God's Gift of Rest

The world has forgotten where to find true rest. Restless, weary men and women are largely unaware that God created a weekly day of rest—Sabbath—as a sacred blessing for humanity. Genesis 2:2, 3.

Through the Sabbath, the Creator established an eternal relationship with Adam and Eve and their offspring. Every week, on the seventh day, He gives Himself in a special way to His human family. In response, they reserve Sabbath for Him alone as an act of worship. No other day of the week has received this sacred recognition in Scripture.

After sin came into the world, the Sabbath became a reminder of the lost heritage to be restored through the sacrifice of Christ. Later, when Abraham and his descendants became God’s representatives on Earth, they became the guardians of true worship, including the preservation of the seventh-day Sabbath.

The Sabbath blessing was to be shared with the whole world. Isaiah prophesied that the Gentiles would join Abraham’s descendants and receive this precious blessing, too. Isaiah 56:6, 7. Isaiah also describes God’s people of all nations in the New Earth worshiping God on His holy Sabbath day. Isaiah 66:23.

But the Old Testament Jews failed to understand their special role as witnesses. Instead, they excluded Gentiles from their worship and made the Sabbath a burden. Because of this, Jesus reminded them that the Sabbath was made for all humanity. Mark 2:27. And Paul outlined how true Sabbath keeping could only be experienced by spiritual Israel. Hebrews chapter 4.

The fourth commandment tells us to “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” Exodus 20:8–11. How do we keep the Sabbath holy? First, we ourselves must be holy through faith in Christ’s sacrifice for our sins and His indwelling Spirit. Then, we are to “rest” by turning our eyes to heavenly things, away from everyday matters. This rest extends to our children, hired help, livestock and even the strangers among us.

I was raised in a home that honored God’s seventh-day Sabbath. We were taught to respect the hours from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday as sacred. After worshiping with fellow believers in church, my parents frequently took us children into nature. Sometimes we helped Mother conduct neighborhood Bible clubs or we visited “adopted grandparents” at a local nursing home. Routine chores such as housekeeping, cooking and shopping were saved for other days.

I’ve never viewed Sabbath keeping as legalistic. I’m not earning my way to Heaven through Sabbath keeping. I‘m worshiping my Creator in His appointed way. And, true to His loving character, worshiping Him provides me with wonderful spiritual refreshment.

God calls for a return to true worship of the Creator, including a return to His memorial of Creation and re-creation—the Sabbath. Revelation 14:6, 7. We invite you to study this issue prayerfully, and then experience Sabbath rest for yourself!