Okay, you didn’t come close to having the same confidence of the girl in school whose fashion statement complimented her perfect hair and matching teeth. Nor did you possess the wit and amazing athletic skills of the new kid whose family just started coming to your church. Even after a few years of adulthood, you recognized that you didn’t have the same character quality of philanthropy as the young woman you knew in college who passed on a six-figure offer with a firm, to instead, follow her heart with a non-profit. I, myself, repeatedly searched my innermost being trying to channel some root essence of greatness; admittedly, I found none. It was time to stop measuring my self-worth by other’s opinions and dig a little deeper. At some point in life, your habits and beliefs will define who you are.
So ask yourself, what it is that defines you? Are you into an image or trend? Maybe you obsess about an activity. As we seemingly fill every minute of our spare time, how are we ever supposed to make room for things that matter on a deeper level? And how do we avoid resenting them for taking up that spare time? Often we end up exhausted and minimizing the impact we have on our family and our faith.
If we care about living out our Christian worldview, there needs to be a shift in our priorities. You may be able to multi-task many things but don’t fool yourself into thinking you can keep that performance going indefinitely; your audience knows when you’re dropping the ball despite how good a juggler you think you are.
After you’re gone, how will you be remembered and what will your legacy be? The media asks, “A good person … is that it?” They try to convince the need to reach higher and validate yourself with greater recognition, a nicer truck, or a bigger home; like a pro, like a boss. For some believers, self-image is a fragile thing and it’s tragic when that insecurity ends up taking a toll on their family. They see their own legacy in material things, or an image, how connected or how talented they are. The value of expressing the Christian faith through action or word ends up meaning little because indifference doesn’t allow time to work it in.
Don’t lose site of the mission; that assignment we were created for in the first place. It’s when you stand on principle and live for something greater than yourself, that legacies are built. And the greatest legacy believers can leave is how their life impacted others through Christian principle and virtue. Long after you’re gone, how your own children grow their families will speak volumes on the legacy you leave. All those other things combined won’t come close to the power of a life well lived in
Christ. Don’t let the street define you. As Christian values are being increasingly assaulted with focused attacks in our neighborhoods and around the world, the evil one seeks to beat you into submission with apathy and indifference. Stand on a Christian worldview and believe what you say. Because as believers, there’s more that defines us than just a label; it’s character, it’s what you stand for. Let your legacy be such that when you go to “battle stations” in response to threat or crisis, you push back and let your faith be the measure in seeking God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit.
There’s a wonderful, reassuring song by contemporary Christian recording artists Casting Crowns titled, “God of All My Days”; since this is print media, you’re saved from hearing me sing that here. However, I’ll use the theme to reinforce the hope and promise that He’s got you in all seasons of life. Through every chapter of life, our Creator is grooming and preparing you with valuable experiences; don’t be so quick to explain away things as coincidence. For when you finally acknowledge to being available in His service, it’s by God’s grace that those talents and abilities, uniquely yours, can be effectively used on your journey, on your mission.
You were made for this; your legacy is ready to be written.
“Three-minute exposure; a snapshot of life’s imperfect harmony,” by Stew McAuley.
Encouraging your Christian Worldview.
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