1 in 7 Billion…

Pete Evans | 20:25, Monday, 31 October 2011

At least, that’s what the United Nations Population Division tells me, so if you know differently then please take it up with Ban Ki Moon.

That’s a heck of a lot of people who came before me! In fact it is estimated that by today (31.10.2011) there have been 83,215,302,247 people who have existed since history began. 83 billion people with dreams and ambitions. 83 billion people with their challenges and tragedies. 83 billion souls.

As we rapidly approach the point when 7 billion people will exist on the earth together for the first time we can often feel small and insignificant. You wonder if you can ever make even the smallest dent on the surface of the history of humanity, you wonder if your life can ever amount to much.  It can be a struggle just to deal with the mountain of paperwork on your desk, let alone change the world! 

The Bible would agree with that. Psalm 103 says;

15. The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; 16 the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.  [Psalm 103:15-16]

Like grass. Here today and gone tomorrow. That stark reality puts our great schemes and plans into perspective doesn’t it?

But there is one other statistic we should remember. And the number is 1. 1 God, over all. 1 Creator and Sustainer of the universe. 1 Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. In contrast to the smallness of our humanity, the God of the Bible, revealed in His son Jesus Christ, is unlimited in His power and authority!

One of the most mind-blowing results of the life and finished work of Jesus, through His death and resurrection, is that weak, insignificant, ‘1 in 83 billion’ sinners who trust in Him can know and call upon the Sovereign King of Heaven.

In the book of Isaiah we find these words;

4. Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. [Isaiah 64:4]

Should we wish to change the world then there is nothing more urgent that we can do, no more beneficial way in which we can use our time, than to pray. God acts on behalf of those who wait for Him, so we would be fools to try and do anything on our own. So let me encourage you. Embrace weakness. Call out to God. And wait to see Him act!

(If you would like to know more about Highfields’ Pontprennau Congregation, or if you have any questions about what it means to trust in Jesus, please get in touch with Pete at: pete.evans@highfieldschurch.org.uk)