At the last online bible study (Remnant 1) we started by reading the preface of the book. Isaiah 1:9 was read; ”Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.” This remnant preserves the Earth until the Day of The Lord, and is the salt (a preservative) referred to in Matt 5:13. The Father assembles the remnant with His call of grace. Paul says he was called from his motherʼs womb by the grace of God. Titus 2:11 states that the grace of God has appeared unto all men. Therefore all are called, but only a remnant respond.
Life is similar to a poker game with the Heavenly Father being the dealer. The cards are dealt to each one of us. Each of us have different hands based on the quality of the cards we hold. Each hand represents our lives. Some are dealt what we might consider good hands and others are dealt poor hands. On the surface we might think that the good hands are more desirable and reflect Godʼs favor, but thatʼs not so. We forget God is the dealer and He has a hand as well. Unbeknownst to us the Lord has a royal flush which cannot be beat. Those who have a poor hand are quicker to fold not needing to see the Lordʼs cards. Matt 5:3-6, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Whereas those who hold a good hand, being pleased with the cards dealt to them, tend to hold out to the bitter end. In 1 Cr 1:26 it states, “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.”
Once we fold our hand we are able to sit beside the Lord and watch the remainder of the game play out. Upon moving to His side, we that have folded begin to see His cards. His hand, being a royal flush, represents His love which never fails. The more of His cards we see, the more we encourage the other players to fold. Some fold believing our words, others scoff being pleased with the cards they hold.
As the hand continues to play out, we continue to see the Fatherʼs cards in fullness, and as we peer at His cards we begin to take on His nature. This can happen only because we folded the hand we were dealt (this is wisdom). We canʼt see His cards until we fold our own. This “seeing of the cards” is the understanding of His ways. The glory of His hand shows in our faces. As in 1 John 3:2 refers, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” The knowledge of the Father fills us with His nature. As His nature begins to manifest in our lives, the more convinced the other players become of the unbeatable hand of the Father, thus folding their hands as well and joining the remnant. Those that play out the hand to the end “go all in” depleting their soul. The remnant folded earlier, therefore their souls arenʼt totally depleted but are transformed by the renewing of their mind as they present their bodies Bible Study – Remnant 1 a living sacrifice. This sanctifies their soul and manifests the life of Christ in their flesh (Gal 2:20). This is needful so that the Fatherʼs hand can be revealed through them in the end for all to see. 2 Thes 1:7-10 speaks of this; “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe…” We that have already folded should have compassion on the unbelievers, as thereʼs no telling if we might have played out their cards any differently.