Remnant:[ rem-nuhnt ]; noun
I learned the word remnant as a little girl while accompanying my mother in search of bargains at the fabric store. To me it was like a textile treasure hunt, searching through various colors, patterns and material until we’d find exactly what we wanted for the purpose that we needed. Last year, my newly-retired-and-needing-a-project husband witnessed the fun firsthand as we combed through cloth in hopes of locating the perfect print to re-cover an old chair. (If you know me, you can imagine my delight when my search led me to a banged-up bolt of canvas covered with birds). There it was, placed exactly where I needed for the purpose that I wanted—a remnant. My remnant. I love it so much, it’s hard to believe that the word refers to unwanted cloth at the end of a bolt, and that synonyms include: remains, scraps, left over, fragment and residue.
It makes me wonder—what warrants placement in the remnant bin? Maybe the background of the broadcloth was too busy. Or the denim was damaged from being mishandled. Or the linen lost its luster from being exposed to outside elements. Or perhaps the suede sat so long unselected, it’s simply out of style. Wrong color, wrong size, wrong look—or just, wrong. Whatever the reason, because someone decided a particular piece or pattern wasn’t right, the worth of the remnant was reduced. And the fabric, singled out and separated.
It’s as if being separate means a separation of significance.
Goodness gracious, do I ever know what it feels like to be the remnant. And something tells me you do, too.
You, with the “busy” background in the fabric of your life as a result of choices in the past. Ones made by you—or for you. And you, with the beautiful broken heart that’s been damaged after years of being mishandled. Also, you, with your luster lessened by outside elements of insensitive, ignorant words spoken by someone that crushed your sweet spirit. Or you, there, feeling as unwanted as out-of-style suede simply because you don’t look like, sound like, or act like other people—you know, too. Any one of these scenarios can make a person consider themselves a living, breathing remnant synonym: Misfit. Outcast. Less Than. Left.
Between the pandemic, politics and the powers and principalities of this world (Ephesians 6:12) we’ve encountered over the last year, the struggle is real. If we’re made to think we’re the wrong color, wrong size, wrong look, or just plain wrong enough times, we’ll begin to believe we’re insignificant—like fragments of fabric. We’ve been isolated from people and by them, so Satan wants us feeling lonely, left out and left over. Forgotten by friends and family, and worse—by Father God. We, as a nation have been as divided as damaged denim and as Believers we’ve been separated like swatches of suede that’s been relegated to the remnant bin.
But oh, Sweetest One, being separate does not mean a separation of significance—not according to Jesus.
Far from it.
In Zephaniah 2:12, God says, “I will leave as a remnant in your city a people humble and meek who take refuge in the name of The Lord.” Do you see that, Sweet Friend? The kind of “leaving” that God does is deliberate. We’re not left behind—we’re assigned! Throughout history, Father God has always, always had a remnant—the faithful ones He sets aside specifically for His holy purpose. He strategically places His people exactly where we’re needed to accomplish the plans that He wanted. So, the city you live in, the people you live with, the job you have—even the fact that you’re alive during this exact time in history—especially in a pandemic—is all intentional.
"’Remnant’ has a special significance denoting ‘a holy seed,’ or spiritual kernel, of the nation which should survive and become the gem of the people of God, being blessed of God and made a blessing.” – The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
A remnant are those whom God preserves after a catastrophe—weather, warfare, disaster or disease. Examples include: Noah and his family after the flood, Lot’s family after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the Israelites who were delivered from captivity in Egypt and the remnant of them that entered the Promised Land in Canaan, those that believed and followed Jesus separate from those who held fast to their religion and rejected Him—and you and me. If you’re reading this, you’ve survived the catastrophe that was 2020. That means The Lord has chosen you to be His remnant. And with that choice comes responsibility.
When God’s people repeatedly turned their back on Him after chance after chance to return, eventually He allowed them to be taken to Babylon to live as exiles for seventy years. And all along, The Father’s plan was for a remnant of them to return home to Jerusalem. But first, He gave specific instructions as they lived in Babylon found in Jeremiah chapter 29. His children were to be a reflection of Him to the people that surrounded them in everyday life. Just as God had an assignment for His children then, He does for us today as well in our own modern-day Babylon. Over the next few weeks, we’ll examine The Father’s message for His remnant while they waited for Him to deliver them, because it speaks to us as we wait for a move from Him, too.
There are three things The Remnant is to display in the waiting: Righteousness, Refuge and Redemption.
Righteousness: In the definition above, the remnant is referred to as the gem of the people of God. In Zechariah 9:16, those set apart by God are called sparkling jewels in a crown that shines in the land that we live. We’re supposed to stand out, but never, ever stand-offish. We’re to pursue right living—walking in obedience to Christ—while we show His love to everyone around us. Our lives should cause those that God has placed around us to see His beauty in us and want to know who He is to us. So, to you, with the dazzling personality—you were intentionally created to look differently, sound differently, and act differently. You are a bright, brilliant beacon in a dark and dismal world. So, shine with the glorious radiance that is Jesus, Beautiful One. You were literally made for it.
Refuge: My son-in-law Austin recently said that he believes more than ever, the world is looking to The Church (as in, Believers)—during these days marked by fear and uncertainty. He says “if they see we’re okay, they’ll know everything’s gonna be okay.” Sweetest One, your heart isn’t damaged—it’s been strengthened. When a bone is broken, once healed, it becomes stronger than it was before the break. Father God takes what’s been mishandled in your heart and carefully, lovingly restores, remakes and reshapes your strength (Psalm 34:18). Through this, you can stand firm, speak truth, and tell searching friends and family of the hope that can only be found in Christ. It’s your heart that He uses to help the hopeless find their home in Him.
Redemption: Since the beginning, when sin separated creation from Creator, He always had a plan for all mankind that continues still, today. You see, then—and now—deep within His remnant lies redemption.
Redemption: it means to redeem; through purchase, ransom or rescue. To deem is to consider or assign value. So then, to redeem is to buy back or to set free something—or someone—that’s of great value to you.
We have been redeemed through the precious blood of Christ. He purchased our freedom once for all time (1 Peter 3:18). But with every rescue, we can say that we’re (re)redeemed. God delivers us from strongholds and sets us free when we fall into the traps of the enemy (2 Corinthians 10:3-4, Colossians 1:13-14). He forgives our sin without condemnation (Romans 8:1) and chooses to remember them no more. (Psalm 103).
Do you know what this means for the one with the “busy” background in the fabric of our life? The past stays in the past, where it belongs. Precious Remnant, you are so loved by a God who sees you! All and every part of you. There is nothing about you that doesn’t belong. The gorgeous colors of your background paint a portrait of exquisite grace that only enhances your worth. You are of great value to Jesus, and He will redeem—and (re)redeem every single time, for you are His redemption reflection. The very picture of the goodness of God.
We as God’s remnant are so very blessed, and because of that, we’re to be a blessing. To display to a watching world who Jesus is and to demonstrate His love through our past, our pain, and our personalities. Your past has purpose—someone in your sphere of influence needs to hear your story. Your pain has purpose, too—your heartache will be used to minister to another hurting heart that’s begging to be whole again. And your personality—you are exactly who God designed you to be, and He assigns your worth, not anyone else. Just like my remnant of beautiful bird fabric, you’re exactly where you’re needed for the purpose that God wanted.
Beautiful, Chosen Remnant, you are not now, nor have you ever been, set aside—you’ve been set apart.
“At the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.” – Romans 11:5
