LIVING IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD NOVEMBER 28, 2024

 LIVING IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD NOVEMBER 28, 2024

Greetings to the dear Pilgrims of God on their journey to the fullness of God’s Kingdom on earth,

A Pilgrim is defined as a person who is on a special or spiritual journey to an unknown land or place, often for religious purposes. In the USA, Thursday, November 28, 2024 is designated as “THANKSGIVING.” A day in which we remember a group of people called, “Pilgrims,” who landed on the shore of Massachusetts in 1620, in search of a land where they would be free to worship God as they so desired. While pages could be filled regarding the Pilgrims and their journey, you can find all that information on the internet, especially a website called, “The American Minute.” This is a free website and worth your effort to subscribe and receive regular information.

There are many scriptural records of Pilgrims. Just to mention a few, I suppose Adam and Eve were the first as they began their pilgrimage back to God. Enoch, Melchizedek, Noah, probably all the Old Testament prophets along with Ruth, Naomi, Esther and many others. In the New Testament we find in John 14: 1 Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God; believe also in me. 2 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.
3 And when I go, I will prepare a place for you, and come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, ye may be also. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest. And how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me. This a revealment of the journey we are on, where we are going and how to get there.

With that thought, the Apostles, and Saints in the New Testament were also Pilgrims on a journey to the Kingdom of God. An interesting scripture is Hebrew 11,what I like to call the “Faith Hall of Fame.” Read the whole chapter, especially verses 13-16. Ether 5 in the Book of Mormon is a comparative chapter to Hebrews 11. Read Ether 5:4, 7, and 19. Many experiences could be related regarding the Restoration of the Church and the struggles the early Latter Day Saints had to deal with in their pilgrimage to the Center Place.

Most have probably heard of the book, “The Pilgrim’s Progress.” It is a story of a man named “Christian”, or we might say, Saint who is anxious and ashamed of his sin and the burden on his back. He must make a journey to the Celestial City to find redemption. Though this book is fiction, does it not greatly resemble our lives today as we are striving to live a kingdom quality life in preparation for the eventual fullness of God’s kingdom to be on earth as it is in Heaven?

We should be most thankful for a God who loves each one so much that He came to earth and made His own pilgrimage to the cross for our sake. I really like a Christmas card that has Christ on it with a Lamb and says, “He came to pay a debt He didn’t owe, because we had a debt we could not pay.”

This Thanksgiving, may we all remember I Thessalonians 5:16-24, with special emphasis on verse 18. May we also make sure our families spend some time on Thanksgiving Day to remember why we observe it, more than just the blessing on the food.

GIVE THANKS WITH A GRATEFUL HEART, GIVE THANKS TO THE HOLY ONE.

GIVE THANKS BECAUSE HE’S GIVEN JESUS CHRIST HIS SON.

God be with you

Paul Gage