Greatest Proof of God’s Existence - Sabbath
I have recently heard a sermon about the Sabbath that was incredibly convincing as well as moving. The following article is my takeaway from that sermon.
The Sabbath: A Testament to God’s Love and Grace
Is there a subjective reason to believe that God is alive? Most Christians of the world have dismissed such notions, but the answer lies in the Sabbath. The Sabbath is not an arbitrary rule; it is an expression of God’s love and a symbol of His purpose for humanity. For many reasons, the Sabbath not only proves that God is real but that He is the epitome of unconditional love.
The Creation of the Sabbath
From the very beginning, in Genesis 3, God blessed the seventh day and made it holy. Unlike other time cycles, such as months tied to the lunar cycle or years to the earth’s revolution, the seven-day week has no inherent scientific basis. Yet, God set apart this time and infused it with His holiness. If we acknowledge that this time is blessed, we acknowledge the One who blessed it. The Sabbath is not a command to be obeyed but a gift to be received. God did not merely tell us to keep it holy—He made it holy.
A Holy Space in Time
Other religions have holy objects or places—mountains, temples, or artifacts—that are difficult to access. Buddhists strive for nirvana. Muslims make pilgrimages to Mecca. Many of us try to “find themselves.”
But our God brings holiness to us through time. The Sabbath does not require a pilgrimage; it arrives every week, seeking us out. Like the shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to find the lost sheep, the Sabbath is a sign of God’s unconditional love. The lost sheep doesn’t look for the shepherd, the shepherd seeks the sheep out. When we need His presence, His restoration, the Sabbath comes to us.
The Sabbath: A Symbol of Grace
Adam’s first full day of existence was the Sabbath, a day set aside for his happiness and communion with God. He had done nothing to earn it—it was freely given. As Psalm 16:11 states, “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.” The Sabbath is a day of grace, where we are reminded that we do not earn God’s favor—it is given freely.
Manna: A Symbol of Sabbath
The Israelites experienced this in the wilderness when God provided manna. On every day except the Sabbath, the manna would spoil if kept overnight. But on the sixth day, God provided a double portion so they would not need to gather on the Sabbath. This was not merely a rule—it was a demonstration of divine provision. God calls us to recognize His blessings, to stop striving, and to rest in His grace.
Because this was such an important lesson, God revealed this to the Israelites before He even gave the Ten commandments. He singled this lesson out of the ten commandments to demonstrate to His people, to show them the blessing of Sabbath.
Even though we don’t have manna now we can still observe the principles. We need our daily bread. God gives us just enough for the day and we cannot try to hoard it for the future. When we try to get more than what we need, it becomes something that weighs us down. Like the billionaires that look for satisfaction by amassing wealth, money becomes a curse rather than a blessing when we try to hoard it for ourselves.
For the Israelites, the lesson and principles of the manna were forgotten when they started demanding meat. Instead of appreciating God’s provision of manna, they started to clamor for meat. When God finally gave them their desires, they feasted on quail until they got so sick that many died. What a sad picture of what we become when we abandon God’s ways and go our own way.
The Sabbath: A Delight, Not a Burden
Isaiah 58 describes the Sabbath as a delight. It cannot be forced; it is something to be cherished. In Ezekiel 20:20, God says, “Keep my Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.” Observing the Sabbath is not about legalistic adherence but about knowing God personally and intimately.
Why do most Christians worship on Sunday instead of Sabbath?
When I was a Sunday Church believer, this was a question that made me doubt the truth about Sabbath. If Sabbath was so important, why does God allow so many of His believers to be deceived about such an important topic?
Most Christians worship on Sunday instead of the biblically instituted Sabbath. Catholic catechism records show that the change was made by human authority, not by divine command. The Catholic church publicly and boldly states that the fact that almost all Christians observe Sunday as the day of worship is a testament that they have divinely given authority from God. They agree that Sabbath as observed by the Jews in the Old Testament had never been changed in the Bible. The reason why the Christian church observes Sunday is because the Catholic Church deliberately changed it. They claim that they were given the command to change it by God Himself through oral teachings.
If the Sabbath was merely an imposed rule, it could be altered. But it is a natural law, woven into creation itself, and cannot be changed any more than the law of gravity can be suspended. To change the Sabbath would mean altering the very fabric of God’s creation.
The Sabbath and the Cross
The Sabbath is a symbol of resting in God’s completed work, just as Jesus rested in the tomb after finishing the work of redemption. Hebrews 4:11 reminds us, “There remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God… Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest.” Jesus, even in His ministry, demonstrated that true Sabbath-keeping involves serving others, healing, and restoring. On the Sabbath, He was busier than ever, working to serve others.
On the cross, Jesus faced the ultimate test of faith. He had the power to escape suffering, yet He chose to trust the Father completely, even in apparent abandonment. In doing so, He planted the seed of love in humankind. His death and resurrection ensure that we can experience the Sabbath rest—not just in ceasing from labor but in resting in the assurance of salvation. In staying on and dying on the cross, Jesus restored unconditional love. He had to experience complete surrender to the Father. When He cried out, “It is finished,” He was testifying that He completed His mission in showing us the complete and unquenchable love of God for His children.
Sabbath is a symbol of rest from self:
In Hebrews chapter 4, we are called to enter the rest of Sabbath. This encompasses not just rest from physical work, but rest from our own works of righteousness. God Himself rested from work on Sabbath. It was not for Himself but for you and me that He rests. Just as God rested to spend the day with Adam and Eve, He rests to show us His love.
A Call to Rest
Isaiah 66:23 tells us that from one Sabbath to another, all flesh will come to worship before God in eternity. The Sabbath is not merely a temporary institution but an eternal reality. It is an invitation to lay down the burdens of a self-centered life and embrace the rest that Jesus offers.
Are you tired of striving? Are you weary of the relentless pursuit of success and survival? Come to Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath. Lay your burdens at His feet and exchange them for His peace. The Sabbath is not just a day—it is an experience of divine love, grace, and rest. Let us honor God by embracing the Sabbath, recognizing it as a living testimony of His eternal goodness.