Morning Dew
Key Passage: Hebrews 11
Key Text: Hebrews 11:4 – “And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.”
Sometimes we never truly appreciate a person until they have departed this world. Honestly I think a person’s true worth is never fully appreciated whilst they are alive. Look at all the great art masters. Van Gough, Picasso, Matisse, Davinci, Michelangelo, Donatello, Botticelli, Raphael, Rubens, Rembrandt etc etc, most of them died poor and unappreciated whilst they were alive, but today their works command millions of dollars at auctions all around the world. I think Van Gough would have appreciated a few millions whilst he was alive. Why is this important and why should we learn from their lives. I am convinced that how one lives ones life has an impact on ones mortality. Life is a stage and how we play our part in it determines whether our roles are remembered. How many movies have you seen and after a few hours you cannot even remember some of the people in the lesser roles.
Recently, I began to think of a friend who departed this life two years ago, and I began to truly appreciate the impact he had on me and on countless thousands of us that he came in contact with. I began to reflect on the enormous heart he had and the unusual grace he had on his life to be able to accomplish such great feats in such a relatively short life. He is dead, yet there is hardly a day I don’t think of him or have reason to think about him, even if it just for a cursory, fleeting moment. He is dead but his deeds are still waxing eloquently in the annals of time.
The bible tells us that God should teach us how to number our days that we may gain a heart of understanding. What are you doing with your life? What are you going to be remembered for? What will speak of you after you have left these shores? I am convinced that God’s plan is for us to leave an indelible impression in the sands of time. Actually in hearts of other human beings. Whilst some devote their energies to making incredible sums of money, so they can buy the respect of men, others dedicate their lives to helping others become better and great, yet one dies and is never remembered and all his wealth squandered, and the other dies, but lives on in the lives of those he has touched. Gain a heart of understanding. Today’s passage talks of the heroes of faith and the exploits they carried out whilst they were here. The defied the status quo and brought about a new order. They believed God and changed their world. They eventually died, but really never died, because everyday people still speak of their exploits thousands of years after they have left this world.
A Christian has the power of eternity in them and we have the power of the age to come. We can change our world. We can influence people for good. We can be a blessing beyond this world. Why do we cower and hide behind our trees of excuses and our fig leaves of religiosity and watch the world around crumble and decay? Why don’t we use what we have to change our world?
Life is short but you can make it long by making a great impact with your life. Jesus only spent 33 years on this earth physically and the impact He made still speaks ever so eloquently. I know you would say He is the Son of God and no one can ever replicate what He did. I would have said yes you are right, but you are a son or daughter of God too, if you are a believer and Jesus himself said, in John 14:12 – “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”
There will never be another Jesus Christ, His position is unique in eternity, but he has given all of us the right to rise up and change our world for His glory.
What will be said of you when you leave the stage?
Let’s pray: Father God, thank you for the grace to live is such a way that we still speak long after we have left this world. Father, help me to number my days so I can gain a heart of understanding. Help me to leave an indelible print in the hearts of people for good and for your kingdom in Jesus name I pray. Amen.