Counsels on Christian Worldview
Counsel #14 — A Symbol Of Heaven’s Rest
Picture: Counsel #14 — A Symbol Of Heaven’s Rest CCW 91.1
In Hebrews 4:4, 9, the earthly Sabbath is contrasted with the eternal rest that awaits the people of God. While the earthly Sabbath provides a temporary respite from the toils of life, the eternal Sabbath represents a state of complete and everlasting rest, free from sadness, temptation and sin. Celebrating the Sabbath now, we experience something of heaven’s sanctuary, a sacred place of forgiveness, justice, mercy, and communion with Jesus. CCW 91.2
By observing the 7th day Sabbath, we are also resting from relying on our own goodness, depending instead on the righteousness of Christ for our salvation as we submit ourselves to His will. CCW 91.3
The Sabbath is not merely a day of rest and worship today, but a tangible connection to the divine order. By observing the Sabbath, we are both honoring God's command and experiencing a foretaste of heaven.[133] CCW 91.4
“For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh-day in this way: ‘And God rested on the seventh day from all His works,’…. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.” Hebrews 4:4, 9 NKJV CCW 91.5
“Following the example of the Creator, man was to rest upon [the seventh-day Sabbath], that as he should look upon the heavens and the earth, he might reflect upon God’s great work of creation; and that as he should behold the evidences of God’s wisdom and goodness, his heart might be filled with love and reverence for his Maker.” Ellen White in Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 47 CCW 91.6
Reflect: What does honoring the Sabbath reveal about God's intentions for you? CCW 91.7