Is It Too Good To Be True?
Contributed by Brett Ahern
Misunderstanding is a hot topic in our cultural atmosphere. It seems that many are identifying fake news, misleading, or conspiracy views. But what if people are misrepresenting something God takes seriously? Let me share a train of thought and see what you think. I would like to introduce an idea that might take some thinking to get it brewing in your heart.
Let’s start off with how seriously God takes this subject. He gave it to Israel to systematically learn from it, annually harvest its riches, periodically use to liberate people from life’s debts, and every 50 years restore all real estate to the original families’ treasures. With it we see the richness of God’s favor. It’s what Adam and Eve experienced daily in Eden as they walked and talked with God. It’s what Moses experienced when God called him to join Him for the Exodus, to create liberty for a nation of slaves. It’s Jesus’ abundance of faith, hope and love, as He healed peoples’ lives. Grace will reign with Him when He returns to restore God’s kingdom to earth. God presents it as a major vehicle for teaching the central virtue of His Kingdom. It takes a lifetime to grasp its richness. It’s the most moral part of His law, centered in the heart of the Ten Commandments. All the other commandments derive deeper meaning because of it.
We are discussing the weekly experience of grace. It is contained in the seventh day Sabbath.
I know you probably have a few views about it. You are probably sure that it is practically meaningless in our modern times. You’ve been taught by well-meaning people, who passed on the church’s teaching, that you grew fond of. Please, just hear me out.
A history of misunderstanding is no more valid than ignorance of truth. God packed all this truth into the Sabbath, applicable to many aspects of life. There are reasons it will be practiced in the Kingdom when Jesus returns. You can see this plainly for yourself at Isaiah 2:1-5, Isaiah 66:20-24, and Zechariah 14:16-21. We find four core life lessons communicated by the Sabbath. We can cycle through it monthly, observe a different dimension weekly, and soak richly in the splendors of God’s grace.
In Genesis 1 and 2 we are informed it is to experience the Creation. In Deuteronomy 5 we are to delve into the Exodus from slavery and enter liberty. In the Gospels we see Jesus' resurrection occurred at the end of the Sabbath, not on the first day of the week (https://www.themoralsabbath.com/monthly for more details). We can be 'resurrected' to live born-again lives (John 3). Lastly, the coming kingdom of God, to cultivate utopia on earth, ushers in a Sabbath-based life; AKA paradise restored.
Creation, freedom, resurrection, kingdom life. This is a monthly cycle of purpose. It is designed to have these four life-lessons continuously filter through our lives. There is much to explore in Scripture about these. Much more to experience with the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Consider the value for your walk with Christ, guided by Spirit-directed experiences that weekly teach you these four languages. Learn to see the world with Edenic eyes, walking and talking with God about the built-in beauty of life. Jesus did this and you can too.
Imagine leaving all aspects of your second-class status behind, living free from a slave mentality, no matter how it was instilled in you. There are immense insights in Scripture about the fullness of liberty in sonship. The Spirit is waiting to walk you through personal experiences, so you see these passages come to life in your life. What about being resurrected into life’s fullness, harvesting your seeds of destiny? What new things do you want to do, but doubt they are possible? You can become the person that God sees hiding inside of you!
Sometimes that’s scary, but taste and see that God is GOOD! Throughout Scripture, when people meet with God and angels, they often are afraid. But these experiences turned into good news transitions. God really has great possibilities in store for you. Explore His heart’s desire, the rhythm of Sabbath grace. Now would be a good time to enter what is hiding in plain sight. If not now, when?
If you would like to discuss this further, you can email me at brettact2@gmail.com and we can talk one-on-one. You can also explore your potential adventures on my site at www.TheMoralSabbath.com