A few months ago, we embarked on a pilgrimage. During the trek, we faced many questions. We sought and got answers to our many questions. But we also came to know that we had to make certain choices. This was and is not always easy.
Persons around us tried to get us to go along with them. It was tempting to respond to their calls to us. But we also heard that voice from above. A voice that sounded from the darkness And gave us confidence. We chose to listen to that Voice from the heights of the heavens.
It is the Voice of Truth In Whom we may have confidence.
It is the Voice That led us to the possibility of life.
Thus we came to see the Bread of life Which came down from heaven like manna from God.
We allowed ourselves to be fed by that heavenly Bread that made an inner fire come to burn deep within us.
Thus on our journey we could emerge strengthened from a struggle between all kinds of thoughts that sometimes dared to torment us. But by listening to that Voice from the distant heights, we were led to the light that carried us across the waters and valleys. It brought us to faith, that will strengthen us further in our life to come, purified by the waters of God.
Lord God we are grateful to you for being willing to guide us on our trek.
We may still have a long way to go
to come to stand completely purified before Your throne?
But we ask You that You will be willing to continue with us,
in Jesus’ name.
The day seemed dark.
Religious powers had brought darkness to the world.
God watched but let them.
The world was given into the hands of man.
Even if he does not make much of it,
and fails to bring peace to the whole earth.
There were some who wished to step out of the darkness.
Others assured them that this would be dangerous
and illicit,
for they would be breaking age-old traditions.
Nevertheless, they decided to go out.
They set off on a pilgrimage,
which would take them over valleys, ravines and high mountain peaks.
They waded through the grasslands
taking care not to sink into the swamp.
They found the little wooden bridge
that could lead them further across the marshy ground.
In the darkness, they saw stars shimmering.
Like the shepherds in the field
they too followed a bright star.
In the middle of the night, this bright star brought
to that manger that awaited the people.
They too could hear how there lay that son of God waiting
to come out into the open
and make his voice buzz over mountains and valleys.
The walkers of the trek finally decided
to go on with him and believe in him.
So they went on and got closer and closer to the light.
A light of truth and trust.
A city built on piles
with the use of a solid cornerstone
on which to rely.
For many, dealing with the past is difficult.
Chopping buttons is not always so easy.
Concerning faith, it takes courage to go a different way than the traditional paths proposed by the mainstream churches.
In Brussels, we may greet some people who dared to take a different path. They have chosen to take the Way of God, which was prepared by the Nazarene teacher and his apostles, and has been paved out by their followers also in Belgium.
Of those who started the pilgrimage in Belgium,
three have now chosen to take that great step
and enter the waters that can wash them clean of previous sins.
With joy and full of expectations,
we now look forward to their baptism on Sunday 5 May.
On our trek, we were privileged to meet some fellow travellers who wanted to dedicate themselves to God. During the trek, they had many opportunities to compare and discuss their knowledge of the Bible. The time they went through during the pilgrimage also gave them the opportunity to grow in faith.
Together they set out with us, and this afternoon they underwent an interview to verify that they are ready to undergo baptism in the community of brothers and sistersin Christ.
With joy, we will now soon also be able to greet them as brothers after they are completely immersed in water.
The pilgrimage you have to undertake is a voyage you yourself have to do.
Everyone has their own path that they follow. I know there will be haters along the way, doubters, those who don’t believe in you, and then you will be there and prove them wrong. It is your path and no one else will walk in your place. They can help you find your way if you get lost, they can push you if you stop and say I can’t do it. But it is still on your shoulders to walk and go. Then you reach your destination and look back with relief and say to yourself: I did it.
Perhaps you shall have to go miles before your work shall be done, but by doing it yourself, conquering the many obstacles, you in the end shall feel most satisfaction, having reached your goal
During the pilgrimage there comes a time when one clearly realises which path to take and how to put an end to one’s former life.
Every individual, at another time in his or her life, encounters such a moment that there is sufficient insight to realise that one must turn and say goodbye to old life.
Those who realise that they can best stand as candidates for baptism will be welcomed with open arms to take that step. But they will have to be able to prove that they are ready to be baptised.
Every baptismal candidate is expected to possess a fundamental knowledge of Biblical Truth. To this end, many mutual conversations will be able to make clear. A clear understanding and awareness of what assignment and baptism mean is explored in several conversations that precede baptism. We will also check in our brotherhood whether the baptismal candidate is well aware of the consequences of baptism. Because once one has been baptised, certain ‘obligations towards Jehovah’ are expected.
The baptismal candidate is expected to recognise Christ’sposition and authority and realise that Jesus is the one through whom God has provided „ with a corresponding ransom”. We expect the baptised person to be aware that there is only one God and one mediator between God and man. (1 Timothy 2:5) Those who work in the church community are only servants of and for Christ and his God. They are all as fallible as any other person, but should be fully committed to ecclesial work. They are such servants of God who will invite baptism and immerse someone in Jesus’ name. One of the elders may therefore request that he no longer hesitate and be immersed so that the baptised person may be washed away his or her sins and declared righteous by the baptismal candidate Jesus’ invoking his or her name. (Acts 22:12-16).
At the start of our trek or pilgrimage, we were convinced that the world is going wrong. Those who wished to join the pilgrims were also convinced that we should explore a different way of life.
All those who join the pilgrimage we undertake realise that it is better to ignore the world and prepare to continue on the right path.
For example, travellers will have to choose the right platform to get on the right train. As well, when they leave the station, they have to take the rightpath to step over the right fields and valleys. Here is a moment when travellers feel free to let the outside world know where they are going.
Then we will be able to see that the world is getting out of the way for the person who knows where he is going. For many will see the travellers as strangers and want to avoid them. Just like all the forefathers who wished to live according to the Laws of God. Like their days, our days on earth are like a shadow, and there is none to abide (1 Chronicles 29:15)
Even though our entire company is not the easiest, and we encounter many setbacks, we want to continue the journey in all circumstances. Those who further join are like us convinced that there is a higher party involved, who will act as a Master and will indeed continue to save us from everything harmful. Our faith in the sent of God gives us strength and confidence and makes us safe from his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory during all future periods of time. (2 Timothy 4:18)
Many people have preceded us in faith. They all died in faith, without having received the promises. They were filled with faith and managed to persevere through it. Like many before us, we are looking for a promised land where peace will reign. Even though it may not be the first day, we still want to fully provide ourselves so that we will be ready to enter the narrow gate of that promised Kingdom at any time of the day or of our journey.
But all who participate in the trek will have to make a choice during the journey to indicate that they are partakers of Jesus Christ’s community of brothers and sisters. Then it comes down to indicating to those present that one recognises God’s position and authority. Jehovah is recognised as „the Supreme . . over all the earth”, the Creator and Universal Sovereign (Psalm 36:9; 83:18; 2 Kings 19:15). At some point during the journey one must proceed to accept Jehovah as Supreme, as Father, but also as his Judge, Legislator and King. (Isaiah 33:22; Psalm 119:102; Revelation 15:3, 4.)
But in addition, one must recognise Christ’’s position and authority and realise that he is the one through whom God has provided „ with a corresponding ransom” (1 Timothy 2:5, 6). In addition, one accepts Jesus as Jehovah’s „Loyal Witness and as the ”King of kings„. (Rev 1:5; 19:16.)
If one shows sufficient insight into the Biblical Truth, one must also dare to take the step of presenting oneself as a baptismal candidate and moving into the sealing of brotherhood in Christ, through complete immersionin water, as purification of sins or complete laundering with the ‘burial’ of old life and entering a ‘new life‘.
It is a symbolic act that one expects when the candidate is ripe enough to take such a step. Christian immersion in water therefore does not wash away sins. Not baptism, but the pouring out of Jesus’’s blood and the ‘calling of his name’ make forgiveness possible. (Hebrews 9:22; 1 John 1:7.)
22 Yes, according to the Law nearly all things are cleansed with blood,+ and unless blood is poured out no forgiveness takes place.+ (Hebrews 9:22)
7 By means of him we have the release by ransom through the blood of that one,+ yes, the forgiveness of our trespasses,+ according to the riches of his undeserved kindness. (Ephesians 1:7)
Symbolically, from the darkness of this world, we go through the wall of water, to come straight into the light of the world of Christ. In that light, we want to continue our journey together to be connected in Jesus’ name.
7 However, if we are walking in the light as he himself is in the light, we do have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.+ (1 John 1:7)
We will continue step by step, and as we take further paths we hope that several will join us and that candidates will also emerge who indicate that they want to continue through life as brothers or sisters in Christ.
When we go on a trek we open our minds and come to a time when we as pilgrims think about the reasons why we go to the ‘altar of the world’. Our intention is to arrive at the « Holy of the Holy » with this long and sometimes not so easy journey. We would prefer to be as close as possible to God with fellow human beings who enter into the same faith as we do.
At the start of the journey, the trekkers have an intention and want to keep their promise and find more meaning in their lives. The trek one takes is a conscious choice to think intensely about life and where one wants to go. It is a period of reflection to deepen faith, atone for previously committed sins, and reach a point where one can avoid sinning.
There are many reasons to embark on a pilgrimage, and each pilgrim has a different one.
To walk the chosen path is above all a spiritual experience, which requires prior preparation. Sometime before you go on this journey, you should also think about the reasons why you are going on this pilgrimage. You can look at the others who start the journey, but it is important to carefully examine your own motivations.
When taking walks to prepare for your trip, try to think about the reasons why you are heading, about your questions and the answers you are looking for, and about what you plan to achieve by going on this pilgrimage.
During the big trek it will be noticeable how your view of the world can change. You will notice that many people are stuck with certain churches and their traditions, but that they are not really in accordance with Biblical Truth.
If your opinion is that of the majority, it is time to think carefully about whether you are on the right path with that majority. You will also realise that you have also become a victim of that large group of believers who prefer to adhere to the doctrines of that church, instead of feeling free in the world in which Jesus has cut the chains of slavery by rules.
During the journey, there needs to be a lot clearer and you need to realise that there is no point in staying chained to certain churches. Jesus has freed humanity from the human chains and opened the way to the One True God, who is One and not two or three.
With that insight gained, the responsibility also comes to Jesus and his God, to move further in the right direction and to dare to distance himself from the worldly rules of life.
During your pilgrimage, you must realise that not only are you on the road, but others have also entered the quest. You must therefore take them into account and realise that ‘pilgrimage’ is, as it were, also synonymous with ‘sharing’, even if it is an individual experience. Along the way, you will meet other people and you will have the opportunity to address each other and exchange ideas. Exchanging ideas is important to achieve a good learning process. You will also notice that everyone has ended up on the same path through other means as what you are currently on.
Once you meet one and the other, you will be able to see that you are not alone anymore, but that several are looking forward to reaching that same point.
We start our pilgrimage during the dark hours of dawn, wanting to put that world of despair behind us, we realize that there is a lot going wrong in that world we want to turn our backs on.
The People of God, who were largely made up of itinerants, knew all too well that one had to turn away from that world which had no eye for the Great Designer of this earth. They too, knew that one had to turn away from sin. In their journeys they did all they could to succeed, but like every man they were also sometimes weak and fell into sin. We too, we too, during our journey, we must be aware that this will also be part of our lives.
About two thousand years ago there was also another man of God who came to explain the Heavenly Father and who called on people to follow him as the light in the darkness. It was a sent one from God who spoke to humanity and asked them to follow him. He was a Nazarene Jew who knew the Scriptures very well and loved his Heavenly Father above all the worldly lords, many of these spiritual leaders were not served, which also turned them against that man who received more attention than them and who dared to call himself son of God.
It is following that Jewish teacher that we want to join those who believe in the long-awaited son of God whom we want to accept as the Kristos – the Anointed of God – or Christ. We believe that he is the Messiah that people have been looking forward to for so many centuries.
It is important to know under what name one wishes to be known in the world.
Before the trek, one could say that those who are interested in walking would also like to be regarded as his followers or brothers and sisters, which is why they would be happy to bear his name and record it on their passport.
That important preacher mentioned Yeshua or Jeshua ben Josef and that is why we want to continue to travel the world under his name as « Yeshuaist » or « Jeshuaist« , which means « follower of Jeshua« .
While the many ‘name Christians‘ do not follow the authority of Holy Scripture at all, we want those who go on a trek with us to take the Bible as a guide and recognize the Word of God as the highest authority.
The Trinity: A typical idol print depicting the triple deity: God the Father, god the son and God the Holy Spirit.
Those who go with us through the fields, mountains and valleys and cross the waters with them will continue to see together how important it is to get rid of a name that covers the wrong charge. If one pretends to be a Christian, most will think of all those other Christians who believe in the Holy Trinity. But one does not want to belong if one wants to end the trek together in the place where we must arrive, which is why it is important that you indicate from the beginning that you want to go through life as a Jeshuaist or follower of Jeshua, and even in that capacity that you are a Brother in Christ, or for the women and Sister in Christ.
During our journey we will make it very clear to the outside world that we as Brothers and Sisters in Christ want to continue through life.
Those who have decided to go on a hike must have their luggage packed in time. Once they have collected the necessary items, they must ensure that they have their passports in their pockets, so that they can always prove at the checkpoints that it is them and that they belong to the group of walkers.
As who do people want to do business?
What nationality do people want to take?
In the world of Christianity there are the majority who worship a triple deity. However, those who go on a journey must realize very well that this does not fit a deity into the context of this important journey that must take us to the narrow gate of God’s Kingdom.
To enter that Kingdom you must have the correct passport.
Even if you want to make progress a little faster during the trip or have to drive a car or drive a boat, you will have to have the appropriate driver’s license.
How do you wish to be known in the world?
That’s why you didn’t give yourself that much in the past. But it is very important in this journey to succeed in building a good religious community.
Where you may have been content to report that you were a Christian before, it now comes down to specifying this better For there are so many Christians who believe very diverse things But most of calling themselves Christians are not actually a true follower of Christ Jesus, but is an idolater, because he believes in more than one god, God the Father, god the son and God the Holy Spirit, along with also often adorns other by-deities or sub-deities or saints.
You will notice that what may have seemed very unimportant in the past now turns out to be important, it is now many small things, previously considered trivial, that have now suddenly become very important, or will have a major impact on the success or otherwise of this important journey.
You will notice that many of those apparent trivial or minor things were right, that you continued to walk in the dark. It is by coming to see more clearly what is or is not responsible that you will experience more and more light during your journey.
The longer you walk and will have to overcome difficulties on this important trek, you will find that you used to carry far too much ballast with you in your life, and there were far too many false doctrines to which you clung and which you are now supposed to reject.
If one examines what the majority of Christians adopt as their beliefs and how they serve their god or gods, one can safely ask whether it is responsible to go on the same path as those Christians.
As one makes this pilgrimage, one will increasingly be confronted with the teachings of those ‘false Christians’ and one will learn the true facts of true faith in Jesus Christ.
Kanisa la Christadelphian huko Anderlecht 