Talk about an all-time low in Israel’s history as far as faith was concerned!

Any guesses what the number of true believers was around 850 BC out of an estimated two million Jews? The Bible tells us only 7,000 remained faithful to the Lord—a minuscule 0.35%.

The setting was Mount Carmel, where Elijah, the prophet of God, had just won one of the most lopsided victories in all of Old Testament history against 450 prophets of Baal. He challenged them to determine who the true God was—and the Lord answered with fire.

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However, despite this astonishing triumph, Elijah soon found himself running for his life—discouraged, exhausted, and convinced he was the last believer left alive:

‍Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars; I alone am left, and they are seeking my life (Rom. 11:3).

Soon after, Elijah collapses under the weight of despair and says: It is enough; now, O LORD, take my life (1 Kgs. 19:4). In other words: I want to die!

‍But what is God’s response? Instead of rebuke, God reassures Elijah: I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal (1 Kgs. 19:18).

Seven thousand. Out of millions! That’s not even a fraction worth calculating—it is a trace. And yet God calls that remnant sufficient. Not one too many. Not one too few. Just right according to His sovereign plan. The Bible calls this a remnant. A remnant is a small portion left after most are gone. It is those few who still feared the Lord.

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If you think about it, Satan’s aim has always been to wipe out the remnant. Time and again, he has tried, but like a stubborn mule, he never succeeds.

• In Egypt, Pharaoh ordered the Hebrew baby boys murdered in an attempt to destroy God’s covenant people before they could grow.

• And in the book of Esther, wicked Haman built gallows intended for Mordecai as part of a larger scheme to exterminate the Jewish people entirely.

• Centuries later, Herod the Great slaughtered the male children in Bethlehem, trying to eliminate the promised Messiah before He could fulfill His mission.

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This persistent theme isn’t confined to ancient times. A strong modern example of this unfolded in South Korea during and after the Korean War.

Today, South Korea is viewed as one of the world's great centers of Christianity—massive churches, global missionaries, and powerful prayer movements. But few realize how close Christianity came to being crushed there.

When North Korea invaded in 1950, Christians were targeted. Pastors were killed, churches burned, and many believers fled with nothing.

At one point, only the southeast "Pusan Perimeter" remained. Many thought South Korea and its Christianity would vanish.

Amid chaos, small groups gathered—praying in camps, caves, homes, and ruins.

From those ashes, South Korea eventually became one of the largest missionary-sending nations in the world. Though minuscule, the remnant was enough.

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You may look around at the news, the culture, and the direction of the world and think:

• “Why does the remnant seem so small?"
  
• “Why do faithful believers feel so outnumbered?"
  
• “Why does it feel like I’m standing in such a tiny minority?”

Maybe you feel outnumbered at work, school, in your community, or, perhaps, the toughest of all, in your own family. But keep your chin up, because God chose you for a purpose. And part of your purpose is not only to preserve the remnant, but to help expand it.

How does that happen?

One faithful Christian influences another.
Then another.
Then another.

Focus on being that one. And that will be enough.

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Jesus said, "For those who have ears to hear, let them hear."