April 10: STRING-OF-CLUES (part 3)
He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except the one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Revelation 13:16-17
Let’s look at the idea of buying and selling. This is a crucial aspect of the world’s economy. In the Hebrew language, the word for this exchange is often translated trading. In a spiritual sense, we are vulnerable to making bad “purchases” if we are convinced to trade in a biblical teaching for a manmade one.
During WWII, a German pastor and theologian by the name of Dietrich Bonhoeffer urged his hearers to avoid false teachings which he dubbed “cheap grace” – such as the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptizing without church discipline, communion without confession. Cheap grace is church membership without discipleship, having a form of godliness but denying its power (2 Timothy 3:5). Jesus told Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Bonhoeffer’s book, The Cost of Discipleship, emphasizes that God’s salvation cost Him the life of His Son so that we might freely claim it by faith. But as we take hold of it, we must learn to let go of the things that stand in the way of sanctification. This is what true discipleship will cost us. Paul counted such things as rubbish (Philippians 3:8). In a sin-saturated world, learning to leave sin behind for heavenly citizenship is a process that begins by faith and continues step-by-step into faithfulness. We cannot sanctify ourselves. Only the Lord can do this, as long as we walk with Him. Any brand of “grace” other than God’s grace is powerless and worthless.
In order to practice a personal economy that is wholly submitted to God’s grace, we are taught a direct connection between resting in the LORD on His weekly Sabbath and trusting His provision for our needs. This lesson is one that is presented early and often (see Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 16:29; 20:8-11; Isaiah 56:6; 58:13; 66:23; Matthew 12:8; Mark 2:27-28; Luke 6:5; 13:16; 23:56), but it is the last doctrine to be rediscovered by Reformers since emerging from the Dark Ages. The Spirit of the Lord will bring about total reformation and restoration of His law before He comes (Matthew 5:18). It has been “hiding in plain sight” all along, but not hidden by God!
Many wonderful things happened on the Sabbath during Jesus’ ministry and in the days of the Apostolic Church, too many to name here. Soon, a counterfeit Sabbath will be legislated into law. Most states in the U.S. already have this law on the books, only it is not enforced. Soon, the penalty for keeping the true Sabbath (and/or breaking the false one) will be economic restrictions for offenders. Nevertheless, it is safer to honor God’s law over man’s (see Acts 5:29).
Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works.” Again, He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.” Hebrews 4:1,2,4, 7 (see also Psalm 94:20-21; 95:7-8)