Elijah to God: “I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me!” (1 Kings 19:10). God to Elijah: “I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.” (1 Kings 19:18).
Dear Father, what a night last night was for me. In the realm of creature-joy and disappointment, my alma mater (University of North Carolina) played “lights-out” basketball ball in the first half. Then the lights went out on my beloved team in the second half, as Kansas won the national championship. Congrats to both teams for a stellar year.
BUT for two hours before the game, in the realm of heavenly-joy and providence, my heart was gladdened and my hope was supersized. Four pastors from England (London and Manchester), shared what you are doing in their cities through the preaching of the Gospel, the planting of churches, and the loving of neighbors.
Like Elijah, just as we begin to feel so alone and small as your people—just as we get ready to throw a self-righteous pity-party, raise a flag of surrender to secular culture, cave to fear and doubt… you speak. You remind us of your inviolate commitment to be a great and gracious Redeemer.
The only metrics that matters is your resolve, and the grace-reservations you have made (not just for “7000” Israelites in Jerusalem in Elijah’s day), but for “a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language” (Rev. 7:9). History is still your story. We bow our knees and “kiss” (worship) you because you have lavished your love on us in Jesus (1John 3:1-3).
College basketball is awesome, the Gospel is “awesome-er” by a million times. Here’s to preaching the Gospel, planting churches, and loving our neighbors till Jesus returns. So Very Amen.