The Martian Manhunter and the Apostle Paul both find themselves among the last surviving members of their race. The alien's brother succeeded in his attempts in destroying all life on Mars. And, Paul's chosen people neglected to heed the bearer of their salvation. No amount of fantasy or disillusionment will ever bring back those who have fallen away, dead, lost forever.
"I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ
for the sake of my brothers,
my kinsmen according to the flesh.
They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh is Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen."
There was a promise set in place long before Paul's time. It was a promise to his people, a promise of salvation, redemption, and reunion with God. He wishes that his brothers would be able to know this... to believe that... JESUS CHRIST IS THE ANSWER TO THE PROMISE. He would give up his own life, his own salvation, his own relationship with Christ... if only his brothers could know Him.
"But it is not as though the word of God has failed...
It is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring..." Since the Israelites have denied the flesh of God incarnate, they renounce His promise. They cannot remain as His children.
But, those who cling to His promise can. His word in His covenant remains true.
“There is a remnant, chosen by grace…”
We are this remnant.
"What shall we say then?
Is there injustice on God's part?
By no means!
... Who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, 'Why have you made me like this?'
Has the potter no right over the clay..."
Wherever we find ourselves today, we have been molded. We didn't know it. We were totally unaware. But, God has shaped us for this point in our lives and he continues to shape us.
He shaped His chosen people. He chose to shape His Royal Priesthood out of both Jews and Gentiles, men and women, slave and free.
But, this shaping comes at a cost. Franzmann says, now in Christ is "the manifestation of the righteousness of God... not merely the continuation of God's previous revelation; it is the culmination, and it brings a revolutionary change.... The old line drawn by the Law between Jew and Gentile is gone.... [Yet,] there was an Israel which could not join in the exultant joy... an Israel for whom Paul mourned.... Paul can speak of Israel as Christ spoke, in sorrow and in anguish of heart." p 164-167.
The bad eggs were thrown into the trash because of the stench of their unbelief.
We would do anything to have them back.
We would give ourselves, our lives, our souls...
But, we can't.
We can only go forward.
But, we have learned.
We have been molded.
We know the cost at stake.
And, even when we disagree... When we are at war with this new race... this Christian body that we have become a Baptized member of (not just a denomination)... We remember our molding... We remember the point of this whole thing.
Do we feel very strong?
Or, very scared?
Are we running for our lives?
Or, safe and strong on top of the world?
The answer is "Yes."
And, we have no choice but to pray.
To give ourselves into God's hands,
To cling onto Christ's pierced side,
To be molded again and again,
strengthened and formed,
taking shape.
He will not finish until He sees Himself in us.
Have faith that we will never lose sight of Him.
*** The Bible passages were from Romans 9:1-24 & 11:5-6.
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