It has been said that history is made by great individuals and great moments. When Orville and Wilbur Wright successfully flew for the first time, history was made. When the Germans elected Adolf Hitler as Chancellor 90 years ago exactly—in 1933—history was tragically changed for the worse. Behind each of these pivotal moments were smaller, less notable moments that led up to them.
Scripture shows the Lord works through individuals at key moments—big and small—to accomplish His will and purposes. What may seem like insignificant moments turn into God’s unfolding story of redemption.
Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers; God uses this moment to save Egypt and surrounding peoples and later to give us Moses and the Ten Commandments.
Ruth walks into a field to harvest grain. Through her walk, God sets up an important marriage which will lead to King David and ultimately Christ.
Jesus calls a group of simple men to follow Him, and the Gospel is later spread around the world.
It can be easy for us underestimate small moments in life, believing that our daily lives don’t matter. Scripture shows that every person (Gen. 1:26) and every moment matters (Eph. 5:16). As the Body of Christ, each of us has a role to play (Eph. 4). All Christians must learn how to be found faithful and focused in the here and now.
In “The Screwtape Letters,” C.S. Lewis depicts two demons planning to bring down a Christian man. From a demon named Screwtape, we hear the following about God (whom Screwtape calls the ‘Enemy’).
“The humans live in time, but our Enemy destines them to eternity. He therefore, I believe, wants them to attend chiefly to two things, to eternity itself, and to that point of time which they call the Present… It is far better to make them live in the Future… so that thought about the Future inflames hope and fear.”
Many are paralyzed by thoughts about our past or the future. As we continue into 2023, I would encourage each of us to be daily faithful to the Lord, for we don’t know what is ahead. Let’s read our Bibles, pray, share the Gospel, be active in our communities, show up to church every Sunday, love our neighbors and more.
God has given you today, and today can become a pivotal part of your life’s story—and the Lord’s unfolding story as well.
