Nougat 8

God’s signs come in various forms, so aligned that we ought not miss them. For sure, they may resonate with us at different times and in different ways. I believe that is also the case with the signs of the End Times. Consider today’s Holy Nougat

“If that time weren’t shortened, nobody would be rescued. But for the sake of the ones whom God chose, that time will be cut short.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24‬:‭22‬ ‭CEB‬‬

For the sake of …

Can you imagine, we are so precious to God that God reorganizes time on our behalf. I remember reading this in my younger days and thinking that it would be impossible for us to experience it. Yet shorter days have arrived, with the shortest day presenting itself in June 2022. Ironically, the rotation has shifted course, so that there’s a lengthening of our days once again. (see Earth’s Days Are Getting Longer And No One Really Knows Why | IFLScience https://www.iflscience.com/earths-days-are-getting-longer…) I may have felt the subtle effects on my body but I honestly did not notice.

But this shift is significant. For, how could Jesus naturally predict the shortening of days that would occur at least 2 millennia after His time. This is not about human nature or what will entail in the heavenly space between spiritual beings. Rather, this is like a sign of the Magi. They read the stars and knew that it was the time of the Messiah. Matthew 2 says that they followed the stars which led them to the Babe.

This becomes a matter of importance for us as it reminds us that it is God Who selects the elect. Not us! We don’t get to choose our seat mates for this divinely ordained journey. We can’t exclude or include anyone because of our emotional detachment or attachment.

For the sake of the ‘very elect’ (ie the ones whom God chose) could refer to those who are able to interpret the signs outside of traditional faith beliefs. So those who were not ‘reached’ by the Gospel. This is my own speculation and not a documented hypothesis. What is documented is that The Elect are specially chosen people. Nothing else is concretely clear regarding race, class, theology, gender, politics or even spiritual role.

But we do know that the sign is not arbitrary. And if it is a Sign rather than sole a source of support or protection, then it carries a certain resonance for those people, God’s elect. That introduces the possibility that it is a reminder for the Elect in the season of great suffering. The Gospels present Jesus as a Teacher, who uses a variety of mnemonic aids to jolt the memories and imagination for His plan of Salvation. In preparing the disciples for the Resurrection, Jesus used the sign (mnemonic) of the temple – destroy this temple, I’ll rise it up in three days. While they didn’t grasp the concept at the moment, they got it afterwards.

On a final note, there’s a school of thought that since Jesus is described as God’s Chosen, which by extension means the elect, He is the first fruit of God’s elect. If we stretch that argument to include Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer in St John 17; then we know that for the sake of the elect refers to that covenant concerning those whom Jesus has chosen. Our single task is to make our calling and election sure.

I believe that when we are aligned, God does the rest, for the sake of the very elect, Jesus Christ. May we remain aligned.

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May all we seek be found in Christ