I see upon their noble brows the seal of the Lord, for they were born kings of the earth far more truly than those who possess it only from having bought it.
~ George Sand
And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
~ The Encourager, in Hebrews 11
Oh beloved, it is true.
We know them. We can see them on the TV. They are the political and entertainment and military leaders of this planet. They seem to have some great influence on events. And yes, it is true that they do. But, what we do not know is that these men and women are actually just ribbons on the package.
Actually, there is a completely other class of people. They, actually, are people who are truly human. They are people who live a completely other existence from the one that media screams that we need to believe in. And, though history often unearths their impact, some of the waves that they make are so massive that not even the centuries can measure the way they changed the tide of the world.
This fool of a writer has sensed their presence though. One can feel it within the inner man when we are quiet enough, and willing enough to understand. I have seen some of them, and so have you – but you many not have noticed.
One time, I had the privilege to see a wall full of their pictures. They were men and women who I had never heard of. And neither have you. But, their dedication had most certainly helped the survival and evangelisation of millions in South America.
I have come across them, mostly women, and the are known by their eyes; eternal, elfin, noble, and powerful beyond measure. These are the warriors of intercession. Their voice is completely familiar to the One Who even gave them a voice in the first place. They speak, and He listens. They have developed a conversation that moves mountains much more effectively than any hydrogen bomb ever could.
I have met others in my times out on the trash mountains, and in the villages, and in the super-dense slums of Asia megacities. These are the people who willingly give up any sense of a career, and just throw themselves into helping hundreds have an actual life.
Recently, on a trip to East Africa, i met one. He is a small man on the outside, whose bright eyes, and inner ears tuned to The Holy Spirit. He struggles through all the normal cares of life, and still manages to help a few hundred kids get and education, come to know Jesus, and get a chance to make a difference in a country that is poised to make a difference in the world.
And mostly, people like this are ignored. They are dismissed. They are killed. And they are forgotten by those who have no real idea what is memorable anyway.
They are the kings of the earth. The real movers and shakers. The millions of people like this, who work behind the scenes. Their service is the thing that makes the difference. They, in being who they are, and following the call they are called to, change the entire plane of existence. They bring people onto the field who would have never been there. And they eliminate issues that would have taken more people out than we can imagine.
But, there is one more group of these kings. There are those fools who preach the good news of a very great G_d, across the planet. Oh, some of them are “famous” by the world’s standards, and this is great! Actually, the ones in the limelight, provide cover for many of us other oracles.
Can we see it?
You could be one of them too. There are so many places to go into all the world, and disappear under the radar of the obvious, and facile, and fashionable. But, once you go behind the scenes, you will realize that once you go there – you will have found the secret. The cosmotic system of this world is not where real influence is to be found.
Tonight is your night beloved. Time to accept your coronation – and to disappear.
Begin at once; before you venture away from this quiet moment, ask your King to take you wholly into his service, and place all the hours of this day quite simply at his disposal, and ask him to make and keep you ready to do just exactly what he appoints. Never mind about tomorrow; one day at a time is enough. Try it today, and see if it is not a day of strange, almost curious peace, so sweet that you will be only too thankful when tomorrow comes to ask him to take it also.
~Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-1879)
