of the earth and the universe, the same One who lived on the earth and died for us in our place because He loves us so much – or do we look only to the views of men and follow them for our convenience or because we do not want to stand out as different?
The fourth commandment, the Sabbath commandment, is a different commandment from the other nine. Because of the way our world is, it requires a strong decision to be a Sabbath-keeper. One cannot simply agree with it and have an intellectual understanding about it. God says to us, Remember the Sabbath day… keep it holy. We have to take positive and weekly action in order to keep it. To keep the Sabbath, one has to make a decision visible to those around. It cannot be kept and not be seen. No one knows if I am coveting or not, or even if I have another god, that I may give my allegiance to. Often people cannot be sure if I am lying or not. I may not take God’s name in vain but others will not know if that is just the way I am or whether I have made a clear decision not to blaspheme. When it comes to the Sabbath, it can be seen clearly, whether I am keeping the Sabbath or not. One day there will be persecution for keeping the Sabbath and then the work of God’s separating tool – the fourth commandment – will be seen to have done its work.
The children of Israel had the same test over the manna. These stories are for our example at the end of the world. The manna was given to prove them as to whether they would keep God’s laws or not. For six days the manna fell, but on the Sabbath there was no manna. Those who had believed and trusted what God said, obeyed Him and went out and collected double portions every Friday, even though on other days it would have rotted by next morning. Others tried to think independently, and when they went out on the Sabbath to collect it, there was none and they had to go hungry. They did not receive the blessing of God. |
