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The Last Day Remnant
There are so many voices in the Christian world these days which are talking about being a part of God’s Last Day “Remnant” in the Church at large, you can hardly keep up with them all. Just look up the word “Remnant” on the Internet and you will pull up every thing from fringe Apostate Protestant Gentiles to Zionist Messianic Jews. There are also Charismatic and Catholic Remnant groups, Mormon Remnant groups and every other cult you can imagine, all claiming to hold a key of knowledge as belonging to and being a part of God’s Last Day “Remnant” Church. There are other groups out there as well which call themselves: “Over Comers” but they follow men who claim to be “The Sign of Jonah” or even “The Voice” of some last day Forerunner. And while these men are very dangerous deceivers, we dare not label every one who claims to be a part of God’s Last Day Remnant as being a dangerous cult. There are many Biblically sound groups out there whose very existence as being an “Overcoming Remnant” is actually a result of, and a reaction to the very deplorable state that the Christian world at large is in and their coming out from amongst the religious world to stand for the truth against all that is false is what constitutes them as being God’s Last Day Remnant Church.
Yet having said that, we must understand that though there might be many hundreds of true Remnant fellowships or even tens of thousands of true Remnant Over Comers scattered across the world, they become a precious few and indeed a minority when compared to the overall majority of those heretic groups which use names like “Remnant” and “Over Comer” to describe themselves. That is why I find it very needful to warn you against certain errors which are now more seductive and dangerous than ever to the true Remnant Over Comer. For none other than Jesus Himself warned us that many would seek to enter into His kingdom but would not be able; Therefore, it is imperative that we press forward to enter in at the strait gate through all those misleading guides and counterfeits clamoring at the entrance who would hinder and stop us just short of entering in.
A Gate Called Strait
“Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” Luke 13:23-24
“The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.” Luke 16:16
A Gate Called Strait I was given a vision - of a narrow way gate And written above - there was a sign called Strait
Before this gate - there were souls all around Pressed into a mass - they seemed to abound
They stood back to back - and shoulder to shoulder Blocking the gate - some were young and some older
They pressed and they pushed - against one another Each one held their own key - diverse from the others
Some carried their Bibles - and books in their bags Some poured forth their healing oils - on to prayer cloths and rags
Some held their degrees - so proudly in hand Some stood before extravagant Church houses - built upon sand
Some bore huge Crosses - draped over their backs Some passed out newsletters - fliers and tracts
Some carried signs - some shouted to preach Some waved their banners - some stood to teach
Some ran in circles - while others stood still Some gave Psychological Counseling - prescribing out pills
Some laughed out of control - and staggered like drunks Some fell backward unconscious - as if they were punched
Some bowed before statues - and prayed with their beads Some never stopped trying - to meet every one's needs
Some jumped and danced - some played and skipped Some feed the poor - and prayed over the sick
Some played their instruments - of music with joy Some welded swords - as if they were toys
Some attacked others - making them fall Some told funny stories - bringing laughter to all
Some there were parents - some were just kin Some were the parent's grown children - some were good friends
Some were teen girls - and some were teen boys Some stood by quiet - while the others made noise
Some there were women - some there were men And they all had one thing in common - they all sought to get in
Yet before this Strait Gate - where I beheld this multitude stand I couldn't help but to notice - that so few actually got in
Not one soul got in - with pomp or with pride Only those who loved Jesus - and who themselves they denied
Only those who were made poor - and who for Jesus were dejected Only those slandered for Christ - who walked alone and rejected
For some of them crawled - just to get inside the gate They were stepped on and trampled - with contempt and great hate
Some of them were tempted - with divers’ strange lust Yet they resisted their tempters - being filled with disgust
Some others marched forward - only in sin to fall Yet they stood again by God's grace - as upon the Name of Jesus they called
Repenting they marched onward - against the shame of their sins Enduring the contradictions of sinners - and the accusations of men
Some were stripped bare - of all the material possessions they had Yet they did not turn back - and they refused to be sad
Some had to fight hard - to break through their own families and friends For they sought to dissuade them - from entering on in
Some were Apostles – and some were Prophets of Power Some were Evangelist and Pastors - who refused to be cowards
Some were Holy Street Preachers - who labored unknown Some were the Righteous who died - for Christ’s sake alone
Saved by God’s Grace through true Faith - these few made it in And they all had one thing in common - they all overcame Self, Satan and Sin
Some were battered and beaten - as they were verbally stoned Yet as they entered the Gate - they beheld God on His Throne
Some entered in fighting the good fight - only to give forth a sigh Some entered in joyfully - while others in brokenness cried
These Called, Chosen and Faithful - had taken the kingdom by force Because they had to press and fight through - the whole way of the course
Yet at long last they had found - the Strait Gate to be opened for them For they pressed through all the gate keepers - until they finally got in
And as they arose - on the Strait Gate's other side They knew they were home - and never again would they die. © 2000 Raymond Bolton Pena
“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” Matthew 11:12-15 Though the Articles and Poetic Contemplations on this Website are copyrighted, you are most welcome to make printed copies for free distribution only according to these conditions: You must copy them in their entirety, including the copyright notice at the end of each poem along with this notice of permission. Thank You. RemnantLifeMinistries.Net <<<<{{{{((((((((R.L.M.)))))))}}}}>>>> |