How
to Keep the Sabbath
by
Ellen G. White
In order to
keep the Sabbath holy, it is NOT NECESSARY that we enclose ourselves in WALLS,
shut away from the beautiful scenes of nature and from the free, invigorating
air of heaven. We should in NO CASE allow burdens and business transactions to
DIVERT OUR MINDS upon the Sabbath of the Lord, which He has SANCTIFIED. We
should not allow our minds to dwell upon things of a worldly character even.
But the mind cannot be refreshed, enlivened, and elevated by being confined
nearly all the Sabbath hours within walls, listening to LONG SERMONS and
TEDIOUS, FORMAL prayers. The Sabbath of the Lord is put to a WRONG use if thus
celebrated. The object for which it was instituted is not attained. The Sabbath
was made for man, to be a BLESSING to him by calling his mind from secular
labor to contemplate the goodness and glory of God. It is NECESSARY that the
people of God assemble[commentary: cant devote this to every day because of
work] to talk of Him, to interchange thoughts and ideas in regard to the truths
contained in His word, and to devote a portion of time to appropriate prayer.
But these seasons, even upon the Sabbath, should not be made tedious by their
length and lack of interest. {2T 583.1}
During a portion of the day, all should have an opportunity to be out of doors.
How can children receive a more correct knowledge of God, and their minds be
better impressed, than in spending a portion of their time out of doors, not in
play, but in company with their parents? Let their young minds be associated
with God in the beautiful scenery of nature, let their attention be called to
the tokens of His love to man in His created works, and they will be attracted
and interested. They will not be in danger of associating the character of God
with everything that is stern and severe; but as they view the beautiful things
which He has created for the happiness of man, they will be led to regard Him
as a tender, loving Father. They will see that His prohibitions and injunctions
are not made merely to show His power and authority, but that He has the
happiness of His children in view. As the character of God puts on the aspect
of love, benevolence, beauty, and attraction, they are drawn to love Him. You
can direct their minds to the lovely birds making the air musical with their
happy songs, to the spires of grass, and the gloriously tinted flowers in their
perfection perfuming the air. All these proclaim the love and skill of the
heavenly Artist, and show forth the glory of God. {2T
583.2}
The Sabbath should be made so interesting to our families that its weekly
return will be hailed with joy. In no better way can parents exalt and honor
the Sabbath than by devising means to impart proper instruction to their
families and interesting them in spiritual things, giving them correct views of
the character of God and what He requires of us in order to perfect Christian
characters and attain to eternal life. Parents, make the Sabbath a delight,
that your children may look forward to it and have a welcome in their hearts
for it {2T 585.1}.
As the Sabbath was the sign that distinguished Israel when they came out of
Egypt to enter the earthly Canaan, so it is the sign that now distinguishes
God's people as they come out from the world to enter the heavenly rest. The
Sabbath is a sign of the relationship existing between God and His people, a
sign that they honor His law. It distinguishes between His loyal subjects and
transgressors. {6T 349.3}
The Sabbath question is to be the issue in the great final conflict in which
all the world will act a part. Men have honored Satan's principles above the
principles that rule in the heavens. They have accepted the spurious sabbath,
which Satan has exalted as the sign of his authority. But God has set His seal
upon His royal requirement. Each sabbath institution bears the name of its
author, an ineffaceable mark that shows the authority of each. It is our work
to lead the people to understand this. We are to show them that it is of vital
consequence whether they bear the mark of God's kingdom or the mark of the
kingdom of rebellion, for they acknowledge themselves subjects of the kingdom
whose mark they bear. God has called us to uplift the standard of His
downtrodden Sabbath. How important, then,that our example
in Sabbathkeeping should be right. {6T 352.1}
Before the Sabbath begins, the mind as well as the body should be WITHDRAWN
from worldly business. God has set His Sabbath at the end of the six working
days, that men may stop and consider what they have gained during the week in
preparation for the pure kingdom which admits no transgressor. We should each
Sabbath reckon with our souls to see whether the week that has ended has
brought spiritual gain or loss. {6T 356.3}
The seventh day is not just "a sabbath" but THE
SABBATH OF THE LORD.
At present
Sunday-keeping is not the test. The time will come when men will not
only forbid Sunday work, but they will try to force men to labor on the
Sabbath, and to subscribe to Sunday observance or forfeit their freedom and
their lives. But the time for this has not yet come, for the truth must
be presented more fully before the people as a witness....Maranatha - Page 178 EGW As the
movement for Sunday enforcement becomes more bold and decided, the law will be
invoked against commandment keepers. They will be threatened with fines and
imprisonment, and some will be offered positions of influence, and other
rewards and advantages, as inducements to renounce their faith. But their
steadfast answer is: "Show us from the word of God our error." . . .
Those who are arraigned before the courts make a strong vindication of the
truth, and some who hear them are led to take their stand to keep all the
commandments of God. Thus light will be brought before thousands who otherwise
would know nothing of these truths. Maranatha - Page
187.