Sabbath was revealed at the end of the creation week – before sin entered the world. Think. Before sin marred this planet – God saw the benefits Sabbath will bring to the human family. So He wrapped up this perfect wedding gift in blessings and holiness, and on that first Sabbath day shared it personally with Adam and Eve,
“as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?”
Job 38:7 NLT
Yes. It was a day of celebration and great joy.
As the information became progressively available, we became more and more aware, that the same mysterious Sabbath is entrusted to carry also the Redemption glory. Can you imagine? Wherever there is day and night, Sun and Moon, the weekly cycle – there the Sabbath carries the story of Jesus and the Cross. That same monument in time will carry the awe inspiring story of Creation and the loftiest undertaking ever carried out – our Redemption story – to wherever people live!
But there is more.
Have a look at God’s wonderful symmetry: This remarkable mysterious blessed Sabbath day, the day given us in the Garden of Eden, will continue its God-appointed mission even on the earth made new – when all traces of sin and rebellion will be wiped out forever.
It will not be surprising if we witness with our very own eyes God creating New Heavens and New Earth.
“But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.”
2 Peter 3:13 NLT
How amazing is that! Creation – Redemption – and now – Creation again! Creation of New Heavens and New Earth! This is awesome. No wonder that throughout the history God called the Sabbath “My Sabbath”. “My holy day”. And when we see the continuation of Sabbath on the New Earth – it takes our breath away. We stand in awe at God’s wisdom and grace in giving us this perfect gift, which faithfully reminds us at the end of every week, that God is our Creator, that Jesus is our Redeemer. That God will remove the curse of sin and create everything new. A world with no pain. No tears. No death. A new world with everlasting joy – a world where righteousness dwells. The Sabbath carries the eternal glories of the Father and the Son. It tells us that they are our Family who love us so.
Thank You dear Father for loving us so deeply.
Thank you dear Jesus for making it all possible by that unimaginably painful self sacrifice.
It will not be surprising if the New Creation will also take six days to complete. And yes. That celebration on the first seventh day which took place here when this old earth has been created – may be repeated on the first seventh day on the Earth made new – only on a much grander scale. Grander because there will also be present the innumerable multitude of the Redeemed who will have a personal first-hand interest in seeing this old earth go – where so much of our lives and our costly Redemption by Jesus Christ and God the Father took place. No. There will not be any regrets for seeing the old earth go. But there will be information and events worthy of reminiscing. God has insured that the worthy snippets of this old earth, and the precious sacrifice on Calvary, as well as the many Victories of Jesus achieved at such a great cost in the unequal battle with the prince of evil – is safely preserved in the memory of the faithful sentinel we affectionally call the Seventh day Sabbath. But a more powerful story of our Salvation will be in the scars of Jesus’ crucifixion torture carried openly on His hands an feet – and we will never forget.
Thank You dear Jesus.
Thank You holy Father.
And imagine. What was just a foretaste of Heaven here during our weekly Sabbath worship on this old earth, where we delighted and thrilled in holiness and blessedness each Sabbath brought us, and where God rewarded our meagre human efforts to give Him our hearts and minds and spirits in devotion – and where God liberally rewarded us by sharing with us His goodness, His love and righteousness, and His Sacred Divine Presence – as much as He saw we were able to receive. Oh yes! What was just a foretaste of the Heavenly joy God brought with Him here to this old earth’s Sabbath days – is now turning into a fully fledged feasts of the Union of human and Divine. And it may not be a surprise if the best of it may indeed be on the Sabbath days of the New Heavens and the New Earth – where the curse of sin will no longer block the way. Where Jesus Christ our Redeemer is in person receiving adoration and praise and gratitude, devotion and worship and song in celebration of this long awaited Family reunion – with exceeding joy. The newly outstretched Super-dome of Heaven over the New Earth – rings and echos with the new worship of God the Father and Jesus Christ His Son – in Heavenly style. We may expect that innumerable Heavenly beings will freely share in this worship and this jubilant joy. This extraordinary homecoming of the Redeemed. This New Heavens and New Earth celebration. This New Beginning of the Eternity.
Above everything, our Holy Father God – lives in all and fills all with His Grandeur and Infinity. Fills all with Himself, which is the blessedness beyond human words ability to express.
“Just as the weeds are sorted out and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the world.… Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom.…”
Matthew 13:40, 43 NLT
Wow! Can you imagine? Shining like the Sun?! Yes. The only answer is: God!. What He always desired has now been fully realised. He has been preparing His Temple in our hearts from the beginning. You’ll remember the words:
“… For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
2 Corinthians 6:16 NLT
Yes. This has now fully come.
“He alone can never die, and he lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him. No human eye has ever seen him, nor ever will. All honor and power to him forever! Amen.”
1 Timothy 6:16 NLT
Only God knows the magnitude and significance of this magnanimous act for His Redeemed children and the blessedness this will bring them. Yes. He has left the best till last. But this last is to last forever and ever. Oh wonderful Father. We honour You and give You glory for the glory which is coming. And now as we contemplate the Sabbath worship on the Earth made new, we worship You and rejoice with exceeding joy for the Redemption which culminates here on the New Earth. It is here that our Majestic Sovereign Lord and Master of everything – our Awesome God – fills all and dwells in all – with all barriers now removed, His life and light and glory and immortality is freely shared with everyone in His vast Domain.
This is the New Reality where Righteousness dwells!
This is the culmination of the Everlasting Covenant. It ends up in new beginning. God has brought us home to Himself with exceeding joy. God’s glory is on free display. This is the everlasting life filled with love and righteousness. United in holiness and perfect harmony which will last forever. We do not know it yet in much detail, but God said:
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”
1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT
Thank You our Majestic Sovereign Lord, our Wonderful Father.
Thank You Lord Jesus for Your willing self sacrifice which made all this possible.
And the loyal Seventh day Sabbath continues.
“For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, says the Lord; so shall your descendants and your name remain. From new moon to new moon, and from sabbath to sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before me, says the Lord.”
Isaiah 66:22-23 RSV