Having just graduated from college, I was young, overly confident, and ready to make my mark in the world. I wanted to move away from my small hometown as quick as possible, but Sister Pat seemed intent on raining on my parade. As time went on, things did not turn out as I expected. I was disappointed, in my feelings, and I didn’t want to hear from Sister Pat, but she kept calling. “Why weren’t you in Bible Study? God has a plan for your life. I’ll be looking for you next Tuesday.” Well, when next Tuesday rolled around, Sister Pat would call me in the morning to make sure I hadn’t forgot. Then, she’d phone me in plenty of time before Bible Study to swing by and pick me up if needed. This was in case I’d try to use “no transportation” as an excuse. Sister Pat was on me like white on rice for months. Even when I gave up on myself, she never gave up on me.
Some would say that there aren’t many people left like Sister Pat, but I’m not so sure about that. In Ephesians 5:25-26, God teaches us about His standard for how a husband should love his wife. A man’s devotion and love for his spouse should equal the love that Christ has for his body, the church. Verse 26 says that Christ sacrificed his life as an offering for our sins to make his body holy and cleansed with the washing of water by the Word. Ephesians 5:27(NLT) says, “He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.” Not only does Ephesians 5:25-27 school us about the accomplishment of Jesus Christ on the cross, but it tells us about the future. God’s Word declares that as time progresses, we will increase in His love and abound in Christ. If God Word says it, then it must be so.
Two thousand years ago, people didn’t have a thorough understanding of the overwhelming victory that Jesus Christ won for us. They couldn’t envision the Bible being at our fingertips the way it is today. It’s not too big of a stretch to think they couldn’t have imagined the enormous number of believers that have given their lives to Christ since he walked the face of the earth. We’ve grown tremendously, increasing in the knowledge of God’s Word and living powerfully by His Holy Spirit.
God’s Word tells us that Christ is coming back for a glorious church! This is not a building or a religion. The glorious church is the body of Christ! It’s those that are his true disciples and are deeply devoted to God. Ephesians 5:27 is proof that the body of Christ is being purified and washed. This is going on right now. God is pruning us and weeding out those who are not the real deal. Christ is coming for those whose hearts are loyal to God, and we will be holy and without fault, as God’s Word declares!
2Thessalonians 2:3-4(NLT) says, “3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” Through the Apostle Paul, God tells us that under no uncertain terms should we be deceived, the Day of the Lord—the Great Tribulation will not come until the falling away occurs. This ‘falling away’ takes place after the rapture, when Christ gathers his ecclesia, the church. Those that have not devoted themselves to God through Christ will be left behind.
We are witnessing the setting of the stage for 2Thessalonians 2:3-4, because we see so many people allowing their hearts and minds to be captured by the world. It’s a terrible and sad thing, but should the Lord tarry, the Good News is that there is still time to get right with him. But we must be clear, there is very definitely an urgency, and Sister Pat understood it.
She knew that we have a dastardly enemy who is a thief that looks to steal the Word from people’s hearts and blind their minds. She understood her authority in Christ, and she stood upon it in the battle for my life. She would not allow satan to snatch the seed of God’s Word that she had sowed into me. She prayed for and with me. Undeterred by my resentment, apathy, and flat-out rudeness at times, Sister Pat paid my non-sense no mind and pursued me as if I was her great treasure. I was her fruit, and the Lord confirmed it to her continually. Her mission was always to speak into my spirit man. Sister Pat was confident that her persistence would help my soul catch up to the destiny that my spirit knew would come to pass.
Is there someone that needs you to be their “Sister Pat”? You can be assured there most definitely is. Jesus Christ said in John 15:16(NLT), “You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.” Our mission is clear. It is to grow more perfect in God’s love and to live like Jesus while we’re here on this earth. We’re to produce lasting fruit for God’s Kingdom, and He would not tell us to do something that we’re not equipped to do. We can encourage those in our everyday environment. We can choose to be positive about God’s promises rather than doubtful. We can sow a seed in our children’s and family member’s lives and be tenacious about helping that seed to flourish.
Our Heavenly Father rewards us for being obedient to fulfill our destinies in Christ on earth, and it is important for us to understand that we’re also being prepared by Him for what comes next. We may not often witness the unabashed tenacity of Sister Pat, but we must be clear that we can demonstrate her same level of commitment to Christ, and because of God’s love, we can do so much more.■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“Holy and Cleansed by God’s Word” written by Reverend Fran Mack, edited by Kim Times, for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2022. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord!