Impacting Obscurity

Maybe you are feeling insignificant. Like you have nothing to contribute to this world and the advancement of God’s Kingdom. Maybe you feel too…average.
But as I have been studying Acts Chapter 9 and the conversion of the the Christian-killer Saul, an obscure figure of history stands out to me. His name is Ananias.
Ananias was an early Christian, and the first Christian mentioned by name outside of Jerusalem. He lived in Damascus, and while there had a vision of Christ telling him to go to the street called Straight to a man named Judas’ house where he would meet the infamous Saul. Jesus told Ananias that he would find Saul blind and that he was being sent to lay hands on him to receive recovery of his sight and to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Knowing who Saul was and his less-than-Christian-friendly background, Ananias thought that Jesus was crazy. But Jesus revealed His plans for Saul to be an evangelist to the Gentiles, and as crazy as it seemed, Ananias left for Judas’ house. Saul’s sight was restored, Saul was saved and received the Holy Spirit, and was then baptized.
Saul had had an encounter with the Risen Christ, but Ananias was sent to lead Him to salvation, impart to Saul the gift of the Spirit, baptize him, and to ultimately prepare him for the mission that lay ahead.
You see, my point here is, that if there hadn’t have been an Ananias, there wouldn’t have been a Saul. God’s plan was to use Saul to reach the Gentiles, and because of his work as an Apostle, billions of people have heard the good news of Jesus. And God’s plan was to use Ananias to reach Saul so Saul could reach the world.
So maybe your name will never be in lights. Maybe you won’t be a superstar evangelist or even pastor a church. Maybe a generation or so from now, no one will remember your name.
But maybe, just maybe, God’s plan is to use you to reach the next Saul. Each of you have Sauls in your life that God is calling you to reach, and when you reach just one Saul, you can reach the world.
You being an Ananias for someone at just the right time can change the course of history and could advance God’s Kingdom like never before. Maybe you won’t even live to see the beginnings of the impact you made, but in the end it will be worth it. A life will have been reached, God will have been glorified, His Kingdom will have been advanced, and you will have fulfilled your purpose.
You do matter. Your part in God’s plan is crucial. There’s no such thing as an insignificant Christian. Whether you’re Ananias or Saul, your part to play is equally important.