New Beginnings

by Royce Mitchell, Jr., Editor

The Board of Directors for the Bible Sabbath Association, which was recently elected, is now in place and ready to serve both those who access the BSA website, and those who read The Sabbath Sentinel. In this issue we present them to you, along with their insights as to the direction that this magazine and BSA ought to take.

While this is a new beginning with the Board, it is, at the same time, an affirmation of the goals of The Sabbath Sentinel. We remain dedicated to bringing cooperation and understanding amongst the many different groups which profess the Sabbath of the Most High God. We also remain dedicated to bringing understanding to those who do not yet know about the Sabbath, as well as providing articles of interest to those who do understand the importance of keeping His Sabbaths.

It is important to note that while we have a new Board, that God's Sabbath is as unchanging as it ever was. The Sabbath was created by God Almighty in the beginning of man's existence. We read of the creation of the Sabbath in Genesis 2:1-3. In this verse we are told, "Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts. And by the seventh day God completed His work which He had done; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made" (NAS).

In these few verses we learn a great deal about God's Sabbath. First, we learn that God had completed His initial creation work by the seventh day. We also learn that, when that creation work was completed, God then rested, and through that rest, He created His Sabbath. Of interest is the word translated "rested." It is listed in Strong's Concordance as number 7673, "shabath" (shaw-bath'); from a primitive root; to repose, i.e. desist from exertion. In other words, to rest! In the very beginning of the Sabbath, we are shown that God created it BY resting!

We also notice that God blessed the seventh, or Sabbath day, and sanctified it, or set it apart for holy use. He made it holy. Its use is sacred. Man can not make anything truly holy, although over the many centuries man has called many things holy which are not. Only God can make anything holy.

Man can trample holy things underfoot, and we see that even today God's Holy Day is trampled underfoot by men. Some know better, but refuse to accept. Most do not know any better. We at the BSA know that desecration of God's Sabbath is a sin, and hope that we can help others to see that they have sinned against God by not keeping holy what He made so.

For those who recognize the truth about His Sabbath, we hope to be able to bring encouragement in the form of the application of spiritual truth in light of His Sabbaths, as well as in the form of joyful news about brothers in His Word.

Keeping His Sabbath also keeps us from breaking so many other commandments, those of which are found in Exodus 20. If we are obeying Him, we will not be worshipping false Gods, nor will we be taking His name in vain, as those who do not keep His Sabbaths do every week. Knowledge of His Sabbaths prevents our worship of images which are set in place of Him. Moreover, we honor our heavenly Father by doing so. We will no longer be stealing time which rightfully belongs to Him, which He made holy, and presented to us on that first Seventh Day.

We of the Board look forward to serving you, and our God, in the manner that best suits Him. We ask your help in accomplishing this glorious task. As we work together, it is certain, we can expect the working of His Spirit to complete that which we are unable to do on our own.

TSS

November - December 1999 The Sabbath Sentinel