A Sabbath Reflection…

AFFIRMATION: My Sabbath will be a day in which all other days have no claim.

The writer of the book of Ecclesiastes reminds us that life here on earth (life lived under the sun) is “vanity”.  Because it is “vanity” doesn’t mean that it is necessarily bad it just means that it is passing away.  Like a morning mist that covers the ground but is soon gone as the sun rises.

I was reminded of this yesterday.  Yesterday was a very sad day in Sonja and my life…our dearly loved dog, Frodo died.  We have had Frodo for over eleven years and he had been a part of every day that we have lived at Savannah Place drive.

I know there is some speculation that our pets will be in Heaven with us and I will not take that away from those that hope so.  But in all honesty there is little evidence in the Bible that that is the case.  That is what made Frodo’s death so tragic for it appears that when an animal dies that’s it, they exist no longer.

That is how life under the sun is, when a day is over it is over; there is no going back, no reliving it, no second chances.

But think about when a human dies – especially a Christian.  As tragic as it is we still have the blessed hope that we will see them again.  We know that they are still alive – more alive in fact than they have ever been.  Every time we think of deceased loved ones we are reminded that there is a life beyond this life.  We are reminded that there is another dimension, another place, a better reality.

That is what Sabbath does as well; it reminds us that in the midst of all the vanity of this life that there is another reality – an eternal rest of joy and everlasting happiness and fulfillment. One of my regrets is that I waited so long to understand
this important Sabbath principle.  For so many years all my days and weeks and years just ran one into the next.  They were all “common” (profane).  I didn’t exert the discipline to declare that there would be one day none of the other days had a claim over.  By not making one day holy I made all my days lesser.

Thank God that has changed now.  This evening Sonja and I will begin our Sabbath for this week.  For a few hours we will remember that life is more than the day-to-day chores, activities and moments of these fleeting days.  We will remember that God has put eternity in hearts and that we are meant for so much more.  We will remember there are dear ones waiting for us on the shores of a better place.  We will remember that we must use these few short days here under the sun to prepare for eternity and to take as many people with us as possible.  For to have to say good-bye on the other side of eternity will be the most horrible tragedy imaginable to mankind.

With wishes for God’s peace and rest to be yours,

dlkemp

• In memory of “Mr. Frodo” I leave this quote from “The Fellowship of the Ring”.  J.R.R. Tolkein give a wonderful picture of what Sabbath looks like as he describes how Frodo (Mr Frodo’s namesake) and his fellow travelers find rest…
• “For awhile the hobbits continued to talk and think of the past journey and of the perils that lay ahead; but such was the virtue of the land of Rivendell that soon all fear and anxiety was lifted from their minds.  The future, good or ill, was not forgotten, but ceased to have power over the present.  Health and hope grew strong in them, and they were content with each day as it come, taking pleasure in every meal, and in every word and song.”