Have you ever thought of what it means to be a remnant? A remnant is defined as what is left behind or what remains after a cutting or a catastrophe. You may think of remnant squares at a fabric store that are the little remaining bits of cloth that aren’t big enough to make anything on it’s own, but when used with other pieces, can form a beautiful masterpiece. The people that remain, usually a significantly smaller group than what it originally was, after a takeover or a disaster or catastrophe is also referred to as a remnant. The Israelites that remained after they were conquered time and again were often referred to as a remnant. After Israel’s captivity under King Cyrus, a remnant of Israelite people were sent back to rebuild their city and the temple. And, after the Gospel was opened up to people outside of God’s chosen people, Israel, the remnant became the believers that continue to believe and declare God’s glory.
When I started thinking of ideas for my new book and series, Heart of God, I wanted to have some sort of secret group or society that has been protecting the history of God for centuries. I went through several name ideas for the group as I was shaping the group in my mind long before I even put pen to paper and started fleshing out these ideas, but listening to one of Francine Rivers historical fiction books, A Voice in the Wind, the idea of The Remnant came to mind. Her book takes place in ancient Rome during it’s decline when many of God’s people were being ruthlessly slaughtered or sent in as gladiators or sentenced to absolutely horrific deaths, and though I didn’t get a chance to finish it, when the Roman soldiers come into an Israelite home to take them captive or kill them, the sister is reminded by her brother that God always said He would leave a remnant, and that idea really stuck out to me.
If you think about how many artifacts have been discovered that point to those times, it is incredible to think or imagine that things have been so preserved through the centuries. When any artifacts are discovered, it proves that things from history are true and gives us a picture into those times. It connects us to a world outside of our time that we can really only imagine. It makes the stories in the history books we read in school real and alive.
Even more so, things that point to specific stories and moments in the Bible are so much more significant than any other artifacts discovered in the world. We live in a world that is so set on denying God’s existence. Denying His handiwork in creating and forming the world and every person and cell and plant and animal. Denying His presence in our world and our lives. Denying His sacrifice on the cross. Denying anything and everything about Him, His character, and His History. That’s why it is so incredible when artifacts emerge that show His existence throughout history and bring the stories in the Bible to life.
As much as Satan and the world as a whole tries to deny or snuff out God’s existence, He and His truth will always shine through, no matter what. As long as this earth exists, there will always be someone to cry out the truth about God. There will always be a group of people left after the catastrophic destruction of God’s image and His people. There will always be something that points to the presence and truth of God, and nothing and no one can ever snuff it out completely. There will always be a remnant that remains faithful.
No matter how many people groups and nations have tried to destroy or eliminate or enslave God’s people, Israel, they have never been extinguished. And, as much as God promised a remnant throughout the ages in His chosen people before His Son came to the earth and tore the veil of separation between ALL people and God, giving ALL humans access to God, there is still a remnant of grace in His followers and His believers that will continue to survive and shine a light into this world that reflects God’s love. He will NOT be silenced and His people will continue to stand strong and do their best to point others to Him with their lives.
It was a fun idea to come up with a “secret” group that has been preserving and protecting the history of God and His people for my series. In some ways, even though there may not have been an actual group like this, there has been a Remnant throughout the ages that has passed down God’s Word and His stories generation to generation, and in a miracle that can exist within the person of God, His Word has not changed over the many centuries that it has existed and the same words He spoke to Moses when He had him pen the first five books of the Bible are the same words we are able to read in our Bible’s today. The same with David and Isaiah and Jeremiah and Luke and John and Paul. God’s History has always been perfectly and miraculously preserved since the beginning of time and it is thanks to His guiding hand and Spirit in the lives of those who were preservers and protectors of His Story that we can still know about this God today. So, maybe there has been a Remnant all along. A Remnant in each of the dedicated parents and teachers who passed down the stories and His truths throughout history. A Remnant in each of the people who lost their lives because they refused to deny the name and person of their Creator God. A Remnant in each person who meticulously penned and copied and translated each jot and tittle of God’s Word throughout the centuries and continue to do so to put His Word in the language of so many people groups around the world so that they too, can know the truth.
God promised He would ALWAYS leave a Remnant. We all have a choice to acknowledge or deny Him, but our choice will not determine or dissuade His presence or being or existence. No matter how many deny it or refuse to believe it, there will always be a remnant of people who will stand up for Him, whether we choose to join them or not.
God said He would always leave a Remnant. Will you be a part of it?
Ashley Beach-Author and Storyteller 