Sabbath or Sunday Worship Part 14C Series
Religion and the Sabbath/Sunday Worship Part 14C: Fulfillment
It is the glory of God to conceal things. It is God’s wholeness and faithfulness that when He said something He will do it and when He promised something He will fulfill it. God does not change His mind and many that know God very well know what happened in the Garden of Eden. When He told the parents of mankind, Adam and Eve, not to eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, “If they eat the fruit they will surely die. There were also other fruit-bearing trees that they could eat, but they ate the one that was forbidden. We can already see where we got our hardheadedness.
However, the couple after eating the forbidden fruit did not die. So what happened? Did God change His mind? The merciful and graceful God did not change His mind, He is faithful to His word. He can change the circumstances without breaking His word. The perfection of God cannot be measured nor it can be challenged. Death came eventually to both after many centuries. During the time of Noah instead of perishing mankind from the deluge, God’s mercy gave them the chance to change their wickedness and graceful enough to give them 120 years extension to do it. Moses wrote Psalm 90:10 stating that the life span was at 70 and if healthy it would extend to 80 but the added 10 years were nothing but trouble and sorrow, problem and sadness. Did Moses write the Psalm addressed solely for the Israelite’s People more than the Gentile? Moses lived 120 years. His exception to the longevity of life was because he was born in Egypt which should make him an Egyptian citizen even though his parent were Hebrews. Like Paul who was born in Tarsus part of the Roman empire, made a Roman Citizen, and was treated by the Romans not as a foreigner but as their own. This is how the grace of God works. The Mercy of God is to forgive and the Grace is the extension of life. The mercy and grace of God come in handy for those who acknowledge His existence.
Why did God shorten the life span of the Israelites? Was it God’s way to remind the people of the earth that He is still in control, and not the ruler of this world? The disobedience they inherited from their ancestor could be the factor, but who knows. God’s thought is higher than our thoughts, so, at this time there is no concrete answer. Being the chosen people their relationship should be much closer than any race all over the world.
Israel is not better than any other nation and yet God chose her people. God works in mysterious ways and no one will know it or it will no longer be a mystery. God’s unreachable richness and wholeness, His wisdom and knowledge cannot be measured by any modern units of measurement nor the wisest man can get closer results. God’s glory to conceal things, and it is His power to reverse it. Paul said that God’s judgment and mysterious ways are unsearchable. Romans 11:33.
The three monotheistic religions – Judaism, Christianity, and Islam – all believe that there is only one God; The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all can claim to be the chosen people of God according to their respective Bible. The Jews can claim as recorded in Exodus 6:7 -“I will take you as my people, and I will be your God.” For Christians claiming to be the chosen is in 1 Peter 2:9 He said to the “elect exiles” that is, to Christians scattered throughout the Roman Empire. “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession.” And the Holy Qur’an stated: “Allah chooses His Messengers from among angels, and from among men.” (22:76)
When these three religions collide as it is happening nowadays, to whom will God give the favor? God’s wisdom will never pick one after the other. He created mankind in His image, and He treats us without favoritism so He cannot take a side or His power will be limited and will be prejudiced in the eyes of His creations. He is all in all. The rule of thumb; God has an open arm, He will embrace whoever comes to Him and will not experience rejection. Acknowledge Him and He will acknowledge you and reward those who believe in His existence.
The Bible from three different religions says it is God’s breathes that proclaimed Him as the one true God. All three Bibles contextually include, that God wants all to be with Him when the apportioned time comes, a promise certainly will be fulfilled.
God is all in all.