Introduction
We have studied the lives of the twelve apostles and their mighty works, yet what of the hundreds—perhaps thousands—who followed Jesus quietly? The unnamed, unnoticed believers whose faith burned just as brightly, though history left them unrecorded? Most of us today belong to that multitude. We live our faith in the ordinary, often believing we have no special call, and so we drift into an unconscious attitude of simply “holding on until the end.” We whisper to ourselves, “We’re not special… Why try?”
But this is a lie.
Then comes the exact opposite. I need attention. I want attention, and I want to be recognized. The world has taught me this.
But this too is a lie. I do not live by the attention the world gives.
The truth is, we are deeply special. When compared to the saints of old, we—the Church—are the Ark of the New Covenant. We are the bearers of His light to a darkened world. The Apostles stand as the pillars of this covenant, their voices still echoing through the epistles they left behind. Yet we, though unseen, share in their commission. It is not our calling to be noticed, but to be faithful—to draw ever nearer to Christ and reveal to the world who He truly is: risen, alive, and forever steadfast.
We, the unseen, are the living testimony of His presence. We are the Church He founded, and it is our sacred duty to fulfill the purpose He entrusted to us.
However, let us take heed. In our zeal to serve, we must not become like Uzzah of the Old Testament—reaching out to steady the Ark as though Christ’s Church might stumble (see 1 Chronicles 13: 9-11), and we must save it. The Ark will not fall. However fragile or fractured it may appear, the Church is steadied by the hand of Christ Himself. He alone sustains it. “The gates of hell will not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18
Yes, the Church is being shaken. But this shaking is not destruction—it is refinement. It is Christ who shakes His Church, and in His shaking, the false, the fruitless, and the faithless are shaken loose. Let it be so. Do not fix your eyes on the turmoil, but on the One who moves the storm.
For we, the unnoticed, are many—and it is we who will stand firm. And when the shaking ceases, it is our steady light that will remain, testifying to a world that Christ still lives within His people.
The People of God
Let no one be mistaken — we, the Church, are the people of God. We are sent forth by His command to make disciples of all nations. Our commission is no less than that of the Apostles; it is the very same divine charge.
Like them, we wage war against the world, the flesh, and the Devil himself. We are soldiers in the Army of God — men and women joined in spirit with the hosts of heaven, standing shoulder to shoulder in holy battle.
We fight with faith as our weapon and truth as our shield. Though we may lose some battles along the way, we are destined for victory, for we are “more than conquerors through Christ who strengthens us”. We are an army of overcomers — steadfast, unyielding, and triumphant in the power of our King.
The Unnoticed
It is to our great advantage to remain unnoticed. Think of the old tales of the West—of the gunslingers whose fame drew every challenger, every self-appointed “righteous” avenger wearing a black hat and a darker heart. Their reputation became their snare. We do not desire such notice. The world is full of those who waste our time with empty contests and vain arguments. Our struggle is not with them. Our calling is toward the lost who still seek after God—the ones who sense a better way yet cannot find it, who know they are trapped and cannot reason their way out.
If we, the unnoticed, are to have any reputation, let it be the reputation of Christ Himself—a name marked by humility, sacrifice, and love. Let us be known as those who lay down their lives for their friends, just as He did.
We, the unnoticed, seek neither recognition nor reward—not even for our faith. Faith is not a currency to be spent for divine favor; it is the lifeline that draws us into right relationship with our God. To live is itself a trial of faith, and our faith must be proven. When God tests us, may our response be that of Job: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” This is the witness God seeks in us—the unnoticed who remain steadfast when all else falters.
Never forget: it is all about Him. Faith and reason must take their proper place. Faith is not the servant of reason, nor is it the product of common sense. Faith is the substance of truth itself—and it will never be real to us until it is tried by fire.
We, the unnoticed, willingly cast aside recognition, fame, and glory for a greater reward. For no one can truly live—no one can endure this life—unless he is identified with Jesus Christ. We, the unnoticed, are not our own.
More
Recently, I was reading from the book of 1 Kings, chapter 7, verse 22:
“And on the tops of the pillars was lily-work.”
When we picture the splendor of Solomon’s Temple—its vastness, its majesty, its breathtaking craftsmanship—our minds are naturally drawn to its grandeur. Yet, the writer of 1 Kings paused to notice something small, delicate, and easily overlooked: a simple lily, carved upon the very summit of one of those towering pillars.
Who would see it there? Who would notice such fragile beauty hidden high above, far from the gaze of men? And yet, God noticed.
That lily, quiet and unseen, adorned the house of the Lord with the same purpose and perfection as the grandest ornament below. It was not its visibility that gave it worth, but its faithfulness to the design of its Creator.
So it is with us—the unnoticed, the unseen. We may stand in hidden places, far from human praise, yet our beauty, our purpose, and our power lie in the faithfulness with which we fulfill the intent of the One who formed us.
Dangers of the Unnoticed
The greatest danger for those who go unnoticed is the subtle rise of self-pity and the craving for self-importance. We long to be somebody—in the eyes of the world, our wives, our children, our friends—forgetting that the only eyes that truly matter are the eyes of God.
“I want to be somebody. I want to do something.” That echo can ring deep within the chambers of the heart. Yet, self-importance is a stealthy idol—quiet, deceptive, and capable of dethroning our devotion to the one true God.
Preachers and pastors may yearn for larger congregations. Teachers and writers may yearn for a broader audience. I confess, even as I write this, that my own words have reached nearly three thousand souls across forty-five nations—without a single advertisement. It feels meaningful. It feels affirming. I take joy in the recognition; it stirs me to keep writing, to keep bearing witness.
Yet we, myself included, must not lose sight of the true source of our inspiration—for it is not me or you. All that is worthy in my work flows from Him alone. And so I must pause and ask: What lasting worth lies in self-importance, when the glory belongs to God?
The true measure of worth is not in numbers, influence, or recognition. It lies in obedience—doing what God has called me to do, submitting to His divine will, and entrusting the outcome entirely to Him. My commitment must remain fixed on Christ and Christ alone. What happens beyond that is in His hands, not mine.
The world measures worth by visibility and acclaim; God measures it by faithfulness and surrender. Our unseen worth before Almighty God may appear small in the world’s light, but in His sight, it is of eternal weight. We serve Him—not the world, and not ourselves.
So what is our worth before God?
- It is our faith.
- It is our obedience.
- It is our relentless desire to draw nearer to Him—in every thought, word, and deed.
Like Paul states in the book of Acts, “…none of these things (of the world) move me”.
“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God”. Acts 20:24 KJV
Conclusion
Only the spiritually minded can perceive these truths. You have heard it said, “He is so heavenly minded that he is of no earthly good.” — Impossible! Such a statement is the very essence of carnal thought. For if one is of no earthly good, it is proof enough that he is not spiritually minded at all.
David, the anointed king, was surrounded by mighty men—warriors of valor and faith—whose deeds helped forge the very foundations of Israel. Their names are recorded in 2 Samuel 23:8-39 and 1 Chronicles 11:10–47, memorialized forever in the Word of God.
In the fullness of time, Jesus Christ came, and with Him the Apostles and countless humble followers who, though unseen by history’s eye, turned the world upside down in the early days of the Church.
And now, we—the unnoticed followers of Christ in this present age—stand as a mighty army of God. Through us, the forces of darkness tremble; through us, the very gates of hell shall crumble. For the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in us. Soon, our Redeemer will come again to fulfill the Scriptures, to establish a new Heaven and a new Earth, and to bring forth the final Kingdom of light.
Then shall stand the Apostles, the pillars of the eternal Church. Then shall arise the mighty men of old, the heroes of faith. And following them—we, the once-unnoticed, yet known by God—shall march forth as His redeemed host. Together we will shatter the long night of Adam’s fall and usher in the everlasting age of the redeemed, often referred to as “the age of the ages”. Comprised of those who will reign with our Savior and our God forever and ever.
We shall no longer be the silent majority. Will will shout His glory from the housetops. We must!
Enough Said
“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.” Jeremiah 15:16 ESV
