There is scripture throughout the Old Testament of the Bible that tells of the children of Israel having big celebrations, almost a wedding-like feasts after they had made a covenant agreement between themselves and God. I had read those scriptures many years ago but I saw them through my own experience with God at that time. Then, for the life of me I could not understand how making promises with God weren’t solemn and sacred occasions in which the people should not be celebrating but rather should be quiet, sober and fully conscious of the ways and holiness of God. Celebrating a covenant with God by having a feast? Unbelievable.
When I began my walk with Christ, I’ll be honest, for a long time I felt the burden of my Christian religion. People told me my acceptance of Jesus would be the best decision I ever made but they didn’t tell me it was going to be so hard to live within all the constraints and rules. Consequently, I had such an overwhelming sense of guilt whenever I felt I did something to displease God and break His laws. I had willingly chosen to follow Jesus, but His cross seemed too heavy to carry at times. I couldn’t reconcile the scripture which says “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” with my insatiable need to never let God down in any area of my life. Easy? I didn’t think so. The more I tried to live for Him, the more sin I would seem to commit. And the more sin I would commit, the more guilt and condemnation I would carry. I had made a covenant with the Lord yet it was definitely no celebration for me.
Religious duty ruled my life and I became weary of the strain. To the world, I may have seemed to love God and His way of life. However, on the inside I began to resent and feel anger toward God and all the heaviness His religion had placed on my shoulders. Just as the very religion that was supposed to be my salvation became my undoing, Holy Spirit came to my rescue, delivered me from the chains of the law and introduced me to mercy, grace and freedom in Christ. He did this by showing me His Word about His Love for me throughout the New and Old Testaments of the Bible. He did it by introducing me to believers who have a joyous and true relationship with Jesus without fear of retribution or condemnation from God or others. Holy Spirit released me from the chains and bondage of religious thinking and behavior and gave me the wings of an eagle to soar into the heavens of great possibilities and unthinkable freedom.
Now I understand those scriptures in the Old Testament. I see and embrace how the children of Israel were so excited to celebrate the renewal of their Covenant with God. It wasn’t a burden to them but a relief and assurance that they would always be God’s chosen ones. I share a covenant with Father God. He promised to never leave me nor forsake me for all of eternity. And I promised to be a living sacrifice for Him in return for saving me from the destruction of religious thinking and behavior. It is our joyous covenant to be memorialized, commemorated and celebrated. Everyday.
I think I’ll go have me a piece of cake!
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