Moses Farmer was an electrical engineer and inventor in the mid-1800s. His projects included battery-powered trains, electric security systems, and incandescent lightbulbs. On that last point, Farmer created a bulb in 1859 that made use of a platinum filament.
Thomas Edison (in his mid-thirties at the time) saw the bulb in use in a shop in Boston and discussed the feasibility of large-scale lightbulb production with Farmer. You see… Edison did not the invent the lightbulb. He invented a lightbulb – one that lasted long and wouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg (platinum is not cheap). Even the bulb finally patented by Edison in 1878 was the work of many technicians and researchers including Lewis Latimer, Francis Upton, John Howell and others you’ve probably never heard of.
When we tell children that Edison invented the lightbulb… we’re leaving out the work of many unsung heroes.
The Bible is full of amazing events that hinged on the work of unsung heroes. An unnamed Israelite slave girl told Naaman the Syrian about the prophet in Israel who could cure his leprosy. An Ethiopian eunuch rescued Jeremiah from the well where he was left to die. A Gentile woman sought help from Jesus for her demon-oppressed daughter and was commended for her faith. A poor widow offered her final coins into the treasury and was celebrated by Jesus who saw her pure heart.
The message is clear: God cares about the simple acts of goodness performed without name recognition or fanfare. The good that is done without others knowing is not missed by our God who sees it all (Matthew 6:1-4). Twelve apostles were chosen by Jesus, but only a handful of them even speak in the gospels. Jesus predicted that they would all go into the world making disciples but we only hear about some chapters of the life of Peter and John. The others carried out that vital task outside of the spotlight of history.
Your work for the kingdom may end up outside the spotlight of history. Sometimes that will feel disheartening, especially in the era of moment-by-moment updates and celebrations we come to expect from social media. Remember that no good things are missed by our Father. One day, every hero’s song will be sung to the glory of the God who sees what is done in secret and offers His own reward.