N A BIBLE STUDY GROUP I WAS PART of, someone asked: "Is the way we keep Sabbath fundamentally different from the way people kept it in Jesus' time?" Our rules may differ, but are we really different in how we observe Sabbath? Is it only a matter of rules, or is there deeper significance?

Several said they love Sabbath and look forward to it. It must have been like this in Jesus' day too, but since most found no real rest then, how do we now? Could we likewise be missing the significance of Sabbath?

Unique Rest
Sabbath provides rest from work, but it must be more. Deeper than a mere work break, Sabbath rest must be unique.

Adventists know which day is Sabbath. People in Jesus' day knew this too-as do Jews today. We believe Sabbath will have a role in last-day events. But will knowing this provide Sabbath rest if we don't understand the reasons for Sabbath? On the other hand, if we do experience genuine Sabbath rest, might this significantly influence the outcome as we face difficult days before Jesus' return? Moreover, could we be more successful in presenting Sabbath if our emphasis were directed more toward its distinctive benefits?

A Unique Perspective
Christian ecologist Calvin DeWitt describes nature as a large painting with two groups interacting with it. At one end some people, possibly scientists, carefully analyze every detail. At the other end, others destroy the painting, converting it into cheap merchandise. Strangely, relatively few are in the middle contemplating the painting itself, trying to fathom its deeper meaning.

What is God teaching in this "painting"? Is there a location where we may best see and understand it? Sabbath, it seems, is exactly that middle place where we may ideally view this vast and expressive work and find meaning in it.

Sabbath is the fulcrum of the commandments. The other commandments gain their support from it. It is a bright gem, in the light from which all the other commands reside. The first four commandments are rules of worship. Possibly with common practices in view, the first three commands tell how not to worship. They deal with common human failings and infer correct attitudes, but only the fourth command gives the full "how" and "why" of worship. Moreover, in the fourth commandment one finds reasons for obeying the first three, as well as the last six commandments.

God wants to be known as the Creator. During Creation He expressed satisfaction with His handiwork, calling it "good." He created everything in six days. Consequently, He established a Creation celebration every seventh day. At this point, it is well to remind ourselves that it was Jesus who was the Creator.²

Artists are closely linked with their art. Even if they sell their work, it is still theirs. Their identity is closely linked with it. Even when damaged, there is an emotional attachment between art and artist. Similarly, the Creator is known by His Creation, of which we are a part. In Scripture, God bases His primacy on being the Creator.³

More Than Coincidental
Celebrating Sabbath recalls our first parents, who had visible contact with the Creator. If they needed Sabbath then, how much more do we need it now? Sabbath links Creator and Creation, joining worship of the Creator with keeping and caring for what He made, even though flawed now. One cannot really worship the Creator while disparaging His work.

Everyone was to participate in Sabbath, including foreigners, who were also created. Even domestic animals rested. God likewise made them, and all other creatures.

The first Sabbath in Eden opened the Creator's art exhibition. Since then, the "gallery" has been open every Sabbath with the Creator pres-ent, teaching lessons from His works. We lose much when we neglect time with the Master Artist. Yet inexplicably, the Creation link is only occasionally a deliberate part of Sabbath worship.

It is more than coincidental that the Creator who rested with our pro-genitors on that first seventh day was the same One who rested in the grave on another seventh day, after completing the work of redemption. Only the Creator-owner, made like created human beings, could redeem and restore Creation.

We sometimes forget there is a real, powerful, and loving God in the Sabbath Creator-creation relationship. He who created us keeps us and is willing and able to restore us. If God did not create, as many assert, can we have confidence that He will save and renew us? True Sabbath observance broadens our perspective to embrace a larger reality that includes Jesus as Creator-Redeemer. This enables us in actively, deliberately, and confidently surrendering to Him. Sabbath surrender is ultimately restful. He makes us over in His image by the Holy Spirit.⁴ Then we can most fully celebrate Sabbath.

We had no role in Creation; thus He requires us not to work on Sabbath. We are to be still and know that God is the Creator.⁵ Some, such as health-care personnel and ministers, must "work" on Sabbath. Not doing their own business, however, they serve God in caring for others. Jesus did likewise. They may rest on Sabbath, nevertheless, because Sabbath rest is more than not working. They too may surrender and find assurance in the Creator.

Will Any Day Do?
Could Sabbath surrender happen on another more convenient day? If changed for our convenience, could we genuinely surrender in it?

I once came upon a sign advertising a certain bank's services. It consisted of an array of lights turned on or off to display words. As a clincher, the concluding phrase intended to say, "At Your Convenience." But the lights that should have produced the Y in "Your" were out, so the sign actually read, "At our Convenience."

Only one letter was missing, but it completely changed the message. Similarly, we may think to place Sabbath on another day, but what appears as only a little change alters our response to the Creator. Who changed it? For whose convenience was the change made? The message turns out to be greatly altered. Thus we find ourselves placing convenience ahead of the Creator.

In the beginning, the Creator reserved one tree and one day per week for Himself. Are we going to deny Him His day? As Creator, He chose the seventh day to celebrate creation. In recognizing God's ownership and authority by observing Sabbath, we are in compliance with Him. He blesses such loyalty, saying, "Them that honour me I will honour . . . "⁶ Refusing puts us at odds with the Creator. Sabbath celebration is a litmus test of our relationship with God.

There are benefits in observing Sabbath, but we do not keep Sabbath for these, per se, but because of who God is. Our world is fallen, often unfair, and sometimes rewards are deferred. Under these circumstances, the desirable attitude is expressed by Habakkuk: "Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vine . . . yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation."⁷

Deep and Powerful Implications
The Sabbath message-that the Creator keeps,⁸ sanctifies,⁹ and saves¹⁰--is the gospel message. No wonder Satan hates Sabbath. He tries to wipe Creation from our awareness, and with Sabbath linked to Creation, he attacks that, too. He is determined to expunge from the record-as if that were possible-the one thing on which God bases His right to rule, that He is the Creator.

True Sabbath celebration is active creationism-believing in, depending on, and celebrating both the Creator and Creation. If we say we believe in Creation but fail to celebrate or value and enjoy it, can we be creationists in the fullest sense? Would this not insult the Artist? Those who identify themselves as creationists must also preserve Creation; otherwise, it is a weakened claim.

We don't earn salvation by keeping Sabbath. There is much more invol-ved. Using Sabbath self-righteously, making it an end in itself, for example, misses its significance. That is how people in Jesus' day missed out. Sab-bath was designed to bring us to God in humility and worship. It is what is accomplished by heartfelt Sabbath observance that is important. Just going through the motions isn't enough. Sabbath must be observed with reverence for the Creator. We do not get merit from it; we get to know Him in it. Salvation, in the final analysis, is God's gift.

In the last six commandments we honor the Creator by respecting those He created. Parallel with honoring God, we honor parents, who, after the Creator and through His creative power, also give life. But how should we honor parents together with the Creator? In light of Sabbath surrender, we respect both the Creator and parents, and also cherish those who have been given life by the Creator and parents. In parallel with the Creator-
creation relationship, if parents are important, so are their children.

Thus we will not kill, hurt family relationships, steal, discredit or misrepresent others, or desire what is not ours. These constitute an indictment of selfishness. God supplies all our needs from His abundance. Selfishness, in this context, is foolish; it is deep, displeasing distrust.

If we believed we were the result of a cosmic accident, then selfishly hurting others would be a logical way to get ahead and preserve our lives. But we have tangible evidence that we are no accident. This is why we must keep both Creator and Creation in Sabbath.

There is unity in God's law. Jesus summarized it as love for God and our neighbors-Creator and Creation. James says that if we stumble over one commandment, we fail in all.¹¹ In obeying the commandments, we worship the Creator and care for His people. Our failures dishonor Him. Forgetting the Creator-Creation relationship, they disrupt life-giving unity. Sabbath keeps the Creator-Creation connection alive.

The Primary Focus
Honoring the Creator is the commandments' primary focus. Sabbath is their focal point. It provides a unique perspective on Creation. Actively recognizing Creator and Creation through Sabbath celebration makes keeping other commandments meaningful.

Sabbath becomes our mezzanine-a "place" that is both elevated and separated-the choice viewing point from which to find meaning in creation.

We may view nature from other sites, but what we see from them is different, incomplete, perhaps distorted. Sabbath provides an unobstructed panoramic view that includes both Creator and Creation. There we best see the Creator's art and understand who He is and who we are. Everything in nature is better understood in the light of Creation.

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1 For our purposes the definition used here for mezzanine is from the New World Dictionary of American English: "In some theaters, the first few rows of the balcony, separated from the others by an aisle."
2 Several well-known scriptures that support this are John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:2.
3 Isa. 40:28; 41:20; 43:15; 45:18; Amos 4:13; Rev. 4:11.
4 See 2 Cor. 3:18.
5 See Ps. 46:10.
6 1 Sam. 2:30.
7 Hab. 3:17, 18, NKJV.
8 Lev. 26:1-8.
9 Eze. 20:12.
10 Deut. 5:15.
11 James 2:10.

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Henry Zuill, retired professor of biology, writes from Norman, Arkansas.