Objection:
I don’t believe that a God of love would keep men out of heaven just because of a day. I think you put too much emphasis on a certain day that should be kept holy.
Answer:
The issue is not merely “a day.” The issue is whether God means what He says.
We should first ask: Is God particular? If we say God is not particular, then we have not only excused ourselves from obedience to the fourth commandment, but from every commandment. For by what reasoning can we conclude that God is particular about nine commandments, but indifferent concerning the fourth?
The commandment does not say, “Remember a Sabbath day.” It says, “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” And then God identifies the day: “The seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God.” Exodus 20:8, 10. The question, then, is very plain: Did God mean the seventh day, or did He mean any day man might choose? Does God really mean what He says?
This is not a question of us making too much of a day. It is a question of men making too little of God’s Word.
In the days of ancient Israel, God commanded the priests not to offer “strange fire” before Him. They were to use the sacred fire appointed by God. Now someone might reason, “Fire is fire. Surely God is not concerned about which fire is used, so long as the worship is sincere.” But Nadab and Abihu acted upon that reasoning, and the Scripture says, “There went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.” Leviticus 10:2.
Why did this judgment come? The context gives the principle: God required them “to put difference between holy and unholy.” Leviticus 10:10.
That is precisely the principle involved in the Sabbath. God has placed a difference between the holy and the common in time. He did not bless every day alike. He did not sanctify every day alike. He blessed and sanctified the seventh day. Genesis 2:2-3. Therefore, when man treats the Sabbath as common, or substitutes another day in its place, he is doing with time what Nadab and Abihu did with fire. He is refusing to recognize the difference God Himself has made between the holy and the unholy.
Consider also Uzzah. God had plainly commanded that no one was to touch the ark. Yet when the oxen stumbled, Uzzah put forth his hand to steady it. Humanly speaking, his act may have appeared reasonable, even helpful. But the Scripture says, “The anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there.” 2 Samuel 6:7.
Was God particular? Yes. Did God mean what He said? Yes.
Then shall we say God is less particular today? Is He not “the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever”? Hebrews 13:8. And were not these things “written for our admonition”? 1 Corinthians 10:11.
If God would not permit man to lay unauthorized hands upon the holy ark, why should we think He will approve when men lay unauthorized hands upon His holy Sabbath, moving it from the seventh day to another day according to human convenience?
Furthermore, the Bible itself shows that Sabbath desecration was not a small matter with God. Through Jeremiah, the Lord warned Israel that if they refused to hallow the Sabbath, judgment would come upon Jerusalem. Jeremiah 17:21-27. The record later shows that the land enjoyed her sabbaths while Israel was in captivity. 2 Chronicles 36:17-21. Nehemiah also rebuked the people, saying, “Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.” Nehemiah 13:18. Ezekiel likewise declared that the priests had “hid their eyes” from God’s Sabbaths and had put no difference between the holy and profane. Ezekiel 22:26.
So the question is not whether God would keep someone out of heaven “just because of a day.” That misstates the issue. The question is whether a person, having been shown the plain command of God, will knowingly set aside His authority and substitute human preference in its place.
God is love, but His love does not make Him careless concerning obedience. Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15. Love does not abolish obedience; love produces it.
No one is saved by Sabbath-keeping. We are saved by grace through faith. But saving faith does not knowingly trample upon the commandments of God. The Sabbath is not important because we say so. It is important because God made it holy, placed it in His law, and commanded mankind to remember it.
If God drove His ancient people from the earthly Canaan for profaning His Sabbath, how can we reasonably believe He will admit men into the heavenly Canaan while they knowingly reject the very day He commanded them to keep holy?
