Ephesians 4: 5 – 6 One Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Paul is speaking to believers – those who have been called to follow Christ. It is a call to unity in belief and purpose.  If you are a believer consider yourself as one ‘called’ – Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:44). But for you to live the life to which you have been called means you need to have absolute clarity about the one in whom you have faith – the Father, Son and Holy Spirit – the Trinity. This is the God of the Bible and he reigns as Sovereign over the whole earth. He created it and he has not relinquished control of it to anyone. The fact that there is chaos now is the clearest evidence of humanity’s rebellion – the desire to have our own way. But he is being patient with us.

In Old Testament times, the prophet Zechariah was given a message to both warn and encourage the children of Israel. He warned them that they were to listen to God’s word as proclaimed by the prophets before him in order to avoid judgment.  He encouraged them to cherish their relationship with God and not become disheartened in their efforts to rebuild the temple because God had long-term plans for them as a nation. There was hope for them because of the promised Messiah and the special relationship which God had covenanted with them. It is not over for Israel. Zechariah chapter 14 tells us about the day of the Lord when “The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name.” (Verse 9)   Through this same Messiah, Christians have been called into a special relationship with God and his promise that Christ will return for his bride is our eternal hope. There will be a new and different order to everything. The Holy Spirit reminds us:

“Only the Living God can bring these things to pass. He will reign supreme over his creation. Finally the Lord God will set up his kingdom of which there shall be no end. And as he has assured us all along, every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that He is Lord of all. Men from every tribe and nation, kings or paupers, everyone shall bow. Let there be no mistake or doubt, the Lord God will turn the order of earth upside down. His measuring rod will be his Word which though men have ignored it in time, will be the standard of judgment for all eternity. It will not fail says the Lord.”