Freedom: Which Elevator Really Gets You There?

Going “up”? If you would like to enjoy the ride and get to God’s ultimate destination for your life, I would suggest that you not take the “Shabbat elevator.”

The Shabbat (Sabbath) elevator can be found in apartment buildings all over Jerusalem and Israel. These elevators, which are specially rigged to stop on every floor during the weekly Jewish Sabbath (sundown Friday through sundown Saturday), provide for humorous fodder and frequent frustration for Gentiles and non-observant Jews. But the Shabbat elevator has come to represent something far greater to me. Every Shabbat, that crazy elevator reminds me of the blood of Christ, which was shed for me so that I might “ride to the top” of God’s ultimate purpose for my life—fellowship with Him.

Oh, I can hear it now. “Kristen’s over the top!” Her trip to the Holy Land has warped her brain and now she is spiritualizing everything—even elevator rides! I know it sounds a little wacky, but no more absurd than the motivation behind the Shabbat elevator. You see, observant Jews take God’s command to keep the Sabbath very seriously.

"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates." ~Exodus 20:8-10

So seriously, in fact, that to push an elevator button, or flick a light switch, or even push the remote control for a Saturday World Cup game is considered “work”… and that is offensive to God.

“You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy.” ~Exodus 31:13

So, elevators and lights are put on timers and Gentile friends are asked to come over and push a remote control button or flip a switch when necessary… all in the effort to please the Creator and Redeemer God, YHWH, who delivered the Jews out of the bondage of Egypt. Just think about all that He did to rescue His people from the oppressive grip of Pharaoh. And yet, some 3,400 years later, the Jews hold themselves in bondage—now slaves to elevators, light switches, and the schemes of man trying to gain and maintain righteousness before a Holy God.

Sadly, they have rejected the One Who came to offer His eternal righteousness to them and free them from a life of bondage.

“Then Jesus said to them, ‘The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.’” ~Luke 6:5

This 4th of July weekend, as I reflect on “freedom” and as I have watched another Shabbat come and go, I am praising my Savior for rescuing me from the bondage of sin, as well as the bondage of man-made schemes to attain righteousness. Jesus Christ—the Lord of the Sabbath—has given me a free ride to the top. There is nothing I have done or can do (no button I can push or avoid pushing) to earn His righteousness and His promise of eternal life. It is a gift, offered on the Cross through His blood.

So, are you “going up?” Don’t take the Shabbat elevator. It may promise to lead to freedom, but it always stops at bondage (on every floor!).