GOD'S ARRANGEMENT, OR MAN'S, WHICH?
By A. Smith
When Abel brought his offering of a lamb before the Lord it was accepted, because it was according to God's will, typifying the death of His Son for the sins of the world. Cain brought an offering of luscious fruit, perhaps intrinsically of more value than the offering of his brother. But God did not respect his offering, because it was according to man's judgment of the fitness of worship, exalting itself above God's judgment. It was a religion of selfishness, of salvation by works, and not by faith. Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire before the Lord contrary to His command, thus exalting their own judgment above that of God, yet they presumed to come before the Lord with an offering. This course was an insult to God. David thought to bring up the ark to Jerusalem on a new and perhaps expensive cart. But God's command that the priests only should bear the ark was despised and man's way substituted; hence God's judgment upon Uzzah. Uzziah the king thought he could offer incense in the temple as well as the priests could; but God smote him with leprosy for his temerity. God says, “The seventh day is the Sabbath.” But man says, practically, “Not so, but the first day is the Sabbath.” Thus they trample upon God's Sabbath and despise His judgment, exalting their own judgment. And yet they come before the Lord in worship, that God will accept them, altho they are seeking to defeat His purpose, and exalt their judgment as superior to the Divine. The first day never was and never will be the weekly Sabbath; and no one keeping it can be saved unless he has done so ignorantly, in which case he will be forgiven for Christ's sake. Where stand you?