14-16). The various vendors do not get to see that light the other 350-plus days of the year. We are a very unique group in their eyes, and we stand out to them. They look forward to welcoming us back each year. God has given us the special opportunity to represent His family name and be a light to them. We must let our light shine so when this world sees our example it will ultimately glorify God, who deserves all the credit.
God’s Feast of Tabernacles will be the most important convention on Earth. At the many Feast sites where God has placed His name for 2015, we should uphold God’s perfect reputation and name. Soon, it will be our name and reputation for all eternity!