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The Flag and the Sabbath

The Flag and the Sabbath

I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us, so they would know that I the LORD made them holy (Ezekiel 20:12 NIV84).

A sign is a mark, which is an object that conveys meaning, something that symbolizes a message. The Sabbath is a sign, mark, object from God to humanity that He has given for a purpose—to convey a message to us. And in this way, the Sabbath is like a flag. Let’s consider object lesson similarities between a national flag and the Sabbath.

A nation’s flag is made for its citizens; the citizens are not made for the flag, just like “the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27 NIV84). A flag is created to inspire the people with patriotic love and loyalty to their country. The Sabbath was created to inspire humans with love and loyalty to God. A flag reminds people of the history, values, and principles of a nation. When people see the old Soviet flag, they are reminded of different values than those conveyed by the British, Canadian, or American flag. The Sabbath is given to remind us of God’s government, methods, and principles—the kingdom of truth, love, and liberty.

When people are taken captive in war and they see their national flag, it inspires them with the hope that their countrymen will come and rescue them. We are captives in a world of sin, and the Sabbath is to remind us that God sent Jesus to deliver us from sin, to make us holy, to rescue us.

Waving a flag from the heart is different than doing so out of obligation. Living in North Korea and flying the national flag because one fears the punishment of the state is not the same as waving one’s national flag because one loves their country. Likewise, observing the Bible Sabbath because it is a rule that an authoritarian god will punish you for breaking is not the same as loving the Creator and cherishing the Sabbath as a sign of the kingdom you love. This is why Isaiah says only those who delight in the Sabbath are true Sabbath keepers (Isaiah 58:13), because love cannot be commanded. A true patriot is one who loves their country, while a true Christian is one who loves the kingdom of God.

When people love and respect a country, they respect and treat as honorable the flag of that country; but when people despise a country, they trample upon and burn that nation’s flag. So too, when people love God and His kingdom, they honor His Sabbath—but when they don’t love God’s kingdom, they trample His Sabbath.

When we want to identify with a kingdom, we wave their flag, regardless of the place where one lives. Wave a British flag in America and one shows support for Britain. Likewise, if we want to show support for God’s kingdom, we honor the flag of His kingdom, the Sabbath, that He gave us as a sign.

But if we fly the flag of a nation, we would also need to adhere to and practice the laws of that nation to represent it correctly. Likewise, if we embrace the Sabbath of the Lord, then we need to honor it as God would have us honor it—as a mark of His kingdom of love, that His laws are design laws that cannot be imposed and are not enforced through external punishments. We, as God has done, present the truth in love and leave others free in how we live our lives all week long, for this is what the Sabbath reminds us of.

To embrace the Sabbath day as a rule that requires punishment for not observing it, one becomes like those who crucified the Lord of the Sabbath and wanted Him off the cross in order to keep the Sabbath. Such persons are like enemies of a nation who infiltrate and fly the national flag while they work against the kingdom they pretend to support.

Yes, the Sabbath is a sign that God makes us holy; it is an evidence of His Creatorship and His methods of governing, that at the end of six days of creating, God rested—He did not use power to force His intelligent creatures to obey, but He left them free to think and decide for themselves. Those who want to fly the flag of the Lord do so by embracing and practicing the same methods of God, truth, love, and liberty, all of which are symbolized by the Sabbath.

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Testimony 50

After coming into contact with Come And Reason Ministries, I can finally say that many of my unanswered questions have fallen into place. I discovered that my view of God’s Law was “imposed laws and rules” with “imposed punishments” and that this was the major culprit of my many unanswered questions. Thanks be to God for using you and those around you to help us who have struggled with this “infection” of thought. I have now rejected the “imposed law” concept to fully embrace “Design Law”… to look thru “Design Law,” instead of “imposed law,” is a relief.

Viliami L., Australia

 

Testimony 56

I cannot thank you enough for opening my understanding to the beautiful truth of God’s Law of Love and how it applies to everything. I have been a Christian for over forty years, but I feel like I am only now seeing with my eyes open. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!

Tammy Cinzio, Australia

 

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I am absolutly on fire with the message at Come and Reason! I can’t get enough! I’ve read your book, blog, and articles. I’ve listened to your Bible study podcasts, your radio show, and your series – all excellent! It wasn’t until the past couple of years that I have I like I’m becoming “healthy,” with more to share with others than just beasts and commandments! I used to be a Bible worker and preached when the pastors were gone until I had had enough. I didnt realize at the time what the problem was, but i know now… the message wasn’t properly focused. Now my flame is rekindled. All of your little examples are so perfect in explaining something “complicated” and making it easily understood! Now I’m trying to shape it into a life changing evangelistic series! Thank you!

M.T., USA

 

Testimony 53

I was so blessed by a friend who gave me your book, “The God Shaped Brain,” while I was sitting in church asking God to please help me learn more about Him and help me not to be so confused and scared. That was about 2 years ago. Your books have helped me to love God even more. I’m not confused or scared anymore! I have listened to all of your bible study classes and feel like I know the wonderful people that attend every week. Thank you for all that you’re doing in spreading the true message about God and His law of love. God bless you and your whole class.

Elssy P., Modesto, CA, USA

 

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Thank you and may God continue to bless you as you share with others the intricacies of how we are all “fearfully and wonderfully made”. I must share that you have opened a whole new world to me, and I have found tremendous healing through what you have shared in two of your books, “Could It Be This Simple?” and “The God Shaped Brain.” I praise God for what you shared, what I have learned, and how I have grown and healed! My prayer is that My Precious Jesus will be seen by others in the way I live, act, talk, etc. and they may be encouraged to know He is truly a GREAT God of LOVE, desiring that no one should perish! God Bless you in your continued endeavors to present Him as He really is!

Joleen H. GA, USA

 

Testimony 71

When I was 9 years old, I remember setting at our devotional table with a hunger and thirst for God that wanted more, deeper, BETTER. I can remember literally crying and pounding on the table, “I know these teachers didn’t mean to give us error. They taught what THEY had been TAUGHT, but didn’t ANYBODY READ THE BOOK?!?!?” It mattered to me then. It mattered to me as a teenager. It matters now as I teach bible classes. It didn’t have to be so hard as I watched so many give up and lay God’s great plan and gift of salvation aside as being “impossible.” Then, a friend sent me a link to Come And Reason’s website. I grew excited. YES! FINALLY! Then another friend told me to stay away, saying her son had just broken up with a girl because she was involved with Come And Reason and that “Tim Jennings preaches a false gospel.” But, AFTER many years of developing an authentic and, dare I say FUN relationship with Jesus, through the Holy Spirit I see this message has been around a LONG time, since the apostle Paul, Ellen White, Graham Maxwell, Ray Foucher, and yourself (though I admit, you’ve made me back up, rewind and replay the clips, and get out my well-worn Bible on a few things.) I’m so thankful I have found LIGHT during these DARK days. I am not alone.

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Testimony 72

I am blown away by the truth that you present. God’s Design Law makes so much sense! You have validated my impression that, if God is love, He would not kill those who don’t want to know him. If God gives us choice, then how can He destroy us if our choice is not to follow him. Thank you for opening my eyes and heart to the pure love of God seen through Jesus. The love I now have for Jesus is deeper and free from condemnation. My heart has been opened to love others as Jesus loves me. May God continue to bless your God-given insight into His word and your ministry. The truth has set me free!

H. Miller, Centereach, NY

Testimony 67

I was introduced to Come And Reason by a friend of my mother-in-law, who gave me several CD’s of Dr. Jennings. The clarity of the message and recognition that God’s is a God of love was so clear, advancing beyond Dr. Maxwell’s message. However, grappled with Maxwell saying God used emergency measures for the fallen world. Now after several years of being a regular listener of the Come And Reasoning bible study class and attending Jennings’ meetings in Dallas/Fort Worth, TX, things are becoming clearer for me. Design law versus imposed law has added so much to my personal understanding of theology. This message has really impacted my work in counseling so many people miserable because they are searching for and trusting human governments to create order and peace or believing in a God who says love Me or I will kill you. I am grateful that I have an alternative view to offer my clients that makes sense. I teach a bible study class on a semi-regular basis and I value the materials that Come And Reason so freely offers to aid me in presenting this vital message. Thank you for continuing to provide advancement in our very limited understanding of a Infinite God that is rational and believable.

Dr. Roger D, Arlington, TX, USA

 

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Daniel T., Easley, SC, USA

 

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I Love This Ministry!!!!!!! I see first hand how this message is desperately needed, how erroneous beliefs about God and His Character negatively affect humanity at every level. I thank God for your ministry, as I was searching on my own and was discovering some of your same beliefs and was blown away when I found your ministry. I know you hear it all the time, but it is truly life changing. May God continue to reveal His Will to you and Bless you!

Eric S., Sanford, FL, USA

 

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Thank you for the ministry you are sharing with us, it is a real blessing to us and especially to my husband and myself! You are encouraging us to think for ourselves and not just to except everything, without thinking it through, with God’s word!

M.K., USA

 

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I have been following your Bible study class for about a year now. I must say I am impressed with how your ministry has grown. I took it upon myself to listen to all your lesson podcasts from the past and they have both enriched me physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I have learnt a lot from this class. I have also noticed how the class has grown in spiritual strength. One of the things that benefited me is that now I am not afraid of God. I use to be, but now it has melted away. The second thing is that you helped me to have a real life relationship with God. Now He is my friend that was always there and I love having him with me all the time. Thirdly, because of this class, it inspired me to take over and lead a class. I have called it “Let Us Reason Together,” adapting your inquisitive style and creating a class of free thinkers.

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We listen to your bible studies lessons in our class in Montana. You actually were the main reason I decided to get a laptop, so I can go to your site and listen, read, learn, and print the class notes. I am so grateful to learn the correct view of God and his character. Now, to just have others have an interest in knowing, so I can share it with them. Good thoughts your way.

R. N., MT, USA

 

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I got the book “Could It Be This Simple?” a few months ago and the reading was wonderful and I was fascinated. I lent the book to a friend at work. She is having a difficult time and the book is helping her to find Jesus and I found this very exciting. She has asked me questions and I can see her life changing.

H. S., Australia

 

Testimony 73

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