REMNANT

REMNANT

The “Remnant” was a term used for the Jewish people that were taken to Babylon and seventy years later returned to rebuilt Jerusalem and the nation of Israel. The remnant remained the hope for a Jewish people after Rome dissolved their State. Do we have a similar remnant in the U.S.A. that can bring hope to this nation? Many of us are quick in pointing to Evangelical Christians as a possible remnant. This is doubtful because Evangelicals have not been involved enough in the survival of this nation. They have been too “other-worldly” to be taken elsewhere and then be brought back to rebuild this nation.

There was a time when the message of hope went forth and this nation heard and responded. It was not as a remnant but as a stranger when it turned to God. It became the envy of the world and the Creator blessed it immensely. Even when the people became disobedient and obstinate to His laws, the Almighty kept holding out His hands (Romans 10:18-21). But like both Israel nations and the one in Jesus’ day: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes so they could not see and ears so they could not hear, to this very day,” (Romans 11:8). “Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I (Jesus) would heal them” (Matthew 13:15b). The people did not turn to Jesus and Rome ended the Jewish state. Isaiah’s people vanished and the holy seed became a stump in the land (Isaiah 6:9-13). What shall be this nation’s end or revival?

The Bible does not give us much hope without the Hebrew-Christian God and Jesus. According to Jesus, the message God gave to Moses and the prophets is as valid today as it was when it was given (Luke 16:29). We cannot separate Jesus from Moses or the prophets as our correct politicians and clergy are doing (John 5:39-47). Jesus also predicted that another would come and offer false hope and it shall be accepted (John 5:43). Without the message of Christ, we have no hope. That is the primary reason why the anti-Christian forces are so adamant against the Bible and specifically against the name of Jesus. It is incomprehensible to them that God will not deal with us but through His Son (John 5:19-23). And it does not matter what we want to believe, it does not alter the claim of Jesus that the way to God is through Him (John 14:6).

There is hope in Christ only. As long as we have breath and are willing to amend our ways by repenting and returning to godliness, we have a chance to be saved. Individuals and nations have done so. The Bible and History are filled with examples. Unfortunately there are more examples where men and nations refused to accept redemption and suffered the consequences. North Africa and the Middle East were once Christian strongholds. Now Europe and America are hanging on a spider’s web. Where is the hope going to come from? It was when Jesus was about to be crucified that he told his followers that he had other sheep, other than Jews (John 10:16). Then the Risen Christ sent his followers to other nations to make disciples (John 10: 16; Matthew 28:19). The other sheep were the Greeks, whose language would become the vehicle for spreading the Gospel (John 12:20-32). Jesus promised that they would come from East and West and fill his great banquet hall. Strangely absent shall be those that took God and salvation for granted. In fact, when they shall have the audacity to show up, they shall be removed forcefully (Matthew 8:10-12).