In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Intentionally, he created them formless, void, and in an entirely dark condition. Then, over the space of six days, God went to work. He progressively remodeled, renovated, reformed, or remade the universe, and it became beautifully excellent. No longer was it dark, formless, and void; in God’s words, “It was good.”
Then, God went to work on his masterpieces. After setting his earthly stage, God used his mouth and hands to construct Adam and Eve. Both were created in his image and likeness. Both were perfect. Again, in God’s eyes, “They were very good.” The Creator did excellent work.
Then, on the following day, God holidayed. He did not rest or sabbath because he needed to do so. He was not exhausted or tired. No, God simply declared his work was finished, and it was time for him to spend the day specially fellowshipping with his friends. Therefore, he blessed and set apart the special day. According to his divine example and decree, the seventh day was to be the global holiday of his image-bearers.
Then, the Heavenly Father taught his children the family business. For him, with him, like him, they were to procreate and govern. Six days a week they were to worship by working. One day a week they were to worship by not working and enjoying God’s holiday. Every day they were to enjoy walking with the Lord in the cool of the garden.
Wow! The Creator custom-made a universe, a planet, and a garden before their arrival. He then produced children in his image and likeness. Through them he worked. With them he rested and holidayed. What a deal! What a life! What a God! What grace!
Too bad their story took a tragic turn. Adam and Eve were tempted by Lucifer. Somehow, they disbelieved God’s character, disregarded God’s counsel, trusted the outsider, and rebelled against their Heavenly Father.
Consequently, they and their children were condemned and damned. All seemed void, formless, and dark. All seemed hopeless. Nothing seemed good.
However, the story wasn’t over …
God the Father went to work. He pursued his sinful and hiding couple. He replaced their self-covering with a sacrificial garment. He then made promises of a coming Seed who would save sinners and suffer harm before stomping on Lucifer’s head.
In addition, God the Spirit went to work. He fell upon patriarchs, prophets, and priests. He gave them inside information, divine promises, sermons to preach, texts to write, and ceremonies to practice. Yes, through the Holy Spirit’s labors, generations of Israelites were further instructed to look beyond themselves to the coming Special Seed — the Lamb of God, Lion of Judah, Living Water, Real Mana, Better Prophet, Righteous Judge, Messianic King, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Son of Man, and Man of Sorrows who was Immanuel — “God with us.” Then, thousands of years later, at the appointed time, the Holy Spirit came upon Mary and overshadowed her. He did his work, and Mary was impregnated with the Holy Son of God.
Then, for the next 33 years, God the Son went to work. He submitted to his Heavenly Father and perfectly kept all the commandments. Every single day, he loved God with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength. Every single day he perfectly loved his neighbors. Then on the appointed day of sacrifice, Jesus Christ was led to a mountain called Golgotha. There he suffered the bite of Satan. There he suffered the curse for the sins of many. There he was sacrificed by his Heavenly Father for the sins of his family. He labored hard. He performed well. He screamed, “It is finished!”
Then, as he promised the thief on the cross, the Son of God went to paradise and rested from his labors. What a weekend it must have been in heaven as the Father, Son, Spirit, thief, and all the Old Testament saints holidayed to the glory of God.
Then, on the third day, the Father, Son, and Spirit went back to work, and they have not yet taken a break. For millennia, the Father has been making regal promises to the Son and gifting him a people. Since approximately 33 AD, the Son has been watching, interceding, advocating, ruling, and preparing a house for his bride. And the Holy Spirit has been sovereignly gifting people repentance, faith, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control, and spiritual gifts. God has continued to take men and women who are formless, void, and dark and remodel, renovate, reform, and remake them into something excellently beautiful. He has continued to do very good work.
Now, in similar manner to Adam and Eve, God encourages us to holiday with him. He has done it all. He has performed well. He loves us and sees us as perfectly holy. He needs nothing from us. We can relax, rest, and take a vacation from earning merit and atoning for our demerit. For some, this is a “one day in seven” holiday. For me, I enjoy holidaying on the Lord’s Day and every day.
And, in similar manner to Adam and Eve, God encourages us to go to work. He needs not our labors, but he loves to watch us participate in the family business. Therefore, as his image-bearing children, we get the privilege of being fruitful, of multiplying, or of procreating and making disciples. We get to steward well all that is placed under our governance. We get the honor to serve, slave, and sacrifice for God and our neighbors. We get to put on the armor of God and fight for God’s glory, for our neighbor’s good, against the devil, and against sin. Yes, we get to love and worship our God by working for his interests and for our neighbors.
And yet, there remains a better sabbath-rest. A grander holiday is yet to be had. Someday, Satan and his followers will be cast into the Lake of Fire. Someday the curse on mankind and earth will be reversed — sin, suffering, and sorrow will be no more. Someday, all God’s household will be reunited with him in his garden paradise. What a homecoming celebration that will be! Yes, he who began a good work will complete it. The Alpha and Omega of Gospel-grace will be realized. Forever, we will be with the Lord, and what a holiday that will be.
Unfathomable Grace 