From Eden to Eden

WHAT IS THE SIGN OR SEAL OF GOD?

As this is a subject of unusual importance, we will examine the testimony of the Scriptures in regard to the Father’s name, or the evidence and title of his authority. In the opening words of the Bible, God reveals himself to us as Creator: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Genesis 1:1. To create, to bring into existence, and to give life to inanimate objects, is the very highest manifestation of power, far beyond the comprehension of finite minds. In all the Scriptures God presents his power to create, and his work as Creator, as that which distinguishes him from false gods or idols. After declaring the vanity of false gods, he directed his servant to point out the difference between the true and the false, in the following manner:— FEE 216.2

“Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.” Jeremiah 10:11, 12. FEE 216.3

And so, again, when Paul would turn away the Athenians from their idols to the worship of the true God, he said:— FEE 217.1

“Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands.” Acts 17:23, 24. FEE 217.2

And so in many other texts of Scripture. FEE 217.3

At first thought it seems strange that any nation should ever forget God, the Creator, whose wonderful works are ever before their eyes. Psalm 19:1. But the reason is found in the fallen nature of man, in the perverseness of the human heart. The apostle thus explains the matter; he says, “They did not like to retain God in their knowledge.” Romans 1:28. The knowledge of God keeps alive in man some sense of responsibility; it causes him to look forward to the judgment. To put away the knowledge of God gives a sense of carnal security; it leaves the conscience without restraint. FEE 217.4

Man loves to honor and to exalt himself. The pride of life is one of the deadly evils of the world. 1 John 2:16. Inspiration has pointed out the process by which man sunk so far below the position for which his Maker designed him. The word speaks thus:— FEE 217.5

“When they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.” Romans 1:21-23. FEE 217.6

And thus it is proved that it is altogether of man’s own perverseness that he is sunken so low, and is so far from God. And even in his low estate he has nothing to plead in excuse for his condition. For the apostle, speaking of the same class who had so far degraded themselves, says:— FEE 217.7

“Because that which may be known of God is manifest to them; for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” Romans 1:19, 20. FEE 217.8

These have shut their eyes against the evidences of the deity of God,—evidences shown in his work of creation. For truly, “the heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork.” Psalm 19:1. FEE 217.9

Thus it is clear, as God’s word is true, that the eternal power and Godhead of the Supreme One may be “understood by the things that are made.” Had not man perverted his way, and “worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator,” he would forever have lived happy in the love of his heavenly Father. And this was the intention of the Creator. He made the best and wisest provision for keeping the children of his creation near to himself. FEE 218.1

It is written in the Scriptures that “he hath made his wonderful works to be remembered.” Psalm 111:4. And when he made the world he instituted a memorial to keep his work in remembrance. It has already been noticed that the Lord claimed the seventh day, the Sabbath, as his own, because he rested upon it from his wonderful work of creation. He blessed it, he sanctified it, that it might be separated from all other days. He wrought thousands of miracles before his people to put honor upon this holy day. Of this institution the Lord said to Moses: “It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever.” Of what is it a sign? The words following explain this: “For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.” Exodus 31:17. It was not a type, or anything peculiar to “Israel after the flesh,” but it is a sign of a work in which all nations have an equal interest; a sign of the creation of that “first dominion” which shall be given to all “the Israel of God” (Galatians 6:16), the true children of Abraham. And thus the words of the Lord himself declare that the seventh-day Sabbath is a sign of the creation of the heavens and the earth. FEE 218.2

If his eternal power and Godhead may be understood by the things which he has made, as the Scriptures teach; and if he has given his power to create, and his work of creation, as that which specially distinguishes him from false gods, how necessary that this work should ever be borne in mind. They who forget the work of creation, forget the Creator. The nations who know not God have lost all idea of any work of creation. How could they retain an idea of creation, and of a Creator, and yet worship the work of their own hands? FEE 218.3

This presents the Sabbath institution as having a far higher object than that of affording merely physical rest to mankind. Man needs periods of rest; he needs a period of rest in every twenty-four hours. And God wisely and beneficently provided for it by giving alternate periods of light and darkness. But the Sabbath had another and more important office to fill. It is the Creator’s memorial; it is intended to keep alive in the minds of men the great and all-important truth that there is a God of almighty power, the Creator of heaven and earth, and that “they be no gods, which are made with hands.” Acts 19:26. FEE 219.1

We have seen that the words sign and seal refer to the same thing. God himself declared that the Sabbath is his sign, imparting the knowledge that he is God, the Creator of all things. Thus he spoke:— FEE 219.2

“I am the Lord your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them; and hallow my Sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God.” Ezekiel 20:19, 20. Also verse 12; Exodus 31:13. FEE 219.3

The Sabbath is the sign of God—the seal of his law. It is the evidence of his authority; it is that mark by which they that keep all his commandments may be known from all the world besides. This is the testimony of Jehovah himself; it is his own claim,—his sign to the highest title of authority,—the Creator. FEE 219.4

Now another question must be examined. It is this:— FEE 219.5