Jesus Christ and the 'Forever Festival'

The Festival at Sandpoint began last night, and will continue for the next 10 nights. The Festival has become one of the annual highlights on the community calendar, and provides an opportunity for many from near and far to enjoy excellent music, food and fellowship. As wonderful as the Festival is, it pales in comparison to the “Forever Festival” we all have an opportunity to be a part of, promised in God’s Word — the Bible.

The first festival spoken of in the Bible was when the Israelites were delivered from their slavery in Egypt, and went into the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land. God instructed them to celebrate the “Passover” of the death angel, with a Feast of Unleavened Bread and Festival to follow. Later, they were instructed to add two other feast/festivals: one at the Harvest of Firstfruits, and another at the end of harvest (Ingathering).

The Passover Feast/Festival was, of course, the most prominent, and became the basis for a “Forever Festival” through what Jesus did as our Passover Lamb — sacrificing Himself for the sins of the world. Paul writes about this cleansing sacrifice, and the resulting Festival in 1 Corinthians 5:7-8: “Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast — as you really are. For Christ, our Pass-over lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.”

Through Jesus, the Passover Festival becomes the eternal Wedding Supper of the Lamb, spoken of in Revelation 19:6-9: “Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah. For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory. For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) Then the angel said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb.’ ” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”

The “Forever Festival” described here offers the best music, food and fellowship imaginable, and the “tickets” are free. Simply by faith in Jesus, and accepting His free gift of eternal life, we can be a part of His “Forever Festival.” The angel said, “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb.” The good news is that everyone is invited. Later, in the last chapter of Revelation, the Spirit and the Bride say: “Whosoever will may come.”

So you and I, along with everyone else who has ever lived has a free invitation to the “Forever Festival.” The choice is yours. I’ve “reserved my ticket.” I hope and pray to see you there.

Pastor Jon L. Pomeroy is pastor at Sandpoint Church of God. He can be reached at 221 S Division Ave., Ste. A, Sandpoint; or by phone at 208-263-6629.