"I'm the Only One"

I'm the only one. It's just me. There's so much that is is going wrong in the world around me, but the tide of evil can't completely be turned because, well, I'm the only one fighting against it. 

Sound familiar? This seems to be Elijah's perspective after the showdown at Mount Carmel. In first Kings, we read his explanation of the situation to God:

He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” (1 Kings 19:14, ESV)

Does this ring any bells for you? If so, listen to God's response as Paul reports it in Romans 11:

Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel?“Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” But what is God's reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” (Romans 11:2b-4, ESV)

This exchange between Elijah and God points out several things to us:

1. Our Vision is Limited: Elijah thought that he was God's last true servant, yet there were seven thousand others still serving God faithfully. Just because we can't see others faithfully serving, it doesn't mean that they aren't there.
2. Not Everyone's Service is in the Lime Light: As we touched on in an earlier post, serving God faithfully does not always mean that our work will be front and center. Instead, it could easily be backstage, at least for most of the world. That does not make it any less important to the Kingdom. This is key to remember both when we are worried that our work isn't making an impact and when we are worried because we can't see others working. Not everything that God is doing will be visible to everyone.
3. God Knows What is Going On and is in Control: The turn of events for Elijah wasn't unforeseen by God, nor was the need for servants to advance His Kingdom. He was already prepared for it and had the needed reinforcements all set. As it is, we should also keep in mind that numbers (or the lack thereof) do not hamper God's ability to achieve His goals. This fact is ably shown in Gideon's defeat of Midian (Judges 7). Who is on the roster list isn't important - faithfully serving where we have been placed is.

It is also worth noting that this sense that "I'm the only one" applies to groups just as much as individuals. The only difference between "I'm the only one" and "we're the only ones" is the plural terms. Both thoughts focus on our finiteness and frailty while ignoring God's sovereignty and omnipotence.

In other words, God, who has already won, is marshaling his armies and has all that is needed to bring about His victory. Given this fact, we are never "the only one" in the fight. Odds are, there are others in the trenches that we just aren't aware of. More importantly though, God Himself is working in and through us. We are not alone because He is with us, ensuring that His will is carried out. Or, as we learn in Joshua: One man of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the Lord your God who fights for you, just as he promised you. (Joshua 23:10, ESV)

What are God's directions for your life right now? If you don't know, how can you learn them? If you do know, what can you be doing to pursue them more effectively?
Do you think God normally has people work on their own or in teams? Why? How should this impact the way we pursue the goals He gives us?