THE REMNANT

THE REMNANT

Years ago when I raising our daughters, I would have considered myself a skilled seamstress.  I spent countless hours making clothes, doll clothes, crafts, and curtains.  One thing any seamstress will tell you is; you never throw away any remnant.  That remnant (scrap of fabric, lace, elastic or thread) may be just exactly what you need to create a fabulous treasure that could far outweigh what the supplies were purchased for originally.  Even though I rarely sew now I still have a very large supply of remnants, just waiting for me to have a creative unction.  To most people they would consider keeping these remnants, a true waste of storage space. They would think of a remnant as a useless, small insignificant, disposable item.

The fireplace in our house is adorned with “14” stockings.  One of those stockings is my granddaughter Reese’s.  I made her stocking from left over fabric that originally was used to make flower girls dresses for her parents wedding.  Each Christmas this stocking hanging on the fireplace is another reminder of the day Kurt and Leah said; I do.  Another stocking was also made from a remnant and this year it holds a valuable treasure – bunny hoppers #2.  Now that means absolutely nothing to you but to the owner of that stocking it will be a heart warmer. 

When I was a young girl I thought I was insignificant and of no value.  I did not have any special talents; I was very small for my age and the object of teasing.  School was not my forte and I was a “C” student at best.  Certainly if I dropped off the face of the earth no one would notice because I always felt like I was on the outside looking in, hoping for someone to invite me in.  Chances are most of us have felt like this at one time or another despite of how others might perceive us.  We feel like a remnant.

The following quote is taken from an article written by John Wilson called, The Believing Remnant. Preserved and Secure.

            There has always been a remnant since the nation began with Abraham in Genesis 12. We refer to these people as the believing remnant because Romans 9:6-7 says, "...for they are not all Israel, which are of Israel, neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but in Isaac shall Thy seed be called." Throughout Israel's history we see that the majority of this nation was unbelieving, or as God said of them in Romans 10:21, "...a disobedient and gainsaying people." However, there was always the believing few, as Paul states in Romans 11:5: "Even so at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace."

Elijah thought he was the only faithful one left in Israel, yet God said to him, "I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal." In Isaiah's day the number may have been smaller, because Isaiah 1:9 says, "Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and...Gomorrah." Isaiah also prophesied the return of the future remnant during the seven-year tribulation (Isaiah 10:20-22). There are many references to the believing remnant throughout Isaiah and Jeremiah, as there are in the other prophetical books. In the four Gospels we see the believing remnant in those who "...looked for redemption in Jerusalem" (Luke 2:36-38). These would be those like Simeon, Anna, Zacharias and Elizabeth, Mary, John the Baptist and all those who believed God's promises. The Lord referred to them as the little flock, for in Luke 12:32 He said, "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom."

Here are few more scriptures to check out of people written about in the Word of God who were used as a remnant, few in number in their day, but mighty in the hands of God.  These are a people of “light”, an unshakeable foe, unyielding to what circumstances said or say and faithful to the Lord, set apart to radiate the promise of God and His Kingdom.

Jochebed (mother of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam):  Exodus 2:1-10, Exodus 6:20, Numbers 26:59

Elijah:  1 Kings 18, 1 Kings 19:18

Gideon:  Judges 6-8, Heb.11:32

David:  1 Samuel 16:7-13

There was approximately 400 years of silence between the Old Testament and the New Testament………yet the Lord reserved a remnant of faithful believers such as; Simeon, Anna, Zacharias and Elizabeth, Mary and Joseph.

Throughout scripture the Lord has chosen to use people and unlikely things to bring forth His message of good news and that has not changed, even in our day.

Christmas is quickly approaching and it makes me think of what the Lord chose to use as His (the birth of Jesus) story unfolds (a manger – all that was left, swaddling cloth –which is strips of cloth, a remnant) and a handful of willing servants.

1 Corinthians 1:27(NKJV) says:
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 

Last week I went to my grandchildren’s Christmas program.  My grandchildren attend the same school where their Mom (Leah) is a second grade teacher.  The second graders were up on stage to sing their Christmas songs and one of the boys in Leah’s class became fearful and ran off the stage into the secure arms of his teacher (my daughter, Leah).  As I watched this unfold I could not help but think; Leah must have gained the confidence of her students by pouring into their young lives and when fear swept in, that little boy knew just where to go.  This may seem very small or insignificant but who knows what seeds are being planted and what this young boy could grow up to accomplish.  I wonder what Billy Graham’s mother thought as she watched him become the greatest evangelist of our time.  How about the mother who gave birth to James Robison (Life Today show)?  She was a victim of rape who decided to have the baby (James) and give him up for adoption.  Countless stories could be told of remnant believers used in the hands of a mighty God…..

I truly believe God always preserves a remnant in every home, family, neighborhood, city, church, workplace and generation who is not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  They are the lifeline connection for others whereby not only can they hear the good news they can see the good news.

2 Corinthians 2:14-17(NKJV) says:
Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 
For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 
To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? 
For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.

A.W.Tozer said:  What is God trying to do with His believing people?-the Bible calls us a remnant according to grace, believers taken out of the great, teeming swarm of so-called religious people in today's world. I am inclined to join others in wondering if the Lord is postponing His coming because He is trying to get His Bride ready? For years it has been the popular idea in evangelical Christianity that the whole body of believers in Christ would rise like a flock of frightened birds when the Lord comes. But A.B. Simpson and William MacArthur and others in the past generation said, "Oh no! The Lord will take with Him those who are prepared and ready for His coming!" I do not presume to give an answer satisfying to everyone in our churches. But I know that many Christians are too smug about this, saying in effect: "I am converted to Christ through grace, so I can live as I please!" Of some things we cannot be dogmatic; but we know this for sure-God has no halfway house between heaven and hell where He takes us to fumigate us!

"Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom."