WHY I KEEP THE SABBATH by C. T. Shaffer

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 28, 1897

WHY I KEEP THE SABBATH.

By C. T. Shaffer

ABOUT six thousand years ago the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and all that in them is, in six days. On the sixth day he made Adam (the man and woman, Gen. 5:2) to have dominion over the works of his (God’s) hands (Ps. 8:6). At the close of the sixth day God inspected his work and pronounced it “very good.” Then, calling our first parents up before him, he gave them dominion over it and commanded them to keep it. Their posterity were to be joint heirs in the possession. Then the Lord Jesus—for it was who had made all these things—gave man a deed or covenant to insure to him this dominion in its Eden beauty and purity for their home.

This deed or covenant tho conditional was unlimited. It was made as eternal and enduring as God himself. Several agreements were subsequently entered into and made between God and man after the fall, and tho each of these minor covenants were duly made, ratified, and sealed, they should in nowise be confounded with, or be allowed even to seem to abrogate, the everlasting covenant upon which they were made and the seal of which each bore.

The everlasting covenant between God and man was duly recorded and ratified by Almighty God, and the great seal of his kingdom attached thereto. By affixing this seal the Lord pledged all the power and authority of his kingdom to assure and protect man in happy and peaceful possession of his home and dominion.

Among the works of the hand of God was the creation of the Sabbath, and the placing of it here upon this earth. Mark 2:27; Gen. 2:2, 3. The Sabbath God declared to be the seal or sign of the everlasting covenant (Ex. 31:16, 17; Gen. 2:2, 3), and God commanded man to “keep it” (Gen. 2:1–15).

This covenant was afterwards made known to all nations through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel). See Ex. 6:2–4; Gen. 17:7, 8; 22:15–18; Ex. 31:16, 17.

Also, for this cause it is written in our favor (2 Tim. 2:19), who through Christ are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise, “the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his.” And on our part he commands us to “hallow my Sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God.” Eze. 20:20.

O, how blessed! On every seventh day since the work of creation began this earth and its inhabitants have in their turn been visited of God. He looks and is pleased,

“When He sees on the ransomed His seal.”

Spreading his hands over them in divine benediction, he breathes upon their adoring hearts the assurance of their portion in the everlasting covenant. In this holy day in double blessing he knoweth them that are his, and we know that he is ours. Confessing us before the Father, he says, “Behold the children thou hast given me,” and we, confessing him before men, say, “Behold our God.”

Sweet Sabbath, blessed Sabbath, holy Sabbath, the seal of the Christian’s hope in the power and love of God, may our hearts ever remember thee, and never think to debase their exalted nature and character to the low level of a physical rest day!

Vile men, in order to abuse thee, contemn thee and set up a rival, but our God shall laugh, he will have them in derision, he will break their bands asunder. Through Christ, the Author of our salvation, we are more than conquerors. We are well able to go up and possess the goodly land, “prepared for us from the foundation of the world.” The Captain of the Lord’s hosts has come down to lead us in gloriously. He will not lead us directly through the Philistines’ country, lest we see war and our hearts faint, but he will hide us for a moment, until the heathen be dispossessed, then we shall enter in, for he has given us the right. “Obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people; for all the earth is mine; and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.” Ex. 19:5, 6.

This is why I keep the Sabbath; the love of God constraineth me. He has pardoned my sins for Christ’s sake; he dwells in my heart by faith; this faith works by love; this love casts out all fear. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” 1 John 3:2.

Jesus kept the Sabbath, and has therein left us an example that we should walk in his steps. The servant is neither greater nor better than his Lord.

C. T. SHAFFER.

Avon, Mont.