Well I just want to be obedient to Jesus command to commemorate and would love a definitive answer.There are members here who seem to grasp completely subjects whistling over my head and would really love not to be complicit in masonic mind/reality bending either with the correct date to commemorate or in fact whether as a non anointed follower of Christ to be participating??????
I sympathise. My mind is a sea of ambiguity. Yet one thing that helps clear the fog for me in certain areas of doubt is “reasonableness” in understanding. I do not think that the bible is primarily a book of facts to be understood, but a pathway that justifies faith in what is understood of it. By degrees in fact. Faith builds upon itself - upon its foundation - and forms an aggregate of compound interest. The parable of the Talants. Faith builds upon faith. Its foundation is the heart condition that leads it to seek for faith and understanding. A love of righteousness.
With the anointed, how can the calling be clear to others who do not experience such an event? So to look for an explanation from another is pointless. How can a colour blind person explain colour? My nephew sees a green sky! It’s normal to him. Likewise is our existence. Would we not know then if the Holy Spirit were given us? Surely we would unless we deceive ourselves and mistake emotion for it. The heart deceives.
Yet in this matter, if we look plainly at the insight given us in text, it points to a select few, a different venue of existence, a different hope, a sight in the the mind to which others are excluded and cannot see, let alone entertain a valid, conscionable hope for. The question then is how can we participate meaningfully if we do not understand the calling? To participate without certainty is mere ritual - meaningless. To observe though - that is different. To understand what we observe is to recognise love, salvation and sacrifice in its ultimate form and to appreciate that within our heart - and we are rewarded by doing so according to our station in understanding, our receptiveness to the Word in measure of our faith. If we cannot sense that in our heart, then of what value is the time and venue in celebrating it?
The date does not validate the sacrifice. Neither the venue. But the understanding of it and the love in righteousness and sacrifice that it represents. The time and date, heightens these senses but they have to be there in the heart already if they are to be appreciated and our appreciation found to be acceptable. Thus the relevance to our understanding is also significant.
Do we doubt our calling? Do we understand the significance of the 144,000? Do we likewise appreciate the garden of Eden and its meaning for those that are born into this life with appreciation for that gift? I think it underestimated in so many ways. Even the angels desire such an existence but see also their rightful place in Jehovah’s creation. Did not the heavens resound to the sound of their applause? Why, we may ask, is it to be desirable to be in a place simply because it is elevated in our mind? We should rather instead, be appreciative of the place we are certain of in our lives. That is what the sacrifice is for is it not, so that such a purpose can be fulfilled as intended? This unnecessary conundrum is what creates our uncertainty in participation or observance. It would be to our advantage just to leave such a question alone and rather put our faith in being instructed. Surely the teacher would not leave us ignorant?
As time is different all over the world, as seen by the observer, then surely we should dwell on what the date is for, rather than time itself. What it means to us is far more important. How we assimilate it in our lives. All I want is exactly the same as you - to know a date and the approximate time. The rest is a fervent prayer for wisdom and the understanding of it to be enhanced in my mind. Don’t worry about the masons - this is an issue solely of the heart. No one can touch it. Only Jehovah. He is not going to fail to appreciate our heart condition in reaching out to thank him for all that He has done for us through Jesus. Or our place within it.
