How can God’s lukewarm people begin to turn their lives back to God? “Thus said the Lord unto me; Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, whereby the kings of Judah come in, and by the which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem; And say unto them, Hear ye the word of the Lord, ye kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that enter in by these gates: Thus saith the Lord; Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem; Neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the sabbath day, neither do ye any work, but hallow ye the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers. But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction. And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto me, saith the Lord, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein; Then shall there enter into the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and this city shall remain for ever” (Jeremiah 17:19-25).

We must look at this spiritually today. Who will share David’s throne with Christ forever? That is the reward of God’s firstfruits (Revelation 3:21; Luke 1:23-33; Isaiah 9:6-7).

God says we are already kings and priests (Revelation 1:5-6). We are now getting ready to marry our Husband, Jesus Christ (Revelation 19:7). What a glorious vision of hope! Do we get it? This vision has become vague to most of God’s people today. That is the curse of following a man.

The Laodiceans can stop the curse. They must start with properly keeping God’s Sabbath day. The Sabbath is a sign that we are God’s royal Family. “Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your genera­tions; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed” (Exodus 31:13-17).

Today we must look at these verses spiritually. It is far more serious now than it was anciently. We get to know the true God through proper Sabbath-keeping. Only the firstfruits are called to that honor today. If they turn away, they won’t just die physically as ancient Israel did. These saints entered into a covenant with God. Now their eternal lives are at stake!

The Sabbath day focuses our mind back to God the Creator. He “rested, and was refreshed” on the Sabbath day. God doesn’t need physical rest. So how was He refreshed? The Sabbath is a type of the Millennium—a time when God will be ruling this Earth and building His Family. Then that Family will rule the universe forever. So the Sabbath also causes us to look ahead.

God is a Creator. He is creating His Family. It only started with the creation of Adam and Eve (Genesis 1:26). The animals were created after the animal kind. Man was created in the image and likeness of God. We look like God in our features. However, the spiritual creation is far more important. God is doing that job within His Church today. We must build the character of God (Matthew 5:48).

The great God was inspired and “refreshed” by the Sabbath-day vision. It will also greatly inspire you and me, if we keep the Sabbath holy.

Only that glorious vision will bring the Laodiceans back. Only that vision will keep us growing spiritually. If we truly comprehend that breathtaking future, we will never forsake God—the hope of Israel!

The Creator of the Sabbath set an example for His creation on how to keep it and to become holy in the process. Think of the power in God’s personal example! Our only purpose for being created is to follow that example.

The Sabbath has become a “burden” to God’s lukewarm Church. It is no longer a “delight” to the Laodiceans (Isaiah 58:13).

God is present in a special and powerful way on His Sabbath day. The Sabbath, instead of being a burden, should leave us on a spiritual high. This is where Christ and the firstfruits will begin to change the whole world! This is where God started working with His end-time Elijah, Herbert W. Armstrong. This is where it all starts! We must learn this lesson if we are to rule the world with Christ.

I can give you this godly guarantee. If you start keeping the Sabbath properly, it will begin to make dramatic changes immediately in your life! Put God to the test! If we properly keep the Sabbath, we would never look to hopeless men.

“And they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the places about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and from the mountains, and from the south, bringing burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and meat offerings, and incense, and bringing sacrifices of praise, unto the house of the Lord” (Jeremiah 17:26). This is prophecy about God’s house, His Church, today. All we have to do is look at these verses spiritually. Then we can see a strong warning from God. “But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched” (verse 27). If we don’t heed this message about keeping the Sabbath holy, then God will kindle a fire!

Repeatedly God warns us in these verses. “Hear ye the word of the Lord …” (verse 20). “Take heed to yourselves …” (verse 21). “If you will not hearken unto me …” (verse 27). God will personally kindle a fire—starting with the Great Tribulation. But this fire will not be quenched—it will destroy lives forever, unless we repent.

Will you heed God’s strong warning?

Excerpt from: Jeremiah and the Greatest Vision in the Bible by Gerald Flurry.