Gods Sabbath

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E NTERING INTO G OD ’ S S ABBATH R EST

this general order of the Lord’s, no matter what the consequen ces to themselves. Filled with faith in God’s capacity as the per fect Plan Maker they answered the astonished king: “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Daniel 3:17, 18. With faithful workmen such as these, God was able to ad vance His plan from its initiation to its successful completion. Satan was utterly defeated and God’s work advanced without sacrificing the lives of His servants (see Daniel 3:24–30). It was a signal victory for the cause of truth, which in turn laid the groundwork for further advances. There are few things we have to face more difficult than to continue obeying God when doing so has already brought us face to face with disaster or even death. The mind reasons that if so much obedience has brought so much trouble, then continued obedience will only increase the problem. It is natural, easy, and usual for us to shrink from following God’s instructions, to form alternative schemes which, in our view, we imagine will prosper the work much more successfully than the plans made in heav en. But we should not be deceived. The only safe course to follow is to carry out God’s plans exactly as He has made them, with a living faith in His love and wisdom. When at last God has a peo ple who will confidently execute His perfect plans in full Sab bath rest, knowing that they have nothing to do with consequen ces, the work will be speedily finished.