Many have said they believe the year 2020 will be a pivotal year, a year in which nations will choose whom they will follow, Jesus the Lamb of God or Satan the god of this world.

April 9th will be the first major event of the year, Passover, the first of the Feasts of the Lord. It marked the time when God’s people had to choose if they would follow God and His servant Moses or if they would remain in bondage to the gods of Egypt. And what was the sign of their choice? It was the blood of the sacrifice lamb painted on the doorpost of their house. All those who believed God and His servant Moses took a lamb into their houses on the 10th of Nisan (the 1st Hebrew month of the year) and on the 14th day of Nisan the father of the family sacrificed that lamb and painted its blood on the doorposts and lentil of their house. When the angel of death went throughout the land of Egypt, wherever he saw the blood on the doorposts he would pass over. If he saw no blood, he brought death to that house. God made this occasion a memorial to be remembered throughout time.

“And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.” – Exodus 12:14

This feast marked a deliverance from bondage and slavery but, some may say “We are not slaves or in bondage.” but the word of God says differently –

“Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.” – John 8:34

and we are all in that category! Many of my blogs have to do with truth and it’s vital importance because it is truth that is able to set us free, and Jesus is the Truth. The Apostle John wrote about sin –

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” – 1 John 1:8

That is exactly why we all need to remember Passover and keep it in our hearts. The blood of that lamb was the atonement for their sins but, it had to be applied to the doorposts of their homes. It was a symbolic picture of the true Lamb of God who would later come to earth – Jesus, the Lamb of God. His blood alone can make the atonement for sin in our lives.

“Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.” – 1 Cor. 5:7

The “leaven” Paul is talking about here is sin. How do we purge out the old leaven? By repenting to God for it and turning away from it. That first Passover had to be taken with their shoes on their feet and being fully dressed for the journey. They had to be ready to leave Egypt, the place of bondage, and to leave on the journey to the Promised Land. They could no longer take pleasure in the Leeks of Egypt. Some who started the journey would later turn back in their hearts as they faced the trials of the wilderness –

“We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic;” – Num. 11:5

These complainers embraced the Passover to get rid of the slave-master’s whip but they did not realize God was after their hearts, their attitudes and they yet loved the world.

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.” – 1 John 2:15, 16

And so it is today. Many come to Jesus in their hour of need and they make a start with Him but, when the trials of the wilderness meet them, they turn back. They don’t realize that these trials are designed by God to purify us and purge out the dross that we may be pure silver. They are thinking of God’s mercy in getting them through their hour of need, which mostly were brought on by their own choices, so they began the journey with God. But God is after more – He wants our hearts and our hearts are wicked –

“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” – Jer. 17:9

But, God is wise and He knows how to purify us.

“He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD An offering in righteousness.” – Mal. 3:3

And so, as we remember Passover this year, remember it is the beginning of our trip to the Promised Land. The Lamb of God is the only One who can free us from the bondage’s of sin. The Passover is joined with the Feast of unleavened Bread because Passover begins the process of purging out the leaven of sin in our lives. And it is followed by the Feast of First-fruits because it reminds us that the end of the journey is resurrection into eternal life. Jesus was the first fruit as He was resurrected and our resurrection will follow when He returns. These three Feasts will be remembered April 9-16 this year.

So, don’t be like those who rebelled in the wilderness remembering the “leeks” of Egypt. They never reached the Promise Land. Let God purge out your dross that you may be pure silver. This Passover remember what Jesus said –

“For many are called, but few are chosen.” – Matt. 22:14

What will our nation do this year of 2020? As President Trump called for a Day of Prayer, I hope and pray that Americans will follow his lead in turning back to the God of our forefathers. Trumps proclamation states-

“The proclamation quoted 1 Peter 5:7 (“casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you”), Psalm 91 (“He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust”) and Luke 1:37 (“for with God nothing shall be impossible.”). Trump asked Americans to pray for those “on the front lines of the response, especially our Nation’s outstanding medical professionals and public health officials. As one Nation under God, we are greater than the hardships we face, and through prayer and acts of compassion and love, we will rise to this challenge and emerge stronger and more united than ever before,” Trump wrote. “May God bless each of you, and may God bless the United States of America.”

The words of this proclamation will be true if we repent and truly turn back to God.