Thanksgiving Day

Rev. L. Kieboom (1910-2000)

It is a good Christian custom to celebrate Thanksgiving Day, thinking upon material blessings the Lord has given us during the past season. He it is who has again shown His goodness, mercy, and longsuffering. On a day such as this we should humble ourselves before our great Benefactor to acknowledge Him for all the mercies bestowed upon us, especially when we think of the many underdeveloped countries where people continually suffer on account of the lack of necessities of life. Why has the Lord made such a distinction? This thought should humble us not only on Thanksgiving Day but throughout the entire year and cause us to say, “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed.” Oh, that humbling grace may be given unto us so that we may return unto the Lord with all the benefits He has graciously given unto us. Alas, man by nature does not observe these benefits. Therefore, it is a good custom that in some countries a special day has been set apart to remember the mercies which the Lord has bestowed upon them. However, it is very sad that, also in this respect, there has come much superficiality in the observance of Thanksgiving Day especially in regard to its religious significance which in years past was the primary reason for celebrating this day. The day has now changed, more or less, into one of pleasure and greediness, and some reformation seems to be necessary.

In years gone by, Thanksgiving Day was a day of humiliation, penitence, and self-examination, whereunto we are encouraged by many texts from the Bible such as, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved” (Jeremiah 8:20). The fact that the people of Israel were a highly privileged nation becomes clearly evident in their sacred history. This was the reason why Moses, the servant of the Lord, said unto them, “Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord...” (Deuteronomy 33:29). They shared in God’s particular care as became evident in the Lord’s dealings with them, but it was also for this reason that they were chastised when they provoked God to anger. This is why there had been adversity in their life, for also at that time the Lord chastised those whom He loved. Therefore, in the time of Jeremiah the Lord asked, “Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding?” This was the reason why the Lord’s hand was resting upon them, causing them to sigh under the oppression of the Babylonian army while there was no expectation of help from the Egyptians. This is the reason why they complained in their despondency, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.”

Alas, numberless people are careless concerning their salvation because the god of this world has blinded them. They are lovers of the world rather than lovers of God.

Undoubtedly, there will be readers among our people who say, “Well, that is exactly my spiritual condition, for the summer is gone and my condition has become worse.” It seems that deliverance has become more impossible for them than ever before; this is the way the Lord deals with His people. They see that in the meantime much precious time has gone by, and they are not saved. This may be the condition of concerned people who are longing for pardoning grace and desire that the Lord would speak a few words unto them which would change their entire condition. They feel that only an almighty and merciful God can do that. They strongly desire that it may happen to them and that it would change their condition entirely.

These people are convinced that without such an experience they are not saved which means to them that they are not delivered from their spiritual bonds. The harvest is past. They acknowledge the Lord for the benefits received, but no change for good has come in their life; consequently, they remain under a spirit of bondage. With emptiness in their heart, there is a strong desire that the Lord may speak to them, “I am thy salvation.” Only the Lord’s speaking unto them can change their sad condition. The harvest is past; barns have been filled. Although this is a great blessing for natural life, an empty soul makes them cry to God. They are the people who cannot live without God. It is a sign of godly sorrow whereof the apostle says that it “worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of.” The good work has begun, and He will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Alas, numberless people are careless concerning their salvation because the god of this world has blinded them. They are lovers of the world rather than lovers of God. What poor creatures they are. In a spiritual sense they are empty vessels, whatever their education and occupation might be. They are spiritually dead, which is the forerunner of their eternal death, and although many of them have some religion, they are nevertheless estranged from the spiritual life the Lord gives to His people. The number of those who are thus minded is countless. They are all on that broad way to the bottomless pit. That is very sad. Although we may live in a so-called Christian country, the great mass is nevertheless living as pagans in the spiritual sense. It is also sad that those who have a little knowledge leave religion for what it is and go on in their careless way of living. Oh, that the word out of the book of Jonah, “What meanest thou, O sleeper?” may awaken them out of their carelessness. Woe, if they go on in their way. Their end will be the bottomless pit, and they will find out that in hell there will not be one denier of God, for they will all discover that it is a most fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God who is a consuming fire and by whom none can live. Then they will have another opinion of God and religion, but it will be too late for them, too late forever and ever.

Dear reader, what a wonder it is to still be living in the time of grace. God has been very patient with you; otherwise He could have sent you away, but he has not had a desire in your death. Try to realize your condition, therefore, so that you may escape the wrath to come. Let this be an earnest warning to those who are careless about their salvation. Dear reader, what are your thoughts? I believe that many people are unaware of their carelessness because of the worldly-mindedness by which they are totally carried away. They are under the power of unbelief, yea, dead in sin and unrighteousness. They are sleeping on the top of a mast from which they can fall any minute and sink away into that horrible pit from whence no one has ever returned. Please try to remember what it means not to be saved.

Others suppose that they are saved, as is the opinion of superficial Christians who have no knowledge of God’s attributes and the condemning power of the law. They flatter themselves with superficial ideas. They are ignorant of the things they must know will it be well with them. Their condition is so different from those who say, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” Those people have been longing for that salvation, but, alas, the desire of their heart has not been fulfilled. Oh, “not saved” becomes more and more of an unbearable burden. They are convinced of the impossibility from their side, and they are convinced also that something must happen which only an almighty and merciful God can perform.

To this end the Lord must speak to man as He has done to all His people by His Word and Spirit. This immediately causes a blessed change in the life of man and is accompanied with a sweet power which has an overwhelming influence upon them, by which darkness and anxiety disappear. The heart is filled with amazement, peace, and spiritual joy which cannot be uttered but can only be felt. Oh, the power and the sweetness of the texts which drop into their soul are so sweet that it makes them unable to speak for a while, and with holy amazement they admire the precious words the Lord has spoken to them. They also feel that it has a saving power. A time such as this is a blessed time, and with holy admiration they admire what the Lord has done for their soul.

What a difference as compared to the previous months; old things have passed away, and all things have become new. The inner peace as a result of the blessings which they have received is an evidence of the saving words which the Lord has spoken unto them. They who have experienced the benefits mentioned can say, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and....The Lord has done great things to us; therefore we are glad.”

Dear readers, have there been such seasons in your life? If not, then you are not saved. Do you realize what this means? Pray that a gracious God may grant you the things which are necessary to your salvation and which have been given to many. They have all testified that the value of it became greater year after year and have, by grace, enjoyed the only comfort in life and death. Dear reader, are you among them? Well, then you will receive a crown which fadeth not away but will last forever and ever.

Dear Readers,

As has been our custom, in the November issue we include the envelope requesting renewal of your subscription for the upcoming year. The Lord has again provided for us in the past year so that we have been able to send out our periodical each month without interruption.

Because of continued increases in the cost of postage, bulk mailings, and paper products, we have had to use some of our reserves to meet our financial obligations. In order to meet our expenses in the future, it has become necessary to increase our annual subscription rate to $25.00 (U.S./Canada) and $35.00 (foreign countries), payable in U.S. funds. We appreciate your understanding and your continued support. May the Lord bless the reading of our periodical to the souls of the readers and may His Name receive all the honor.

— The Editors

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