THE CHURCH AGE: CIRCA A.D. 30 TO "ANY DAY NOW!"

I may not be correct, but I truly believe that God has, by His grace, given "light" (understanding) to every man.  The Apostle Paul stated that the very creation was a witness to God's glory (Rom. 1:18-22).  Luke was more specific when he quoted Simeon as saying:  "For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation (the baby Jesus), which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel" (Lk. 2:30-32).  The Apostle John wrote, "The same (John, the Baptizer) came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light (Jesus - Jn. 8:12), that all men through Him might believe.  He (John) was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light (Jesus).  That (Jesus) was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" (Jn. 1:7-9).

In the Lord's explanation of why He taught in parables, He said,

"...Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.  For whosoever hath (faith in the light he has been given), to him (more light) shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not (faith in the light he has been given), from him shall be taken away even (what little light) that he hath.  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.  And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:  for this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear" (Mt. 13:11-16).

Jesus taught seven parables about the Church Age (Mt. 13): 
The Sower:  not everyone who hears the Gospel will believe.
The Tares:  not everyone who says they believe the Gospel, actually does.
The Mustard Seed:  the growth of the Church will allow unbelievers to "nest" in it.
The Leaven:  the Church will be made up of imperfect Jews and Gentiles (Lev. 23:17).
The Buried Land Treasure:  Israel is hidden during the Church Age (Israel - Ps. 135:4).
The Sea Pearl:  the Church is an organic, multi-layered "gem" completed over time.
The Net:  in the end, it will be God who both judges and rewards.

The Church is an awesome testimony to what God can do with "junk!"