Practice for the Final Feast

This time last year I was preparing for my wedding which was to take place on October 27.  As I journaled with God about the amount of time involved in preparations, He confirmed that planning wedding celebrations does take much thought and work.  Then He reminded me that He too was planning an amazing wedding super for His Son.  Every detail for that day has already been worked out.  In addition, He said, "The invitations have been issued, but many have not responded."  God went on:  "I am waiting for more positive responses to come to me.  I am waiting for the fullness of the Gentiles to come in and more invitations are being sent to the Jews.  I look forward to a glorious time of fellowship together around the table.  Joan, you will be blown away by the extravagant, lavish table I set."
 
It was so exciting for me to read this part of my journal, especially since we are in the season of the fall feasts and are beginning to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot.  It is also called, the "Feast of Ingathering" because it occurs during the greatest feast of the year.  Fruit and vegetables and the remainder of the wheat are harvested.  The abundance of the agricultural harvest provides for an overflowing table.  Indeed, this Feast is for celebrating the harvest, but should also remind us of how the Israelites dwelt in tents as they wandered through the wilderness, and how the Lord provided for all their needs.  It is also a reminder of our humble beginnings and that our time on earth is temporary.  Along with thanking God for the harvest, the Jewish people ask Him to provide rain for the next season.
 
The Feast of Tabernacles is characterized by joy as we remember God's faithfulness and contemplate meeting Him face-to-face at His table.  This is a time when God tabernacles (meets and dwells with) us. Deuteronomy 16:14-17 says this about the Feast:  "Be joyful at your Feast. For seven days celebrate the Feast to the Lord your God at the place the Lord will choose.  For the Lord your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete...No man should appear before the Lord empty-handed.  Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you."  The Israelites used to bring their gifts to the priest who sang a song from Isaiah 12:3-6.  "With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.  In that day you will say:  'Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done, and proclaim that His name is exalted.  Sing to the Lord, for He has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world.  Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.'"
 
It was my desire, as I was preparing for my wedding, to find the perfect gift for my husband to be.  One day a throng of Believers from every tribe and nation will gather together at the marriage supper of the Lamb.  Father God will have a glorious table set for us.  Somehow, each of us will be able to sit by our Bridegroom and look in His eyes.  In the meantime, we must make ourselves ready for this glorious day.  
 
The Bible says that our works/deeds will follow us to heaven.  (Revelation 14:13) We will be rewarded for those works that were motivated by the Holy Spirit.  Those accepted by God will be given crowns that can be laid at the feet of Jesus.  This will be our gift to our Bridegroom.  This week we have a glorious opportunity to tabernacle with Jesus and to store up treasures in heaven.  (Matthew 6:20-21)