Sabbath Meditation #1

One Holy Catholic Apostolic Church

Public worship on the Lord's Day is the holiest activity of our day to day existence. It occurs on the one day in seven which the Lord God has commanded us to set apart (that is, institute as holy) from the other six days of the week. This command and institution has stood from the initial existence of time itself.
But ever since the resurrection of our Lord it has adopted a new significance that it did not represent before. The Sabbath—the day of rest and worship—of recreation and communion of the Lord's people, together with the Lord—took on a universal significance. Our Lord was resurrected, and was therefore appointed the universal Lord over the heavens and the earth. He declared that all power in heaven and on earth, consequent of His resurrection, had been given to Him (Matthew 28:18). In being raised to the right hand of God all enemies were and are going to be placed under His feet (Hebrews 2:8).
As the Son of Man, He is Lord over the Sabbath. In rising, and being made the universal Lord, He necessarily made the Sabbath universal—an institution for all people, in all places. So today, on this holy Sabbath, we join with the saints before God universally. Our gathering is not just of one local congregation, small or large, a handful or thousands, as it may be. Our gathering is universal. We gather and commune as members of “One Holy Catholic Apostolic Church” as the Nicene Creed puts it.
We are gathered from every place on earth. We are gathered out of every social class, every race, every tongue, every clan, male and female, child and adult. We are gathered in one voice and one tongue—that of the Overword—the Word of the Living God. On this day, our resurrected Lord gathers us to the heavenly Jerusalem. In this one great congregation today will be gathered into the City of God not just our local fellowship or our immediate Christian brethren, but also myriads of angels, and the spirits of all righteous men made perfect, enrolled in heaven. Above all, we are gathered into the presence of God. Our Risen Lord summons us on this holy day, to the great universal heavenly convocation before the face of the Living God. (Hebrews 12: 22,23)
For twenty-four hours, as the earth rotates majestically, the songs of praise will be heard gradually spreading around the globe like one great antiphonal choir, each answering to each in song. “Glory be to God the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit” they will sing—and they will be answered as other congregations join, adding their amen.
But, not only do the voices raise to God and His Christ, God Himself actively greets His people. His Spirit this day will pour forth upon the earth, to comfort, to bind, to heal; to bring courage, faith and hope. Tears will be wiped away today. Burdens will be lifted. Hearts will be made light. Thousand this day will be converted out of darkness into light. The myriads of angels will be rejoicing over many lost sheep that will be found today. Just as the great antiphonal earthly choir answers praise with fresh and new praise around the world, so the Living God also answers His people, ministering to them in His grace and mercy.
As we gather for worship on this day, let us do so conscious that we are part of the universal congregation of the Lord, the general assembly and church of the first-born. This, too, is part of the fruit of His resurrection. Because He rose the church has become truly universal. Let us therefore be conscious as we worship of our joining with the universal congregation of the Lord, and let our prayers and thoughts be for our brethren everywhere that God might bless them and keep them, that He might make His face to shine upon them and be gracious unto them; that He might lift up the light of His countenance upon them, and give them peace.
New Zealand has a unique “position” with respect to the Sabbath Day. By providential arrangement of global time conventions New Zealand happens to commence the Sabbath activities first, ahead of all other nations. We, in this far flung outpost of the Kingdom of God, have been granted the privilege of commencing the worship and convocation of the universal church this holy day. Let us, then, truly lead our brethren and sisters in worship of the risen Lord. Let us know that for the next twenty-four hours antiphonal voices will be raised in echo and response. Above all, let us know that our Lord Himself will rise to greet us and be amongst us.