Make
Your Mark
What we are in the present is the sum
total of the choices we made in the past. Yes, environment and circumstances
influence us, but ultimately, our choices cause us to either overcome or
succumb.
Sam Walton, Bill Gates, Oprey Winfrey, and Barak Obama are household words. They
made choices so that their achievements carried them to that position of wide
recognition.
A devout young virgin girl named Mary
who said “be it unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1: 38) became the mother
of Jesus Christ. She made her mark. A table waiter in the early church named
Stephen spoke words and demonstrated a totally devoted life before a Christian
killer named Saul, who later became the great Apostle Paul. Stephen made his
mark (Acts 7: 58). A red-necked, impetuous fisherman named Peter forsook all to
follow Jesus and helped usher in the age of the Holy Spirit in the church (Acts
2: 14). He made his mark. The Sunday school teacher who influenced Billy Graham
toward the Lord made his mark.
Wherever you and I are today in life’s
scheme, God has provided that we can make a significant mark on time and
eternity. Many people come and go, and they never really leave any kind of
legacy behind. They pass on, virtually unknown. How can you and I make a real
and meaningful contribution, something that is of real value and that is truly
enduring? We don’t have to be one who just comes and goes, who never really
makes a mark. We can be “somebody,” and here’s how: If we live out true wisdom
in our daily life, we will make our mark. And here is true wisdom.
Daniel wrote, “And
they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that
turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever” (Dan. 12: 3).
Solomon,
known as the world’s wisest man, wrote, “The fruit of the
righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth
souls is wise” (Pro
11:30).
The Apostle Paul wrote that the
preaching of the cross of Jesus Christ, considered foolishness by the world, is
the power and wisdom of God. The result of preaching the gospel is turning
people to righteousness, getting them saved, born again (1 Corinthians 1:
17-31).
At this writing, my wife and I are
dealing with some physical challenges that in the natural we say work to hinder
the preaching of the gospel. I said, “I’m gonna get
these healings manifested and I’m gonna teach and
preach the gospel all over the world with signs following.” And the Lord said,
“If you will teach and preach the gospel all over the world, signs will follow
the Word and you will get your healings manifested.” In other words, I am to
adopt the mentality to seek first the kingdom of God no matter what, to give
myself to preach the Word no matter what, to be speaking the Word with praise
and thanksgiving into life’s situations no matter what, and all these things
will be added to me. Physical needs will be met, financial needs will be met.
So my business is to give myself to
focus on kingdom business with my total devotion to the Lord, speaking the Word
into life’s situations and into people’s lives, and in everything giving thanks
and praise to God for the victory—no matter what. It is all based on the cross,
the good news of the finished work of Jesus Christ on my behalf. In him it’s already
done. No good thing will he withhold from those who walk uprightly before him
(Psalms 84:11). If we seek him first, we get it all.
When we seek him first, we become a
soul-winner, one who influences others toward the Lord, as Daniel puts it one who “turns many to righteousness.” Look at Jesus. Is he not
the epitome of living in God’s wisdom? What did he do? He was totally devoted
to turning many to righteousness by the power of God, speaking the Word into
lives and situations, setting them free, influencing them to turn to the Lord
God. He made his mark.
In
God’s eyes, when we are an instrument through which people are turned toward
the Lord, we are making our mark. God knows our name. We will shine in the
kingdom of God for all eternity. This is the real mark of real value, to set
people free and turn them from an eternal hell to an eternal heaven. Wow! What
an achievement! What an achievement!!!
This is the mark to make in life!