Just talk to and listen to Christians today. Some express so much pessimism about the current state of Christianity. Yes, I have read some of the surveys about the number of churches closing and the decrease in church attendance in many denominations . Also, the growing population of Americans who identify with no religion at all.
Perhaps you see it in the local church you attend as well. It’s becoming increasingly harder to get people involved in serving the Lord.
But let me say emphatically that the Christian Church is here to stay. We are not going out of business. Many people around the world still passionately love Christ. And some local churches continue to do great works for the Kingdom. It behoovers us to stay properly focused in these last days, lest we despair.
Elijah Thought He Was the Only One Serving the Lord
Do you remember Elijah’s complaint to God? This is what he said:
“I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”
1 Kings 19:10, KJV
Elijah felt as if he was the only one serving the Lord. He had become overwhelmed doing the work of a prophet. Jezebel, the wicked wife of the king, threatened to kill him (1 Kings 19:2). He requested to God to let him die (verse 4).
Perhaps you don’t feel as if you are the only one, as Elijah did. But sometimes, it may seem as if those who are committed to serving the Lord are few and far between. In nearly all local churches I have been a member of or have known a little about, there are the so-called faithful few. They do the disproportionate amount of work in the church.
Encouragement for the Faithful Few
Are you discouraged by the current status of Christianity at large or of your local church? It is important to bear in mind that since the time of Christ’s public ministry, the majority has never served the Lord. Until the Lord returns, the majority of people will never be on His team. Relatively speaking, there will always be a remnant committed to serving the Lord. That remnant may become increasingly smaller as we approach the Lord’s return. Those are just the facts.
This blog post should not be taken to suggest that we should be content with things as they are or as they are becoming. The church’s mission has not changed. We must strive to spread the gospel and to disciple the nations. We must endeavor to reach as many with the gospel as we can. But I write this blog post to encourage the relative few who are committed to serving the Lord these days.
God responded to Elijah’s pity party in a surprising way. He said, “I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him” (verse 18)! Isn’t that amazing? God had at least 7000 people who refused to down to idol gods, but Elijah felt he was the only one standing for God.
I say to you by the Word of the Lord that the same is true today. More people committed to serving the Lord exist than you know of. There are still pockets of revival occurring around the world. The Church is here to stay—until it’s time for her to go. The gates of hell shall not prevail.
Copyright ©2022 by Frank King. All rights reserved.
Bisi
Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Could it be that people what more vibrant Christianity with signs and wonders? The pandemic and lock down gave many the opportunity to be exposed to other ministries. The church is definitely marching on!
frankking025
Yes; the church is still marching on. As it was in the days of Elijah, God will always have a body of believers who faithfully serve Him–even when it does not look that way.