just one?

last sunday was the first Easter in the past 2 years that i haven't been involved with a drama production at church. i've taken a break from drama (looking forward to getting back into it though), so this year i was just an observer of the service. there was great worship, and a sermon about end times...not a typical sunday "Easter" sermon, but a great one none-the-less.

at the end, when it was time for the altar call, my mind flashed back to the past two years, standing back- stage after my drama performance with my fellow actors and directors, praying, crying, seeking for just one soul to be saved as a result of what the people had seen on stage. to my great delight, both years, there were several ones that came to salvation through the production...last year i think there was a total of 22!!! WOW! ....so i'm standing there, praying, crying, seeking...and pastor renny gives the altar call, and he says "God bless you" (what he says after someone lifts up there hand as if to signify they have just made THE most important decision of their entire life). and then, that's it. just one. just one "God bless you." i kept expecting more. please renny, say it again, let me know there was more than just one person saved in this service, one isn't enough...let there be more. please please please, one isn't enough.

but there was just the one. and i was sad. there was momentary guilt that screamed at me "if you had been directing drama like you were, and you produced a play this year...this would've never happened! there would've been more, darlena! you gave up on drama, and therefore gave up on souls being saved!" but then i quickly realized that was the enemy lying to me, and how dare i put myself through that guilt, and above the pastor of the church! how dare i think that if *I* did a drama production this year, there would be more souls saved...how dare i put myself in the place of the Holy Spirit. but i did...even back-stage the past two years. when i was praying, seeking, crying...i was really hoping that what i did on stage was enough to save a person's soul.

but the truth of the matter is, it has nothing to do WITH ME. sure, i'm being used by our Father to minister to others, to reach out in the darkness and pick people out of the pit..but ultimatley their decision to follow  Him is just that; THEIR'S.

and what about that "one" that was saved on sunday? since when was "just one" not enough? since when, did our Savior look around and say, "what? just ONE was saved? what's WRONG WITH YOU???" how much is one soul worth? how much does one soul cost? what is the price of one life being snatched out of hell? why does quantity matter all of a sudden? since when is one not enough?

the reality is that ONE, whoever they were, mattered! they matter now! they will matter! one is enough! we should always strive to see more come to know the sweet peace of our Father, but one is enough. one soul, one life, one eternity MATTERS! one IS enough, for the weight of one life is so very great.