Prophets in the Old Testament—Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and the other twelve books from Hosea to Malachi—proclaimed repentance of sins before God and hope of salvation from the hopeless situation and tragic destiny of the Hebrew people. Their message of hope used the concept “The Remnant.” This means that God keeps a small part of his people as seeds for the future even though they are in a hopeless situation with a tragic destiny. Isaiah metaphorically expressed it as a seed and a stump (Isaiah 6:13): “The Remnant” became a symbol for the hope of salvation.
Apostle Paul uses this meaning as well: “There is also at the present time a remnant chosen by grace” (Romans 11:5). Even though most people left God, there are a few people chosen by God. Do not be afraid about the age of apostasy, inhumanity, animality or things. God will use the remnant chosen by grace for his righteousness. In this meaning, Paul used 1 Kings 19:18: “And what was God’s answer to him? ‘I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.’” This was the message of hope for the prophet Elijah who was exhausted through fighting against political power, false prophets and substitute religions.
In the beginning of the new year, I am comforted by Paul’s confession, “There is also at the present time a remnant chosen by grace.” I am also a remnant chosen by the grace of Jesus. I hear Jesus’s voice in Matthew 7:13-14: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” All of us in St. Mark’s are the remnant chosen by the grace of Jesus. Let us continue following Jesus, listening to the heavenly voice saying “I love you; I am well pleased with you” (Mark 1:11).
– Rev. Yong Sub Sim
Image by HerbertGeorg on Pixabay.
