Word of Salvation – Vol.53 No.36 – September 2008

 

On God’s Day Go God’s Way!

A Sermon by Rev Sjirk Bajema

on Heidelberg Catechism, LD 38

Scripture Readings: Exodus 20:8-11; Hebrews 4:1-11

 

Congregation…

There was a movie some years ago which brought out very well the meaning of the fourth commandment. The person who obeyed God by having a day of rest on Sunday wasn’t understood by those around him — and certainly not by the makers of the movie — yet his principle was clear. Not even the Prince of Wales could convince that man to break it! The movie was Chariots of Fire’. The man’s name was Eric Liddell.

Eric Liddell was the fastest 100 yard runner in the 1920s. The man who would have won the 100 yard final at the Olympic Games. There was just one problem. One seemingly minor difficulty. You see, that final was on a Sunday.

So — what about Sunday? How many Christians today would let the fact that it was on Sunday stop them doing it? In fact, I have read articles where Eric Liddell was judged as a puritanical legalist. They claim he hadn’t discovered the freedom of the gospel. “He could have won the race for Christ,” they said. They see him poorly. The reason he didn’t run was precisely to be a witness for Jesus. “Christian sportsman have moved on a lot from there,” they say. A Christian could have won it!

So? A Christian would have won what? A worldly race that happened 70 years ago, and which no one would have any idea about except for the movie? Actually, congregation, if he had run that race, no matter whether for himself, or for the honour of his country — as the future king of England pleaded with him — he would have gone the way of the world. The true witness of the Church to her Saviour and Lord would have been weakened. Indeed, the fact that he did not run made many and, thanks to the movie, has continued to make many people think about what is so different about following Jesus.

Congregation, the freedom of the gospel doesn’t mean so much that we’re freed from something but, rather, we are freed for someone . We’ve come into the ultimate relationship with God Himself through Jesus Christ.

Our great-grand-parents, those who believed the same as Eric Liddell, had a very good principle behind what seemed like a very strict rule. And today we can make a bit of a joke about when that generation couldn’t even ride a bike on Sunday. There are even those in our churches who use their assumed “freedom” from what they label as legalistic ways to argue for all sorts of changes in the church today. Well, you don’t want to get stuck on all those rules, do you?

They miss the point, however. Because if you aren’t doing things to serve the Lord, in His way, you’re only going your own way. And then you don’t get a break.

Friend, you need a rest. The Good Shepherd cares for His sheep, because He knows how much we need it. That’s why the Lord laid it out so carefully to His Old Testament people. On the Sabbath every occupation had to rest. Not only the jobs we do during the 40 or more hours in the week. That’s why for the Israelites not only was ploughing and reaping, pressing wine, carrying goods, bearing burdens, trading, and holding markets, stopped altogether; but also collecting manna, gathering wood, and having a fire for boiling and baking food. Because we know whose job that is, don’t we?

Those who followed the LORD had to rest. And in the New Testament age, those in communion with the Lord, know this hasn’t changed. Rest means “to be still, to cease, or be relieved from employment.”

So for us — we who live with Jesus — Sunday is a time when God tells us, in the words of Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God!” For as the rest of that psalm describes creation in turmoil and mankind at war, so it tells us about the peace, the rest, in God. Resting in our Lord. Because of His Spirit within we know His Word is right. And because of His Word — the fourth commandment — we can!

Congregation, we are to rest in three distinctive ways. Three types of rest — physical, spiritual, and eternal.

The Physical Rest

Firstly, then, THE PHYSICAL REST. Now, you may well wonder, where is this in Answer 103? But I draw first from the commandment itself, as it says in Exodus 20:10, “On the Sabbath day you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the foreigner within your gates.”

Congregation, before we begin to worship God in a special way, we must take ourselves away from our usual work. And in our world that can be very hard. The old six day week is no longer the strong influence it once was. Now, in many big companies, there are constant shifts around the clock — 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Then, if you’re salaried employees, the work follows you home! The ubiquitous lap-top and cell phone is found everywhere. “Just got to check the latest email”? And how long haven’t supermarkets been open seven days a week? Some of them now never close! The pressure is on all the time. Money… money… and more money!

But there is added reason to follow God’s advice of physical rest. For since the fall into sin, man’s labour has involved sweat. As God tells Adam in Genesis 3:17-19, “Cursed is the ground because of you: through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”

Because our labour is oppressive for us; because our jobs require concentration, or skill, or intensive labour, God has given us the Sunday so that we can physically rest. If we don’t take that rest our work suffers. Like a hard working artist, our aching fingers and our strained eyes need to have a break. It’s been hard work concentrating on the canvas of this world’s work. There must be rest.

Congregation, remember this picture of the artist. The craftsman’s work and his rest are a useful picture in our minds. This helps show that God especially thought of our physical well-being when he ordained this day.

But there are still things that must be done. The Westminster Confession of Faith calls these works of necessity and works of mercy. Works of necessity would be such jobs as policemen and firemen. Works of mercy would be helping the sick and injured. These jobs are needed for preserving life itself, as Jesus showed in Matthew 12:11 with the story of the animal found in the ditch on the Sabbath.

If we’re not on the roster of such vital vocations, however, we are called to rest. The fact that these positions exist is no excuse for others. Physically we need re-creating. And in those vital jobs employers must make sure their staff do have their rostered days off. Because they especially need to be well-rested for their work!

The Spiritual Rest

Now, these days the word re-creation has become turned into recreation. But this time off wasn’t meant, first of all, for doing the fun things we wanted to do. That’s why, as those in bond with Jesus, we don’t use this time to just avoid working. Much more important is that this time is for us to worship. And we come to our second consideration. This is… THE SPIRITUAL REST.

Think back to that artist. As he rests from actually painting, he steps back to gain a new perspective on what he’s doing. What part of the picture could be distorted? Which part isn’t really finished yet? Where has he neglected his work?

How are we to do this spiritually? Well, we confess in the Catechism, “on the festive day of rest, I regularly attend the assembly of God’s people to learn what God’s Word teaches, to participate in the sacraments, to pray to God publicly, and to bring Christian offerings for the poor.” On Sunday we go to church. Not when we feel like it but as often as our local Body of Christ meets for worship. That means twice — doesn’t it?

To spend the day in rest and relaxation may benefit our bodies. But we also have souls, and God has set aside this day, today , especially for spiritual refreshing. This is the day when we as God’s people meet in public worship. This is where we join together to listen to God’s Word, to bring our praises and confession, and to join in the fellowship of the saints. Because that’s being joined to Jesus Christ!

The Catechism brings out four Biblical aspects of how each of us is joined to our Lord in this public worship. The first is that we learn what God’s Word teaches. So the sermon is important. That’s Jesus building and strengthening as the Word is faithfully proclaimed. Paul presses this home to Timothy in his first letter chapter 4:13. He urges his younger colleague to “devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.”

Could it be, congregation, that a key reason for decline in New Zealand (Australian) churches today is a low view of preaching? The chorus seems to get louder all the time to make sermons into short, simplistic, and sweet child serves. We hear less and less of “Thus says the LORD,” and much more of “Let me share with you…”. Is it God’s Word or man’s opinion?

The Rev Bill Deenick was spot on with this first aspect, when he said, “The Reformed Churches have no place unless they preach — and preach well!” You see, these are the words of Jesus. Are you listening?

The second aspect is that we participate in the sacraments. Scripture says we must be faithful here also, and by this see and enjoy what Christ did for us. In baptism we see the sign and seal of our Lord upon His covenant children. The sign points to how Jesus accomplished salvation for His people, and the seal confirms that this is indeed true. And when we’re with Jesus, and each other, around His table, we’re reminded of His body and blood. Just as the bread and wine feed our physical bodies, so Christ’s crucified body and poured-out blood feed our souls for eternal life.

In the third place, the Catechism says that on Sunday I go to church so that I may “pray to God publicly.” This is what Paul urged Timothy to do in his first letter to him, in Chapter 2:1. He writes there in his instructions on worship, “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone.”

Prayer . That’s our spiritual breathing. Without it don’t we soon begin to cough and splutter in our private lives. And how many Christian lives haven’t been shown to be near to death when the simple question is asked about their prayer life? It inevitably follows that prayer is an important practice when we meet altogether as God’s family. As it states in the Ordination Form for a minister, “The minister of the Word is called to the service of prayer. In speaking of their calling, the apostles say, “We will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:4).” You see, in prayer we respond. That means we’re helpless before God. Only because of His great mercy do we have the faith to turn to Him, and be able to ask for His help, while honouring Him for who He is.

And, fourthly, the Catechism says that I bring Christian offerings for the poor. You see, here you are in church. You’ve been reminded again of the tremendous things Christ did for us — you’ve realised the benefits we have together — so aren’t you filled with gratitude?

Then you share the same as the Corinthians. Paul wrote of them in his second letter to them, Chapter 9:12, “This service that you perform isn’t only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God”. We give on this day because of what God has first given us in Jesus Christ, His Son.

The Eternal Rest

But the rest on Sunday is also for something else. Because right through our physical and spiritual rest, we’re pointed to THE ETERNAL REST. Our third point.

If we follow God’s will for honouring Sunday — His special day — we’ve got a glimpse of what everlasting life will be! That gives us joy. As the Catechism says, the Sunday is a “festive day of rest.” “Festive” means celebrating. A celebration which is the most special and enduring happiness. Because this cannot be celebrating the way that so many in this world do it. This is no wild party. Instead, this celebration is like that of a wedding where there’s respect and reverence, because of the great joy of what’s happening. There’s a thrill, right throughout our lives! We are really rapt — and we love Him for it!

That’s why we’re here to worship. That’s why — no matter what happens to us — we know we’re in the hands of the Sovereign God. He loved us so much He sent His One and only Son to die for us. And not only did Jesus die for us, He also rose in victory over death. The day that Jesus Christ was resurrected was Sunday. That’s why the Lord’s Day is on Sunday, rather than the Old Testament Sabbath, which is Saturday.

Through Christ’s resurrection, the first day of the week shows that we may look forward to the rest of that week in eternity itself. It’s the first-fruits of the heavenly harvest! Already now we’re celebrating the fact of our glorious future with our Lord Jesus.

And Sunday also shows us how we can live the rest of the week. Some years ago there was a song that went, “Every day is Sunday ’cause I’m Sundayly inclined.” Though the singer may have sung it from a purely physical rest perspective, let’s make it spiritual, too! Let’s make this our attitude, our motivation, whenever it’s Sunday. It’s the Lord’s Day. You’re going to keep it that way! You’re going to commune with Him and His people.

This is what Paul writes to the Ephesians in chapter 5:18-20, “be filled with the Spirit. “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Think again of that artist. Having taken his rest and seen the total picture in front of him, and after having realised where’s there’s distortions and unfinished parts, he then steps back into the painting, carrying on his work. That’s what we’re to do. We’re to rest physically and spiritually so that we consider what God has done for us, and what He’ll do for us. Then we step back again into the world taking that reflection with us. In the words of Hebrews 4:11, “Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest.” Then everyday will be Sunday because we are Sundayly inclined!

Amen.

PRAYER:

Let’s pray…

LORD God, we struggle so much to keep this one day in seven. The world around us tempts us with doing what it does. And even sometimes without realising it we forget the special day this is.

Please give us the wisdom and strength to point to paradise today. Make the time we spend with you, and with each other, focus all the rest of our time on you, too. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.