Gods Sabbath

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E NTERING INTO G OD ’ S S ABBATH R EST

sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were. “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’ Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glo ry to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why ‘it was credited to him as right eousness.’” Romans 4:16–22. It might appear that Paul is giving a contradictory testimony from that revealed in the Old Testament. Back there it stated that Abraham laughed at God’s proposition (see Genesis 17:17), whereas Paul assures us that he staggered not at the promise, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God. But there is in fact no contradiction. Genesis informs us of the state in which God found Abraham when He first came to him— of his unbelief in God’s capacity to give life where there was on ly death. Whereas Paul describes the wonderful transformation which took place in the patriarch when he caught a vision of God’s ability to do what He had promised. When this faith pos sessed him, Abraham was able to trust God to fulfill His Word. It was a simple matter then for Abraham to make the covenant by which he no longer attempted to achieve the promise through his own works.

The Lesson for Us Today

The story of Abraham and Sarah shows us clearly that it is absolutely necessary to do God’s work in the way He has ap pointed, in order for us to be successful. No amount of good in tentions can justify us, if we turn to our own works, trusting in ourselves to be the plan makers or problem solvers in God’s stead. Before the Almighty can fulfill His part of the covenant in blessing us, we need a positive and living faith in Him. Accord