Remnants

Have you ever felt alone, even  sitting among hundreds of other people in church? I have. There's a reason for that and it's not you. It might be because . . . you're a remnant.

The most beautiful things can be made out of absolute discarded things. Bits and pieces of metal can be turned into valuable sculptures. Scraps of wood can be made into beautiful furniture. And old faded fabric remnants can be turned into a beautiful quilt. Each one of God's children is capable of turning into something special. How? By becoming exactly what God created His church to be. A beautiful quilt made out of remnants.

A remnant is defined as "a small remaining quantity of something." The Bible says that there will be a remnant of believers in the last days. It kind of feels like those "last days" are happening right now, doesn't it?

I heard a radio talk show this week about the Remnant Church and Remnant Believers. It inspired me to write this story. If the following sounds familiar to you, perhaps YOU are one of the remnant.

What Is A Remnant Believer?

1. Remnant Believers are people longing for a "solid" church and a pulpit that will address issues of the day as well as the nearness of the Lord's return. A remnant believer wants a church that will not fear offending with the truth and that certainly will confront apostasy.
2. Remnant Believers have offended friends and family simply by telling them the truth of our times or for sharing information that is relevant to our time. This will often bring on mocking and scoffing. At the least it results in irritated indifference and this does not daunt a remnant believer and does not keep them quiet.
3. Remnant believers will travel across town or across country to attend events that present information about which the church is silent.
4. Remnant Believers often feel isolated and misunderstood even though they have the truth and the nay-sayers, quite frankly, are clueless.
5. Remnant Believers see our times darkening but remain enthusiastic that this is but a herald of His coming, not signs of doom and gloom.
6. When a remnant believer finds someone who is of kindred spirit, frankly it is like discovering a gold mine.
7. Such believers often had a very solid church but it went haywire. A little leaven can in, it ruined the whole loaf, then they began a long journey searching for a new church which may take years. In some cases decades.
8. Very often these believers approach their church leadership to talk to them about these things but they are usually shut out.

Is that you? Have you ever experienced any of these things? ALL of these things? If you are a remnant believer, take heart. You are one of the few.

The first church I belonged to as a new believer was wonderful, at first. I was excited and began to grow. But then I read the Bible and began to examine both myself and the church. The more I read God's Word the more I found the church lacking. Teachings contrary to the Word of God began to sneak in. I was really troubled by what was going on yet most of its members thought everything was acceptable. Normal. I eventually left after being unsuccessful in my Bible-based efforts in front of the church council.

The world is filled with different faiths, different denominations, but there is only ONE "Church." THEE church. The bride of Christ. The Remnant. I hope you are one.

13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." - Matthew 7: 13-14

The Loneliness of The Remnant Believer - Jan Markell