Sabbath Thought – What Would Separate Us?

This modern era of the Church of God is in a unique time in terms of history. From the first century up until the mid- to late-1800s persecution from the world was pretty much given. For the last 150 years or so, God’s church has not faced serious, focused persecution. While individually we can face trials or persecutions on a much smaller scale. We have not had to face the very real possibility of dying for our calling, or compromising God’s truth in order to live.

This choice that God’s people faced for eighteen centuries “forced” them to make sure their calling and election was sure, to be willing “to stand in the gap” (Ezekiel 22:30), to never become weary with doing well (Galatians 6:9), and to (like Abraham) actively look for “the city whose builder and maker is God,” (Hebrews 11:10).

The apostle Paul asked the question this way in Romans 8:35, “Who (what) shall separate us from the love of Christ?” When most individuals are baptized, they would probably answer, “No one, nothing.” And yet even in my personal history, 5% of the people I have baptized have left the faith. They allowed something, or someone, to come between them and God. This is the example of Abraham when God told him to sacrifice Isaac – when God stopped Abraham from finishing the act He said to Abraham, “Now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me," (Genesis 22:12).

Since we are not yet back to a time when persecution primarily limits the response to our calling to two choices, how does God know (or see) our commitment to His calling? The answer is that it takes longer to see it. While every choice is a “smaller” choice than being willing to die for our calling, over time the little choices add up. That makes every choice we make in being faithful to our calling more important because of the pattern of behavior we establish – never despise the small things (Zechariah 4:10). This is, in part, why Jesus Christ cautioned us to be faithful in the small things (Luke 16:10).

Perhaps that is why many observe that one trial that seems all too common in the Church of God, is health trials. In many cases the member would likely die if God didn’t intervene. In other cases, the health trial is chronic or debilitating. No matter the particulars of such health trials, those trials can help focus the member on Romans 8:35. Other severe trials can serve the same purpose in that we need to make our calling the focus and not the present circumstances. This is very challenging on a human level, but God is looking at the choices we make on a daily basis.

While we are probably not going to be asked to sacrifice our child, we are being asked not to allow anything to be more important than our relationship with God. God is refining us as the perfect bride for His Son (Ephesians 5:27) – are we doing our part to be His bride?

I wish you a very meaningful Sabbath,

Dan Dowd

31 October, 2026