A Voice Of One

A Voice Of One                                     10-06-17

John 1:21-23 (ESV) ²¹  And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”
²²  So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
²³  He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

John the Baptist was quoting Isaiah 40 in his response to the Jewish authorities who wanted to know who he was. I oftentimes reflect on how John must have felt some time later,as he sat in a prison cell,alone and lonely.I wonder if he still brimmed with the confidence and boldness that he exhibited when HE truly WAS the voice of one crying in the wilderness. I wonder if doubt and discouragement tormented his mind and soul in that prison,cell as his own words became dogged reality in his life.

John 3:30 (ESV) ³⁰  He must increase, but I must decrease.”



I believe he must have struggled mightily in that dark place,with those tormentors, as he awaited his final,God appointed destiny. A voice of one. I witnessed a modern day John the Baptist last Saturday. And herein lieth the lesson.

I was over at Neyland Stadium this Saturday past as the hurricane called by the name Georgia,thundered through and totally destroyed my beloved Vols. While there, I was able to run quickly from where I was stationed,about a hundred yards or so to get a video of the Vol Walk starring Peyton Manning in the flesh. But,while standing there watching all the commotion,something in my periphery caught my attention. Standing on a small one step ladder,clad in overalls,t-shirt and sunglasses,stood a man with a Bible in his hand,preaching what I knew to be The Gospel. It did not appear to me that anyone was listening,and to be truthful neither did I.

Well,video of Peyton in hand,I scurried back to my post,in the midst of literally thousands of people. If you have been to gate 21 at Neyland pre game,you know what I am talking about. I spent about 45 minutes there directing traffic and enjoying all the buzz and excitement of the gameday atmosphere. Well,low and behold,about an hour later,unnoticed by me,up walks this same guy with a one step ladder. He steps up and begins preaching the Word of God. Now folks,out of all the multiple thousands of people,and all of the different vantage points,this man picks a spot not five feet from where I am standing!

So, I take notice this time and watch him as he begins to preach. I inwardly admire his boldness. I understand that is not everyone's cup of tea. I understand there is a time and place. But there's something about this guy...just as I am thinking those thoughts up walks a woman and begins to openly mock this man. Laughing and insulting him to his face. The folks she was with turned and smiled as she belittled him. That went on for about a minute,while abruptly turning the woman went back to her party. The man never missed a beat and kept on preaching. Well,he had my FULL attention now.

This goes on for about five minutes and all of a sudden the aforementioned lady returns appearing very agitated. Her insulting tone has turned angry,no,not angry,belligerent.She starts berating him and demanding that he shut up and leave. No further detail is needed. As she whirls around this time the man very politely and gently invites her to come back and talk,to no avail. This is all happening not ten feet from where I am standing. 

I begin to think to myself this very thought," Would I have the courage to do what this man was doing,in this environment,if God asked me to do it." Taking all this abuse and mockery and for what!!?? No one was responding. All he heard,while Rocky Top played in the background,were the jeers of this woman joined with the indifference of those within earshot.

And then it happened.

As this guy,whom I now have infinite admiration for,was stepping down off the ladder,a man walked up to him. He wanted to talk about something. I moved farther away not wanting to intrude into the conversation. They spoke together,just the two of them in the midst of thousands and I believe this single respondent got saved. I can't say with certainty,because I didn't hear it. But,it sure LOOKED like that guy accepted Jesus as his Savior right then and there. The point being that miraculously there was someone LISTENING to the preacher! AN AUDIENCE OF ONE!! In a very short while it was over. The preacher folded up his ladder and moved on. I watched him walk off,ostensibly to his next pulpit,thinking to myself,"There goes a modern day John the Baptist." A voice of one crying in the wilderness.

And trust me.......outside Neyland Stadium last Saturday was a wilderness.

My point? Just this. Maybe you are discouraged today. Maybe those tormentors are screaming in your spirit what's the use? Maybe you are a "voice of one" to a family of loved ones that have no interest in anything you have to say. Maybe you are a"voice of one" in a work environment that not only is disinterested,but openly mocks and ridicules your walk with Jesus.Just maybe you sit somewhere alone and lonely. Maybe the enemy is telling you that you are stupid. That no one is listening or even cares about your Jesus. Maybe you, like John the Baptist, are wondering if Jesus is the Messiah or should you look for another.

Matthew 11:2-3 (ESV) ²  Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples
³  and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”

Rest assured brother and sister you have it right Keep walking.

As Pastor Doug often says we are performing for an audience of ONE.

Psalm 40:10 (ESV) ¹⁰  I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation.



God Bless