Numbers – we get caught up in numbers and I guess that’s human nature, but if we try and zoom out a bit, we might find that those precious numbers don’t rate all the significance we place on them. For instance(s), our bank account. Just look at how society regards our wealth and its influence on what we have been deceived into believing is our very definition of success. The higher the numbers of dollars, or bit coins, or whatever other pecuniary measures of our “success”, the more influence we have among our human peers. As measures of our success therefore, we think numbers matter, but they really don’t. Consider that when we face the judgement, a big part of our accountability for the life we lived will rest on how much wealth we amassed instead of helping others with our fortunes. When we get there, we will undoubtedly find that the wealth we accumulated likely works proportionately against us as far as our eternal punishment is weighed. As I write this post, I’m reminded of the significance of the numbers of viewers we try to amass with our posts, our videos, but too often it’s really the loudness of our voice we’re after.
I catch myself waxing disappointed sometimes because of the miniscule numbers of viewers my site gets, but if my goal is to promote the glory of Jesus Christ among my readers, then it might only take a few – even one – person reading one of these posts who decides to take up the cross and spread the message of the Spirit and that one person might be able to reach a multitude that this writer could not. It’s here that we’re staring at a concept where there’s an opportunity to learn something profound from one of my favorite people in the Bible – John the Baptist.
John was doing his thing baptizing people and some of the Jews approached him about the disciples of Jesus baptizing more people than John and his disciples. [John 3:26]: “ And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!” It was mentioned to him as though John should have a problem with his diminishing numbers, but John, having been filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb, knew what was going on. [John 3:27-30]: “John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is fulfilled. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease. Old John was perfectly content to let God’s plan play out, knowing that he had done his part – even though it was a lesser part compared to what was to come.
John understood that the whole plan was that the Gospel of Christ be initiated and spread from where he worked on the Jordan River at that time to the entire world of men. God had given him a job to do – to prepare the way for the Lord and to be the first witness of His Glory and that being the friend of the bridegroom was plenty enough for him. In fact, he rejoiced that he had been allowed to usher in the Covenant of Jesus Christ even if it now meant he would diminish in importance going forward. So taking a lesson from John, we, as Christian servants of Jesus should be honored to be allowed to spread His Gospel, no matter whether we get a thousand readers, or just one. Or if we are a pastor with tens of thousands of members or only a few, or a fellow Christian with only one listener. That one, dear reader, might just be you. You might just be the person God has assigned this post to reach so that you can take His message to people and places this writer has no way of reaching. Think about that!
This website is not monetized, so as far as this old hillbilly’s meager bank account goes, the numbers of readers here do not reflect any semblance of my success. I’ve written before, and this is a perfect place to say it again, the only measure of success that matters for us human beings is at the end of our age to hear our Savior say, [Matthew 25:21]: “His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
There are many threats being put forward nowadays that only serve to distract us from our real purpose in this life – that is to serve the Lord. Among those distractions is the increasing fear of the world being taken over by demonic artificial intelligence, by those demonic data centers that are only being set up to spy on humanity and establish dreaded institutions and practices like social credit and other such Satanic claptrap. Numbers again. In order to “successfully” navigate the new world order and its new requirements we will be expected to obey, we are to meekly accept enslavement to evil rulers, and for some of us, by the grace given to us – that just ain’t gonna happen. There’s another Way, and I’m here to tell you it’s the only Way to “succeed”, to be victorious over this growing darkness of which the enemy would have us live in trepidation. Remember what our beloved Savior said, [Matthew 10:28]: “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” How do we avoid fear of our enemy? [1 John 4:18]: “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” Therefore, we must fervently pray that the Holy Spirit will teach us perfect love, then the fear thing will be resolved.
Nothing in this life is easy – if it was easy for a human being to properly serve the Lord, there wouldn’t be much value in our servitude. No, the Lord knows our path will be demanding; there’s a price to be paid, and we must be willing to pay it – whatever the cost. Read Bonhoeffer – “The Cost of Discipleship”. Remember Jesus on the cross. He suffered immensely – He didn’t just casually tell Peter that he would deny that he even knew Jesus – He must have been heartbroken to know that His best friend and disciple would deny Him and at the end He would be utterly and completely abandoned by all, but that was part of the cost of what He did for us. He endured great pain and unimaginable humiliation. That was a big part of what it was for Him to have become human. If it had been easy, it wouldn’t have been the great sacrifice it was, so yes, we have a hill to climb ourselves, otherwise our own efforts at servitude would be less meaningful. Take heart though, the more we are tested, the greater God’s plan for us.
Not trying to take up too much of your day here, but we have to encourage one another as we are able, and this post is just one way, there are many opportunities to spread the word, and we should take advantage of them as often as we can. In the end it will have been worth it. In the end, we’ll see that serving the Lord is the only important thing we could do in this whole life – the ONLY thing. As an aside and speaking of our eternal joy in heaven, the apostle said we can’t imagine the joy that awaits us there, [1 Corinthians 2:9]: “But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” so stay close to Christ whatever you do! And forget numbers that have no bearing on success – and please encourage others to learn of Him – when you do that, you will become unimaginably successful!
May the blessings of the Almighty Father find and keep us.
MK
