Every year we celebrate the church anniversary. We come together to thank and praise God. But for what reasons do we celebrate? God commanded ancient Jews in Exodus 23:14-17,
14 “Three times a year you are to celebrate a festival to me. 15 Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread; for seven days eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you. Do this at the appointed time in the month of Aviv, for in that month you came out of Egypt. No one is to appear before me empty-handed. 16 Celebrate the Festival of Harvest with the firstfruits of the crops you sow in your field. Celebrate the Festival of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in your crops from the field. 17 Three times a year all the men are to appear before the Sovereign LORD.”
We, too, celebrate yearly the church anniversary for similar reasons. First, “the Festival of Unleavened Bread.” This festival is celebrated by observing the Passover. This festival remembers how God saved the Israelites out of the land of bondage, Egypt, in which the Israelites were slaves for 430 years. The king of Egypt refused to let God’s people go. So, God had to force the hand of the king. On this night, God killed the firstborn of the Egyptians, including the king’s first son. But God spared the children of his people, the Israelites. The Israelites’ firstborn children were spared because their house was protected by the blood of a lamb. This lamb represents the Lord Jesus Christ. Similarly, when Jesus died a violent death on the cross as signified by the shedding of blood (Lev 17:11), Jesus took the punishment of sin on our behalf. Praise the Lord, all our sins are forever forgiven. We are no longer slaves to sin so that we live a corrupt life that brings eternal death. We receive eternal life and heaven. We are now forever a part of God’s church, that is, God’s people, whom God will love and care for. We enjoy God’s eternal presence and enjoy real rest.
Second, “the Festival of Harvest.” The ancient Israelites celebrate how God gives them harvest so that they have wheat, barley, grapes, figs, olive, etc., for food. Third, the ancient Israelites celebrate the “Festival of the Ingathering.” It is also called the Feast of Tabernacles when Israelites once a year will live in tents, “so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in temporary shelters when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the LORD your God” (Lev 23:43). After God saved them out of Egypt, they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. “Yet the LORD says, ‘During the forty years that I led you through the wilderness, your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet’” (Deut 29:5). God wants them to live in tents once a year to recall how God took care of them during the 40 years in the wilderness where there was no food and water. Likewise, we celebrate because God provides for our daily needs. Dear Christians, the reason why you could work to earn a living and pass your examinations is not simply because you are capable. It is God who kept you healthy and allowed you to find favour with people around you. We know circumstances, people’s hearts, and our health can change for the worse suddenly. But you could sustain yourself and family because God protected your interests and sustained you. God is your provider. For that, we come to celebrate God’s goodness to the church, that is, you and me.
Today’s celebration of the church 17th Anniversary is not simply about Tree of Life Christian Church. Rather, today’s celebration is mainly about you and me: the people who make up Tree of Life Christian Church. God saved us out of sin and the eternal condemnation of sin. God provided for our needs and protected us through dangerous times of our life. This include some dangers which had crossed our paths but we were unaware of. God is good. We come to thank and praise our Saviour today. Take some moments to recall God’s goodness and provision for your life. Thank him.