What questions did I tell you we seek to answer?
What is ahead for this “world”? And what part will the “church” play?
As we lengthen our eschatological timeline and consider all the players, let’s have a quick and important refresher: to whom are we referring when we speak of the ‘church’? (If necessary, see p. 143)
“the body of believers”
Please read [Romans 11:33-36] and write in your own words Paul’s conclusion to the problem of understanding Israel, and the church.
“Wow, God is wise and hard for humans to understand. We can’t think like He can or give Him any new ideas. He deserves all glory.”
What about you? Do these words from Romans fall fresh on you today? Why?
“They beautifully and poetically remind me of how great and glorious He is and of why I should try harder to focus my energy on serving Him.”
What does this segment suggest about God‘s continuing concern and plans for Israel?
“He still loves them and has big plans for them in the future.”
Dearest Rachel –
Well, this was a short lesson for you to fill in on this particular day; considering that this was nearing the end of the week, I’ll wager you were grateful for the limited need for answers here. At the same time, there’s not a whole lot for me to comment on as a result, making this a rather short missive overall.
Even the topic of His plans for us feels like a bit of a moot point, as you’re past any plans God might have had for you at the time. Your race is over now, and whatever service you might have rendered Him is long since over and done with, as you rest – or do whatever is meant for you – in the mansion prepared for you in His presence. As always, I wish I understood what that was like, but there’s no means for you to communicate about it to those of us left behind.
Meanwhile, the more I see of life, the more I realize that our imaginations are woefully inadequate to grasp what it all might be like. Even the prophecies for the world we live in are hard to wrap our minds around; who is involved in what aspect of the process, and what it might look like when put into motion. As you put it while paraphrasing Paul, we can’t think like God – and as He has given us our minds, and knows their workings to the last neuron, the very thought of our being able to give him ideas borders on the ridiculous. What can we imagine that He’s not capable of surpassing, whether here and now, or in the hereafter?
Still, there are times when I wish that He would speak to us more clearly, rather than in the veiled references and puzzling images. It would give us a better idea of what direction and actions to take, in order to follow His plan that much better, don’t you? And since He’s well aware of our limited mental capacity, you’d think He’d take that into account, and make it simple to follow. Given that there’s one “right” path, and a near-infinite branches leading away from it, it would have to be.
And toward that end of staying on it, honey, I’d ask (as usual) that you would keep an eye on me today, and wish me luck staying on it. Even on a day like this, I’m going to need it.
Letters to Rachel 