SATURDAY, THE BEST DAY TO SEE
YOU!
SATURDAY
Marcelo Augusto de Carvalho
- At the end of the sixth day, God looked at all His
great work, and saw that everything was very good.
- I could also: the biblical account describes the
world's original environment as the most beautiful and harmonious.
- The waters of the firmament appear to
have been a vast mantle of invisible evaporated water. Functioning as a
greenhouse, this canopy would have prevented large temperature differences or
rapid changes of this on the entire face of the earth. It would also have
prevented violent sales and storms.
- The current hydrological cycle, by
which evaporated ocean waters are carried by the wind to earth and then
condense and fall, would have been impossible under those conditions.
- The waters of the numerous seas,
evaporated daily, would have moved only short distances from their point of
origin before condensing again at night over the adjacent areas.
- In addition to numerous interconnected
seas, there were rivers fed by artesian springs, coming from underground
reservoirs in which the waters had been trapped under pressure in the crust of
the earth on the third day of creation. These deposits were the great abyss
that later overflowed into the flood. One of the river systems bathed the
garden planted by God in Eden.
* When God declared the works of His
hands very good, and rested on the seventh day, does not this give sufficient
evidence that God's creation was complete and perfect?
GENESIS 2.1-3
The seventh day of creation was
stipulated by God as a separate weekly moment for man's fellowship with Him.
God desired to communicate with Adam as parents do with their children. For
this reason, He did not ask, nor did he give alternative to Adam's desire for
the matter. He commanded, and more, gave His example by resting on this day of
all the works he had done.
For many these facts it is unsettling;
why would God mark a special day marked by a weekly calendar for such a
relationship? Does this text of Scripture not present heresy? Does God usually
take these actions even today?
EXAMPLES OF NATURE
If we look at the lives of irrational
animals, we will clearly see how God directs their
existence for faithfully established periods of time, from which animals cannot
leave, if they want to stay alive. And that by this evidence there is no wonder that God has established times and moments
in man's life for his worship of his Creator.
- For the animals, there is a suitable
time for everything: a right time to work hard and a certain time to sleep; an
excellent dating station and a station suitable for saving energy. And
respecting this own calendar is usually a matter of life and death, that is,
acting according to the cycles of the environment, such as night-day, to
increase the chances of survival. In fact, this is because the Creator has
placed in them a series of substances, which circulating in the body, function
as a true biological clock.
- For example: even hermaphrodite
species, which dispense partners to have children, are always measuring
environmental conditions; thus the chicks are programmed for the time most
favorable to their survival. In this way, the hermaphrodite earthworm leaves to
spawn when the climate becomes cool and humid, because in the heat, there is a
great probability that the sensitive chicks do not
avenge.
- The droophiles, known as fruit flies,
have the right time for mating. Always in the late afternoon they inturn to
"passion", marking new meetings in punctual intervals of 24 hours.
The curious thing is that these little doughnuts never lose sight of time. Even
when raised in the laboratory, without receiving any sign of the environment,
such as differences in lighting, they continue to mate in the afternoon,
repeating the meeting daily. They therefore have a sophisticated internal
clock, capable of marking not only second pulses - otherwise the fly would lose
the compass in the court dance that it does for mating- as periods of about 24
hours, the so-called circadian periods.
- There are those who change their
temperament according to the season, as is the case with the saguis. Possessing
the same capacity, penguins have an appointment to move daily from the colony
towards the coast and vice versa. The curious thing is that in the polar
summer, the 24 hours of the day seem not to pass, because it never falls apart.
Even so, penguins distinguish the tiny changes in the length of light waves
throughout the day. This ability to notice these alternationis
not proper to the eyes, which only function as glass chambers, capturing the
image, but rather the brain, which has a clock capable of marking time thanks
to light indicators.
- The Arctic fox responds to the
luminosity of autumn by changing the gray coat it had in the summer for a white
coat, thus making it camouflaged in the middle of the winter snow, making it
difficult for predators to take action.
- Not always, however, the biological
clock works as a function of years. It divides time according to the needs of
each species. Thus, scientists observed changes in the organism of the big-hand
crab every 12 hours, that is,
it has a circamaré
clock, regulated by the sea shuttle: on the middle
of the day when the tide is high, the crustacean remains hidden under water;
when the tide drops, it immediately rises to the surface.
- For scientists, the hands and gears of
this biological clock should be hormones, substances that act made chemical
messengers. They can remain constant when the signals of the middle disappear,
hence the punctuality of the drosophila mosquinhas. Before it was assumed that
these rhythms could be taught from father to son, however, this hypothesis is
not correct, because the wasp and spider, for example, do not get to know the
parents and, despite this, reproduce the rhythms of paternal activity.
- Even for certain insects, the seasons
are important synchronizers. The point is that biological clocks can generally
be guided by multiple synchronizers at the same time. Thus, insects are more
sensitive to the variation from light to dark, throughout the day, until
nightfall. Cockroaches tend to get more agitated in the early evening. But not
for that reason, the sensor cells
on the surface of your body fail to measure temperature, to send signals
when the weather warms up, the way they like it. Hence the proliferation of
these insects on summer nights, when the hands of their watch mark two
favorable conditions at the same time.
- Some animals use very original
synchronizers, such as the hummingbird, which in addition to using luminosity,
it records in your brain the times when flowers produce more nectar and sugar
to feed it.
- Reports from 1735 show something else
amazing. Canada's lynx reaches its maximum population every 9.6 years. Atlantic
salmon fishermen fish their best salmon every 9.6 years. Illinois bedbugs have
cycles of 9.6 years, and so is the case with wheat crops in the United States
and the same as cases of heart disease in the State of New England.
THERE'S TIME FOR
EVERYTHING
* These examples clearly show us that
"There is time determined for every purpose under heaven"
Ecclesiastes 3.1. And to worship God, it was through Him that separated the sacred hours of the Sabbath.
It is interesting to note that for all
time, the patriarchs of the faith have faithfully followed this divine
ordinance. Adam since Eden has kept the Sabbath, teaching the same to his children,
who even in this life of sin have obeyed such a
commandment.
The same is said of Abram, for God chose him, for he was sure that he would educate his children in the
divine guidelines.
When the people of Israel came down to
live in Egypt, they kept the Sabbath; but when they became slaves, this
privilege was taken away from them, and no more observance of the holy day. For
this reason, as they left Egypt and pilgrimaged in the wilderness, God was so
emphatic with them, teaching them to sanctify the Sabbath in all their
generations. He spoke to them under Mount Sinai, wrote with His own finger this
ordinance, promising blessings to the faithful, as well as punishment to the
rebels.
The prophets always fought that, in the
long period of apostasy of kings, the people would return to guard the divine
laws, including the Sabbath that was already forgotten by many. Ezekiel
appealed to them in his time saying that sabbath observance was a sign between
God and his people, Ezekiel 20:12 and 20.
Isaiah also preached to them by
presenting them with the blessings God offered them if they were faithful to
the fourth commandment of God's Law in Isaiah 58.
All the prophets
preached, but they continued in frank rebellion. God then allowed them to go into
captivity in Babylon. These 70 years away from home served as a lesson to them.
When they returned, they decided never
to be idolatrous, and to observe the divine laws with care and zeal. The
problem was that they did it for fear of future punishment, not for God's sake.
They then became loyalists, being thorough in keeping the laws, especially in
the Sabbath commandment. They invented 33 laws for their observance, making it
unbearable.
When Christ came to earth, he
tenaciously fought this way of keeping the Sabbath, but he never failed to do
so. It was his custom to keep it, and even at his death he did so, leaving to
be resurrected on the first day of the week. (Luke 4:16, John 20). He himself
stated if the Lord of the Sabbath, and that if he wanted to make any change in
the observance of this, He would do it as he pleased, Mark 2:28 and 29. But he
never did.
The apostles also observed the fourth
commandment of the decalogue (Exodus 20:8-11). We see this through the passages
of Acts 17.2. The first believers did the same - Acts 13. 42 and 43.
Interestingto
note that there is no biblical reference to any authorized change of sacred
Sabbath day observance. We know very well that this happened by will and human
order.
The first Christians were by too many
missionaries, and they took the Gospel to all parts of the world. As the Church
became stronger and stronger, she attracted hatred both of the other religions,
who were pagan, as well as the established government, which found itself
threatened by the strength of Christians. Thus, united, the pagan religions
using the military force of the State persecuted for centuries the Christians,
who only grew with this treatment.
Seeing that they could not beat them, a
Roman governor named Constantine used a tremendous strategy: he declared
Christianity as the religion of his empire, but did not banish the pagan
religions, of which he himself was a part. As a sun worshipper, doing such
worship on the first day of the week, he commanded that the Sabbath of Christians,
as well as the Sunday of the pagans, be observed religiously. And he also
promised not to persecute Christians anymore. With this, worldliness took over
the Early Church, depraving it with the spurious doctrines of those who were
forced to become Christians. This decree of Constantine was promulgated in 321
AD, and the restricted observance of Sunday was proclaimed in 528 AD by
Justinian, also Roman emperor.
Despite
this unscripted
change, modern Christianity follows such determination, in total disapproval
of God's will. Even in heaven, the Saints will observe the Sabbath throughout
eternity- Isaiah 66:20.
Well, since we are convinced of sabbath
observance, now what interests us is to know the correct observance of it. How do you keep Saturday? For such explanations,
I use here the quotations written by Ellen White, whom I believe is inspired by
God, and from whom we find no incoherence in her writings to the Word of God.
WE WILL START TO ADDRESS
THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS
1) The preparation- "Throughout the
week we must keep in mind the Sabbath and make the indispensable preparation,
in order to observe it according to the commandment... On Friday the
preparation for Saturday should be finished... Be careful to put all clothes in
order and leave cooked whatever is to sewe. Brush your shoes and take your
bath... The Sabbath should not be employed in fixing clothes, baking food, in
amusements or any other worldly occupations... and make the worldly newspapers
disappear..."
2) When it begins and when it ends-
respect such milestones- "We must observe the limits of the Sabbath.
Remember that every minute is holy time. Whenever possible, employers should
grant employees the hours that eat between noon on Friday and the beginning of
Saturday. Give them time for preparation, so that they may greet the Lord's day
with peace of mind. In doing so, they will not suffer any harm, not even in
relation to the time things."
3) Worship- "Before sunset, all family members
must gather to study the Word of God, sing and pray..."
4) Physically ready to meet with the
Lord- "No service concerning the six working days will be left for the
Sabbath. During the week, we will be careful not to exhaust our energies with
physical work to the point that, on the day the Lord rested and restored
himself, we are too weary to take part in His worship..."
5) Wear the best clothes- "They
should not attend the divine presence with clothes worn in the service during
the week. Everyone must have a special costume to attend saturday services...
We must dress with goodclothes and elegance, since without luxury and without
adornments..."
6) Get up early, and make a quick
worship- "You must not waste the precious hours of the Sabbath, getting up
late. On Saturday the family should get up early. Waking up late, it's easy to
get in the way of the morning meal and sabbath school preparation. This results
in haste, impatience and precipitation, giving way to the family having
inappropriate feelings of that day. Desicant, the Sabbath becomes a burden, and
its approach will be for it rather cause for displeasure rather than
rejoicing."
7) It is our duty to attend sabbatical
services, and do so with pleasure- "Each one must feel that he has a part
to play in order to make Saturday meetings interesting. You should not come
together simply to fill out a formality, but to exchange ideas, to share your
daily experience, to offer actions of grace, and to express your sincere desire
to be enlightened to know God and Jesus Christ.... Don't imagine that you can
be Christians and live focused on yourself... each person's experience will be
to some extent determined by that of his companions."
"God teaches that we must gather in
His house in order to cultivate the qualities of perfect love. With this the
inhabitants of the earth will be empowered to the heavenly abodes that Christ
went to prepare for those who love Him."
"While we are urged not to leave
our meetings, they are not only intended for our own refreshment. We must draw
inspiration from a more ardent zeal to communicate to others the blessings we
receive. It is our duty to be zealous of God's glory, avoiding any bad witness,
either by the sad expression of our face or by words of disregard, as if divine
claims constituted a restriction on our freedom... By the physiognomy,
temperament, words, and character, we must testify that it is good to serve
God...".
8) We must prepare for divine worship-
"As I cross the doors of the house of God, I ask the Lord to keep you from
the heart all that is evil. I have introduced into His house only what He can
bless... Pray in favor of the person who will lead the meeting. Pray that great
blessing may come to the congregation, through him who must minister the word
of life... God will bless all those who prepare for His worship in this
way...".
9) As should worship- "Preaching in
Sabbath meetings in general should be brief, giving opportunity to those who
love God, to express gratitude and tax him individual worship... Nobody goes to
church to sleep. Sleep is something that should not manifest itself in the
house of God... The house of God is desecrated and the Sabbath is violated by
the children of Sabbath observers. They run around the house, play, talk and
express their bad mood in the very meetings in which the Saints gather... where
sacred silence should be and where there should be perfect order, care and
humility, Babylon becomes a place where confusion, disorder and slouch rules.
This is enough to exclude God from our meetings and cause His wrath to be
kinded... take care of your children on The Sabbath. Do not allow them to
violate you, for you yourselves will be violating
it if you consent to your children doing so...".
10) After the service, and the rest of
the Sabbath- "We should not, on Saturday, increase the amount of food or
prepare greater variety than in other days... the Sabbath meal should be
simpler, and it should be easier to eat less than the common, in order to have
a clear spirit and in a position to understand the spiritual themes..."
"Although we should refrain from
cooking on Saturdays, it is not necessary to eat cold food. On cold days, it is
advisable to heat the food prepared the day before..."
"Sabbath School and preaching
worship occupy only part of the Sabbath. The remaining time can be spent at
home and be the most precious and sacred that the Sabbath provides. Much of
that time, parents should spend with their children. In many families, younger
children are abandoned to themselves in order to entertain themselves as best
they can. Abandoned to themselves, the children soon become restless and begin
to play or take care of illicit things. In this way the Sabbath loses its
sacred importance to them. When it's a good time, parents should go out with
their children to walk through the fields and woods. In the midst of the
beautiful things of nature, explain to them the reason for the institution of
the Sabbath. Describe to them the
work of God's creation... Tell them of
the plan of salvation... I repeated to them the sweet history of Bethlehem.
Present to them how Jesus was an obedient son to his parents, as he was a
faithful and diligent young man, helping to provide for the family...".
"At sunset, his voice will be given
in prayer and songs of praise to God, celebrating the end of the Sabbath and
asking for the Lord's assistance in the care of the new week...".
* A question can now come to the minds of many: how
to keep the Sabbath with pleasure and satisfaction in the heart?
- It is a fact that most people do not
observe the fourth commandment with great pleasure. But here's Mrs. White's tip
that will help us a lot if we follow him:
"Going through, not the obscure
chapters of our existence, but the proofs of God's great mercy and untold love,
we will find more reason to expand in praise than in grievances... The language
of the soul will not manifest itself then, in selfish murmurings and
discontent, but in expressions of praise that will spring from the lips of the
true believers of God as streams of crystalline waters...".
Appeal: We were created to worship God
on this holy day. It's born in us. If we do not do or do without pleasure, this
observance will destroy our joy as it did with the Jews 2000 years ago. Love
God with pleasure!
SOURCE
Adventures of Creation. Dr. Haroldo G, Coffin. Casa Publicadora
Brasileira, Tatuí-SP, Brazil. 1993 edition.
Youth Inspiration. Casa Publicadora
Brasileira, Tatuí-SP, Brazil. Editions from 1977 to 2005.
Pr. Marcelo Augusto De Carvalho -
April 1997 São Paulo SP Brazil