Multiplied Significance

June 2010  

On a cold December night in 1983, 11-year-old Trevor Ferrell saw a TV newscast about people living on the streets. Those images stirred compassion deep within Trevor and he pleaded with his parents to take him to downtown Philadelphia so he could give his blanket and pillow to the first homeless person he met. I don’t know about you, but meeting a young man with this type of fire and passion is inspiring and quite compelling. In ensuing weeks, with the help of family, classmates and neighbors, Trevor made nightly trips into Philadelphia to distribute food, clothing and blankets to the needy. Through the donations and generosity of citizens and businesses, this little "campaign" soon grew into places to stay and an entire array of services. It became known as Trevor’s Campaign.

The dream and compassion of one small boy has taken on a life of its own and become an integral part of the vital services offered to the estimated 24,000 homeless of Philadelphia. He chose a life that would make a difference, a life that would leave a lasting legacy.        

I am struck these days by this concept. Neil Cole, author of a book entitled Search and Rescue states it like this: “We all need to choose a life that will make the most impact for the Savior. Many wait until they are near the end to evaluate whether their life will have lasting significance. Several years ago I learned that we can determine early in life to have a lasting impact. Every morning we can choose to live a life of significance.”        

Choosing the life: impact for Jesus and significance that lasts! Allow those words to move past your ears and your thoughts and soak into the very fabric of your soul. Let it linger there and leave an indelible impression on your very person—a life of impact and significance. Now of course I am talking about spiritual matters, life in the kingdom of Jesus Christ. Spiritual matters are the only ones which are lasting, truly impacting, and eternally significant.
Look at yourself in the mirror and ask this question of yourself: If I died today what fruit of my life would continue after me? There is no cause to impress or any need for half-truths. Be honest! If you can’t think of many things, then it is time to choose the life that will leave the most impact for the Savior and result in eternal significance.
I offer steps as regular guides in this journey:

• Surrender: Jesus said that a true disciple would “deny himself.” He modeled a life of surrender—“…who being in the very nature God did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant…” Ours must be a life of surrender.
• Confession and Repentance—Spiritual maturity flows from repentance. Coming to terms with our inadequacy and His sufficiency is essential to finding a life of spiritual significance. Acts of repentance are required for health; attitudes of repentance are required for sustaining the Christ-life within us.
• Obedience—Jesus said “If you love me you will obey what I command.” Obedience is the key! I dare say that most of our struggles come from the fact that we choose our own way over the way of the kingdom. Seeking first the kingdom is choosing to follow his will and instructions for our journey!

I am convinced where these attitudes and actions exist there is progress in Christ’s kingdom—individually and corporately. Will you choose a life of impact and significance?

Your Fellow Traveler,
Pastor Dewayne