November 2000

[Part Thirty-seven]

                 In Part Thirty-six of this series, we spoke of God’s “Elect”! Grammatically speaking, this word can be used as a verb [“Who shall we elect as president?”]; as an adjective [“The elect body voted unanimously.”] as a singular noun [“Ann was the teacher’s elect as valedictorian.”] or as a collective noun as in “committee or herd”, [“Only the very elect will be considered for the post.”] God uses this word in Scripture as both noun forms to represent one special Person and His many-membered Body! The one special Person is surely Jesus Christ, Son of God; and His many-membered Body are all who, through their relationship IN HIM, are called sons of God! The Dict. defines this august body as: “A carefully selected people chosen for Eternal Life through Divine Mercy!”
This beautifully-worded definition confirms Scripture’s position that DIVINE SONSHIP comes through no human endeavor whatsoever, but is the singular result of God’s Divine Mercy!! This is why, “God has *concluded (that is, imprisoned, shut up) ALL in UNBELIEF so He could have (extend, demonstrate the greatness of His) MERCY upon ALL!” (Ro 11:32) How wonderful!

[*The word, “conclude”, in today’s language has two other meanings:
1) “assume”(“From the look on the host’s face, we concluded (assumed) the party was over.”
2) “To end, terminate or cut off, even to kill” (“The speaker concluded (ended. terminated, cut off, or killed) his lecture rather abruptly.“ ]

               These added definitions of “conclude” give greater evidence that the state of “unbelief” into which God shut all men, is death! For “To be carnally-minded (which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit- Amplified Version) is death!” (Ro 8:6) This unbelieving mind of flesh might well be called an “Ark of death” for God has enclosed every man inside it until His Divine Mercy releases them!! Just as NOAH and his family were enclosed in an Ark of safety during the flood- so today, God;s manifested sons are being “shut up” in His “ARK OF ETERNAL LIFE”, that is His CHRIST- Who says, “He that is Holy, He that is Truth (Himself), He has the key of David (Key of LOVE); so what He OPENS, no man can shut; and what He SHUTS, no man can open!” (Rev 3:7) For remember, beloveds, it was not Noah who shut the door of his ark, but Gen 7:7 says, “THE LORD SHUT HIM IN”!! Consider this, if Noah knew how to “shut the door” of the ark, he also would have known how to “open the door” and run back out should any fear or doubt suddenly stir up within him or his family! How did Noah know it was time to enter or leave the ark? He heard the Word of the Lord!

First, “The Lord said to Noah, ‘You and all your family, COME INTO THE ARK, for I have seen that you have been righteous before Me in this generation!” (Ge 7:1)

Later “God spoke to Noah saying, ‘You, your wife and sons, and your son’s wives, GO FORTH FROM THE ARK!!” (Ge 8:16)

An Ark has but one primary purpose- to safeguard what is inside, as a treasure chest holds that which is invaluable and irreplaceable! When there exists no more danger of theft or damage, the item can safely be removed and set out in public display for all to appreciate!! And such is the case with God’s Elect! For while this world is still under the influence of their “Evil hearts of unbelief” (He 3:12) no Son of God is safe! The Pharisees sought to slay Jesus before His appointed time, but were prevented from doing so, as He was in the Ark of Anointing! He could never have walked out the three years of Ministry and Miracles had He not been so protected. And so it is with today’s soon-to-be-revealed manifested sons! (Ro 8:19) These Elect also have a divine purpose to fulfill and were they not safely *ensconced in the same “Ark of Anointing” as their Big Brother Jesus, could (if it were possible) be prevented from obeying their high calling!

*Ensconce is the word used by the Holy Spirit here- but then He instructed me to secure its full definition for those unfamiliar with its meaning. Being a member of the older generation, I knew its context, but was joyfully surprised at the treasures hid in this word. Dict. def. “SHELTER, CONCEAL, SETTLE COMFORTABLY BE SNUG WITHIN!” This is from the word “sconce” whose root esconse means: “SCREENED LANTERN” (See: Gideon’s Lamp (or “lantern” Heb 3940) Jg 7:16; but read all of Jg 6-8 for greater understanding). Sconce is defined as: 1) “A group of candlesticks; and 2) “A protective outer cover, a detached defensive work!”

[TO BE CONTINUED]