Make Your Life Count
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” - Matthew 5:13-16
One of the most well-known missionaries in history is Jim Elliott. Jim and a team of other missionaries served in Ecuador in an attempt to share Christ with local tribes. On one particular mission effort, Jim, along with four other missionaries, was killed by the very people he came to minister to. He was only 28-years-old.
Just days before he was killed, Jim wrote these words in his journal: “God, I pray thee, light these idle sticks of my life that I may burn for thee. Consume my life, my God, for it is thine. I seek not a long life, but a full one, like you, Lord Jesus.”
It turned out that Jim’s life would not but long, but it would most definitely be full. The impact he made during his time on earth has far-outlived him. For instance, Jim’s wife, along with the other widows of the men who died with Jim, went back to the tribe in Ecuador and had the privilege of leading to Christ the very people who killed their husbands.
God allowed Jim’s life to burn. It was short, but it burned bright.
As follower’s of Christ, we should all be living with the mentality that our lives have purpose. Regardless of whether you live to 28 like Jim Elliott, or to 108, your life needs to count. It needs to make a difference. You were created to make more than a decent living. You were created to make an impact.
So I would encourage you to take some time today and begin asking God to show you how He wants you to make an impact for His Kingdom. Don’t try to excuse yourself because you’re not old enough or you’re not deep enough or you haven’t followed Christ long enough. Don’t compare yourself to other believers. They are not your measuring stick. Jesus is. And Jesus’ desire is for you to live a life surrendered to Him so that you can “let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).