The Difference by S. THURSTON

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 21, 1911

The Difference

By S. THURSTON

S. THURSTON

SUPPOSE there is a row of seven plain blank silver pieces. The United States places its dollar stamp upon the seventh one. That stamp doubles the value of that piece of silver. But suppose some individual or corporation within the jurisdiction of that government should place its stamp upon the first one in the row. It does not increase its value in the least. When in the dark, men might not be able to discern any difference, but let the light appear, and the difference is readily detected. But why this difference in value?—Because of the difference between the government and the individual or corporation, and between the power and authority that each has.

Just so with the seventh-day Sabbath of Eden and the Sunday of the dark ages. Christ was creator. John 1:1-14; Col. 1:14-16; Heb. 1:1, 2. In honor of creation, Christ stamped one side of the seventh day with rest, blessing, and sanctification. Gen. 2:1-3. And in the honor of his work of redemption, which was also finished upon the sixth day of the week (John 19:30, 31), he stamped the other side of the seventh day, by resting in death, in the newly chiseled tomb of Joseph. Both stamps bore the signet of the government of heaven, and much more than doubled the value of the day. Both stamps are indelible, and remain intact. Both are at par in the heavenly government, and ought to be in the earthly.

But how different with Sunday, the first day of the week. One side of it bears the pagan stamp in honor of sun-worship, instituted presumably at Babel, in the sunny land of Shinar. While upon the other side of the day, we find the stamp of the Roman emperor Constantine, affixed early in the fourth century. Both stamps remain intact, but neither increases the value of the day; for at best, they are only human stamps of earthly governments; and earthly governments can not by legislation make religious or holy things out of common things; nor increase the value of things already made holy. The government of heaven alone can do this, leaving man free to worship, or to observe holy things, or not, as he may choose.

When men are standing in the dark, as with the dollars so with the days; they may not be able to discern any difference, and often say, “One day is as good as another,” but just let them step into the light of the Word of God, and the difference is readily detected. Said the Redeemer, “Men loved darkness rather than light.” Why? John 3:19. It is a crime to counterfeit, or even to disfigure the silver dollar, or any other coin of the United States, for the coin represents the government. Men seldom thus transgress. Is it not a crime against the government of heaven to counterfeit God’s seventh-day Sabbath, that represents the government of heaven and is embodied in the heart of his law? or even to disfigure it by making such an arrangement of time that the day shall begin at midnight instead of at eventide, as God appointed? Where is the counterfeiter or mutilator who would dare to face the government of the United States, and expect to go clear? True, he might secure a lawyer who would plead his case before the court; but who that is guilty of counterfeiting God’s Sabbath will dare take such a chance at the bar of God in the great court-room of heaven? I ask, What advocate will he be able to secure, who would be allowed to plead such an unreasonable case in that court? There is but one Advocate who has been found worthy to plead in that court; and his services must be secured before that tribunal opens. Sinner, “behold, now is the accepted time: behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor. 6:2.

Ventura, Cal.