JUST ONE PERSON

Gary Ogden

Occasionally someone says, "I'm just one person, how can I make a difference?" Such a statement immediately brings to mind the numerous elections that have been decided by one vote. In the Senate, if the vote on a bill is tied, the Vice President casts the deciding vote. Just one person can make a big difference in the political realm.

Several years ago, we were appalled and outraged at the gigantic oil spill in the pristine waters of Alaska. Ten million gallons of crude oil can do a lot of damage. The devastation to the marine life was inestimable. Afterward, it wasn't long before oil-related prices soared. And why did it happen? Because just one person, the captain of the Exxon Valdez, did not soberly carry out his responsibilities. He was drunk, was not where he was supposed to be, was not doing what he was supposed to be doing. The failure of that one person has had ramifications for millions of people all over the world.

What if just one person at the nuclear power plant drinks a little too much and fails to carry out his responsibilities? Such a failure could lead to death and devastation that would last for many years. There are people sitting at consoles all over the world who are responsible for launching nuclear weapons. If just one of them fails to soberly fulfill his awesome responsibility, the results would be catastrophic.

Judas was just the one person who showed the enemies of Christ where hecould be arrested. The act of that one man set in motion events that led to the death of God's Son. Pilate was the one man that could have made a difference that fateful night. He could have mustered the power of the Roman Empire to disperse the riotous mob, but he caved in to the pressure of the moment and the Innocent One was crucified.

Talk about one person making a difference--how about Jesus Christ? He faithfully, soberly and with godly fear accomplished the task the Father had given Him. Where would we be without that One Man's life, teaching and sacrifice? What a difference He's made in our lives!

Each disciple of Christ is important no matter how insignificant he may be. Jesus did speak of those who were "the least" of His disciples (Matthew 25:40), but they were all important to Him. All the followers of Christ can and do make a difference in this world. We are "the light of the world, the salt of the earth" (Matthew 5:13, 14). Try to imagine life on this planet if there were no disciples of Jesus!

Sometimes folks get lost in the crowd and we forget that the church is composed of individual members working and worshipping together. Each one counts and is accountable for fulfilling his or her responsibility in a sober, righteous and godly way. The "whole body is joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causing growth to the body for the edifying of itself in love" (Ephesians 4:16).

In the figure of the body, we all realize how significant it is when "just one member" isn't functioning right. It can range from the little toe to the heart and each can cause great pain when it is injured or diseased. If you have a sandspur on the sole of your foot I don't care how strong your heart is, you'll be incapacitated until that thorn is removed!

Can just one person make a difference in the church? Can just one captain of a ship make a difference in the economy and ecology of a whole nation? I rest my case. Except I'm not quite ready to rest just yet!

The one man that was living an immoral life with his father's wife was "leavening the whole lump" (I Cor. 5). One person living a reprobate life can damage the reputation of the Lord's people immeasurably. One gossip can turn a congregation upside down. Just one factious person can single-handedly destroy the unity of the church. One person, digging his heels in and refusing to cooperate with the elders, can greatly diminishthe effectiveness of the local work.

In so many ways, one person can wreak havoc in a local church. How aboutjust one person making a difference in a positive way? What about Dorcas? In her own quiet way, she made a big difference in the lives of no telling how many widows (Acts 9). Pheobe was just one woman, too, but she was a servant of the church (Romans 16). Look what the one man Paul did in turning the world upside down with his zeal for the preaching of the gospel.

Actually, Paul didn't do it alone did he? He had traveling companions and people helping him in his work. If you can't be a Paul, be a helper. If you can't be a helper, don't be a hinderer. Think about how important it is for you to do what you can do in the Lord's cause. Don't minimize your place in the kingdom by saying, "I'm just one person."

Even if you are one of the "least" of the Lord's disciples, you're still a disciple. The one talent man is just as much a disciple of the Lord as a five talent man. In the parable (Matthew 25), the one talent man didn't think much of himself, and when it was all over, the Lord didn't either.

Yes, you're just one person in this church. Don't minimize the impact you will have--for good or ill.