The Gathering

Ancient Israel was all all about bringing the remaining Jews from exile back into the fold, they wanted to be made whole and would welcome any word the prophet Isaiah had to share about a gathering of God's People. Isaiah indeed did have such a message but it didn't end where they supposed: "The Sovereign Lord declares---he who gathers the exiles of Israel: “I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered'" (Isa 56:8).

Israel's picture of who God included in His Kingdom and theirs were not parallel. They included those who were cut of the same cloth as themselves but they did not realize that their cloth was but a square on the larger quilt of God's gathering. Their were many other squares which God would sew together: "And foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be his servants...these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer...for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations" (vss. 6-7).

God does not intend that just you and yours or me and mine or even us and ours to be included in His House - God's intention is universal in scope for God is "...not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Pet 3:10). God is the Father of all mankind and welcomes all who desire to come home.

The key is God's invitation, the lock is our acceptance. No one is barred from His Kingdom that accepts Hus invitation regardless of race or gender or ethnicity or color or class - all who accept God's invitation are welcome into the Gathering, even though you and I may not recognize them or acknowledge their standing.

That doesn't mean everyone is included into the Gathering for the Word plainly says, "He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God---children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God" (Jn 1:19-13).

While the lock is man's acceptance, the Key is God's call.  If a lock does not accept the key as it is shaped, the key will not turn the lock. God will not force our lock open but if we accept Hus calling, He will open the door and fill us with Hus Spirit. Not only us but all who accept Hus call.  

You and I, as Christians, do not get to decide whose heart God unlocks, that is between them and God. But, we are instruments of God's calling, if we are faithful.  And, through us, God's call and Hus gathering is accomplished - even when we are not fully aware of who that may be. It is not our job to judge - ours is but to witness. God is fully responsible for the gathering.