Bibledoorajar: The Forever Sign

     After all the furnishings of the tabernacle were completed by the artisans of God's own choosing, Moses is instructed to tell the people that the Sabbath day was always to be kept holy. Six days were they to work, but the seventh day of rest was a sign of the relationship the people had ,and would always have, with their God. They were to be advised that no one should ever do any work in the tabernacle on their own lest they die. Everything about the tabernacle was and would always be God's doing. Oh, how much God wanted the people to realize how much He, their God, had done and was continuing to do for them.! The children of Israel were to keep guard about this relationship for it was a perpetual or eternal covenant. It was a covenant based of obedience and that proved to be a terrible problem for the Israelites.
     We know how often the children of Israel broke covenant with their God through their disobedience. Indeed, for the church and eternity, that was the main thing that would have to be addressed by God. There was little doubt that people would not be able to maintain obedience on their own. Israel demonstrated that. And thus, the marvelous grace of Jesus completing all obedience for us came as a wonderful gift. Christ would do the work of obedience and the Holy Spirit would be ever present and prevailing to maintain our faithfulness to Christ. Mercy and grace would be free!!! Help was always one prayer away. And, most importantly, there would be a place of rest for us in this weary place with Jesus.

               "Safe in the arms of Jesus, Safe on His gentle breast,
                There by His love o'er-shadowed, Sweetly my soul shall rest."

So penned Fanny Crosby in 1870. And so we claim for ourselves today. Our faithfulness is worth eternity and reflects the superlative covenant God established with the death of Jesus. Praise Him.