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It is no secret that God’s people are just ordinary folks going about their ordinary lives in ordinary ways. None of us are remarkable in any way. We are not particularly wealthy nor famous (thankfully)! There are good days and not so good days. We experience illness as well as good health. There are trials to build character and then there are times of great encouragement with blessings from God. Most of us work in paid employment while many are retired. The only thing that sets us apart from the vast majority in the world is one very important part given to us upon our baptism into God’s family — His Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 1:22).
God’s Spirit is also known as the Helper which is part of God’s power dwelling inside of us so that we can be led by His Spirit to do the right thing in obedience to God (Acts 1:8; John 16:7-8; John 14:15-18). Even so, we still have a choice regarding every decision we make and we really strive to be obedient, preferring God’s will over our own will to observe God’s 10 commandments. Sometimes we fall short and sin but these occasions are hopefully fewer and farther between as we work to develop obedience through practice. Repenting on our knees brings us closer to our heavenly Father who forgives us and moves our sins as far from us as east is from west (Psalm 103:11-12) — how amazing is His love for us when we are genuinely sincere with heartfelt repentance like King David when he realised his sin against God (Psalm 51).
If you saw one of God’s people in the supermarket you would not typically notice anything is different about us at first glance, as we have two eyes, a nose, a mouth, hair, arms, legs and so forth. This reminds me of scripture about Jesus in Isaiah 53:2 where it mentions He was plain or average to look at, meaning He would blend in amongst others. But soon you may know something is different because of our speech, character, and hopefully our helpful, serving attitude believing we should treat others as we would like to be treated ourselves — we are trying to be Christ like. Some may say we look old fashioned due to modest dress with sensible shoes, absence of tattoos and piercings, many women do not wear make-up or colour their hair as we are satisfied with how God made us and want to honour Him rather than change our appearance and fall into the trap of vanity. We are God’s called out ones from the world in which we live and we are to be different to everyone else because God asks us to be holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16). This is not easy and we could never do this without God’s Helper as we are just flesh and blood but we are striving daily to be like Jesus Christ. We are also known as firstfruits as we are the pioneers for the vast majority of people living without God’s Spirit now in this life before death (James 1:18).
Why me and not you? It is God’s choice and He does provide us some clues in Scripture for how and why He makes His selection. If it is any comfort think about the passage written in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence”. We are nothing in worldly terms but we are something in Godly terms and that is just the way we like it! God chose us as we are teachable and hungry for spiritual food which we obtain daily from the Bible. We desperately want the world to change while we sigh and cry over the abominations that are committed in this world daily (Ezekiel 9:1-11).
Once this physical life is over and Jesus Christ has returned to earth we will all get to live again at our resurrection (1 Corinthians 15). Imagine finding out about my secret “quiet little big life” when I was just the neighbour next door for whom you left a wrapped xmas present year after year on our doorstep, or the lady who collected your mail while you went on holidays, or the nurse who helped you with palliative care before you died and needed the whole family to be reunited before you could go in peace. For many weeks, even years, you saw me dressed nicely and drive away to return several hours later in the evening every Saturday. Sometimes I would wave to you while you did your gardening. You marvelled that it was like clockwork with timing always the same, thinking “there she goes again” to wonder where I went — no really, where does she go for 5-6 hours? Looks like she always carries a big bag of books and a plate of food whenever she goes — perhaps to visit her parents, or could it be the library — no, they have been closed during COVID-19 times — but why would she dress up? Can’t be that! Well now you know! To fellowship with brethren of like-mind who were also called by God to be firstfruits too. Our lives have great purpose for we know the reason why we were born; we know we are to be ambassadors for Christ and to spread the good news of the gospel to let the world know Jesus Christ will return again to usher in His Kingdom, where peace and truth will rule for ever and ever into eternity (2 Corinthians 5:20) even if nobody wants to know or even cares, we continue to labour in love for our perfect Father and sinless older brother Jesus the Christ who gave us all life.
A quiet little big life means we go about God’s business diligently and wisely (Matthew 10:16) while we are regarded as little people, not strong, not many or mighty (Matthew 11:25; Proverbs 6:6) with great zeal knowing we are serving our Lord and Master whether with visiting the frail in nursing homes, volunteering our time and giving it willingly to help brethren or neighbours in need, filling magazine stands and/or dropping leaflets into letterboxes, being that employee who does the right thing by setting a good example at work shunning gossip, avoiding wasting time, doing the best work to our God given ability rather than a mediocre or half hearted attempt with cutting corners (Ecclesiastes 9:10), arriving on time and finishing well by giving a full days service for a full days wages, and always being ready with an answer for the hope that is within us (1 Peter 3:15).
This is our life, a big life as we are working for God, our awesome God, Creator of this vast great limitless universe while we are just a vapour passing as it were as in an instant through time, relatively speaking. What a life we have to live in service. If we take it one day at a time for the remainder of our lives and never give up in humble, heartfelt service to God we will complete our journey in this life to the Promised Land in the Kingdom of God, where each one of us will sit under his vine and fig tree fully absorbing God’s healing and restoration after the troubling times ahead that we must endure — it will all be more than worth it! (Micah 4:4). The apostle Paul reminds us of this in Romans 8:18 and in 2 Corinthians 4:17 if we care to read his words of wisdom. Remember what God tells us? He who endures to the end will be saved (Matthew 24:13; 10:22; Luke 21:19; Mark 13:13). And to seal the deal we marvel at the words in Philippians 1:6 which says “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ”. These words should be highly motivating to us to stay the course and endure until the end, no matter what comes!
In 1 Peter 2:11-25 we are implored through the wisdom of the apostle Peter how to live before the world “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honourable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men — as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this YOU were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ‘Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth’; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls”.
Not every day will be wonderful and there will be some very sad times in amongst greatly troubling times. What shall we do? We shall put on the Lord’s whole armour, as stated in Ephesians 6:10-20, and strengthen ourselves — that’s what! God will never leave or forsake us as He has promised in His word. So onwards and upwards while we live our quiet little big lives for God.