A Difference of One

First thing this morning, I took a cup of coffee, my Bible, a notepad, and a pen outside on our backyard patio to enjoy some quiet time studying and praying. Sister, our old bulldog, knowing my routine well, followed close on my heels. As we sat together in the quiet, somewhat cool of the morning, I listened to all the birds singing their wake-up songs and literally basked in the goodness of God and His lovely creation.

I especially enjoy trying to identify the different birds and their distinct calls each morning of my outdoor Bible study. Every now and then, the ever-present Mississippi mockingbird fools me with his mimicry. For the most part, though, I can recognize each bird and its song.

But this morning, there was a different voice singing to me, one that I quickly identified as the tiny operatic singer that buzzed right in front of my chair like a F-16 Fighting Falcon Jet screeching down the runway right before takeoff.

It was a cicada.

For those unfamiliar with this giant flying insect, cicadas are harmless summer-time bugs that hang out on or near trees. With their big red eyes and huge wings, they look like creatures from outer space – really, they do.

Specially designed structures in its abdomen called tymbals are actually what help the cicada make its disturbing, vibrating noise. So loud and disruptive that for any nearby listener, the “voice” of the cicada is guaranteed to be heard.

Thankfully, there are only two types of these flying creatures: annual, “dog day” cicadas (as in, the dog days of summer) and periodical cicadas that only appear in 13–17-year cycles. According to the Extension Office of nearby Mississippi State University, there are at least 23 species of the annual variety and three broods of the 13-year periodical cicadas in my home state.

Last summer, the cicadas did a booming business down here in the South, and this year, during these hot, dog days of summer, they are also faring well. Their voices permeate the air right now – even in the early hours of the morning.

So, when that busy, buzzing cicada flew past me this morning, I was not overly surprised, but it made me stop and think for a moment about the power of one tiny voice. The truth is, this unusual insect is louder than birds ten times its size. And when joined with the sounds of zillions of other summer-time cicadas, the noise can literally drown out all other sounds in nature.

As I sat there and marveled at the power of that one tiny insect and its powerful sound, my thoughts went to the Bible in my lap, and I began to think of all the men and women whose singular stories permeate the pages of Scripture. Each story represents only one individual voice, but with God leading and guiding that story, each one became life-changing. Added to the other stories of the Bible, the impact of those individuals is truly immeasurable – and ongoing.

I thought about David, the shepherd boy, whose faith in God helped him slay a giant and lead a nation. I remembered Daniel, who stood his ground and obeyed God at all costs – even during captivity. And I thought of his young companions, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who refused to bow their knees to the Babylonian kings and faced the fire for their defiance.

I also thought of Esther, an orphan girl who became queen and stood up for her people and the one true God. There’s also Joseph, whose integrity saved a nation – and his jealous brothers. Of course, Ruth is one of my favorite Bible heroes. She was a woman who vowed never to leave her mother-in-law and ultimately became an ancestor of Jesus in the process.

In the New Testament, the disciples of Jesus devoted their lives to the spread of the gospel, and all but John eventually lost their lives because of their devotion. Finally, who could ever forget Paul, the murderer who met Jesus and was forever changed? As a result, Paul wrote nearly half of the New Testament, giving modern Christians a tangible roadmap to follow in our walk with Jesus.

But what about now? What about modern-day believers?

Can one single person really make a difference in the midst of the absolute insanity that is currently raging in our culture? Can one person speaking God’s love and truth stem the tsunami of sin overtaking our world?

Absolutely! American Family Association (AFA) is proof positive that one Christian can make a difference.

In 1977, when Brother Don Wildmon took a stand against the ungodly garbage coming across the television screens and inundating his children and the children of all American families, his voice rang so clear and so true that it is still impacting the culture for Christ.

For those who are not familiar with the story of how AFA got its start, the March 2024 issue of AFA’s The Stand was dedicated to Brother Don and the legacy he left behind after his death in late December 2023 – a legacy that is still being written. (Click HERE to watch the film Culture Warrior: Don Wildmon and the Battle for Decency)

We have an opportunity to help write that legacy by not only supporting AFA but through personally sharing the gospel with others.

In fact, the last message Jesus spoke to His disciples before His ascension was called The Great Commission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).

Most Christians today understand the assignment, but they are reluctant to carry it out in boldness. A 2023 research study from Barna Group found that 52% of practicing Christians strongly agreed that it was their personal responsibility to tell others about their Christ-centered beliefs.

Yet, a similar study, the 2024 Survey on Christian Cultural Engagement, conducted by the Institute of Faith and Culture and Lifeway Research, showed that only 35% of Christians felt equipped to share their beliefs. Perhaps even more revealing, less than half of those surveyed (45%) actually spoke up and shared a biblical worldview when conversing with others who talked about something that was not biblical.

None of those statistics is what they could be or should be, especially when we remember that we have been given the greatest gift of all – total forgiveness of our sins through Jesus Christ.

So, maybe it’s time to understand that one person totally surrendered to Jesus really can make a difference – an eternal difference, in fact.

As 2 Corinthians 5:20 declares, we are “ambassadors for Christ.” So, let’s be brave, be bold, and speak up. Who knows! We “may have come to the kingdom for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14b).

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