As believers, we are called to impact the world. Even from the last post, it is evident that God is not pleased with us living a “quiet” life…a life likened to the blowing of wind. We must first do away with mediocrity if we want to live a life of impact.
Believers are called the salt of the earth, and the light of the world. You can easily differentiate a soup that has been cooked with salt from that which has been cooked without salt because of the sweetening effect salt gives. Likewise, when light is introduced into a dark place, it brightens up the place. That is its effectiveness. It leaves an impression that darkness can’t comprehend. We are the light of the world, so we must shine and leave an impression darkness can’t comprehend. We must leave an irreversible impact. Jesus has done it and has enabled us to do the same too and even much more! (John 14:12; Matthew 5:13-16)
Impact is found in purpose. Those who live a life of purpose inevitably live a life of impact. Jesus’s impact on the world was found in Him fulfilling purpose. Because God has so ordained it that our purposes also centre on others, on the path to fulfilling it, we end up impacting people. Both Israel and Egypt enjoyed the impact of Joseph because he fulfilled his purpose. (Genesis 47:1-27)
A biblical example of someone who lived a life of impact was Dorcas. She was so resourceful to those around her, especially the needy. Her life meant so much to others so her death was too painful to come into terms with. So, they called for Peter and he (through the power of God) raised her back to life. If Dorcas had lived without impacting even just one person, she may have been forgotten as soon as she died. But even till this present day, we remember her because of the great impact she had in the lives of so many. (Acts 9:36-42)
Therefore, you cannot separate a Christian’s need to impact others from the place of love and good deeds. Jesus had (and still has) the greatest impact on us and on the world at large, as a result of His love for us. We are also made to know He went about leaving an impression on people by His good deeds. Dorcas meant so much to so many people because of her good deeds. (Acts 10:38)
I listened to a sermon where Pastor Abd Al-Fadi was narrating his journey to salvation. He met a Christian family in his early years in America. Though he didn’t end up getting directly converted by them, when he did eventually get converted, he remembered them for the seed of love they had sown in his life. Every time he speaks of his salvation, he would remember that family and by effect, every time I hear his name, I would remember the family that indirectly led him to Christ through their display of love. That’s impact. In impacting one person, you end up impacting another and that person impacts another and the chain continues. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Os3eDuLwToM&t=1269s)
I know I have mentioned that negative actions also bring impact but that’s not to cheer on those doing bad things in the name of impact. We are not interested in negative impact. Your impact must be positive. Scripture makes it clear in Ephesians 2:10 that “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them”. We are created unto good works so our impact on people should be positive.
More than ever, the world needs the impartation of believers. This is not a time to sit with folded arms and do nothing. We are told clearly in Romans 8:19 that the whole of creation awaits earnestly the manifestations of the sons of God. In essence, the world is waiting for our impact. If people of the world are impacting others negatively should people of the Kingdom of God sit idly? It is your life’s mission to leave a lasting positive impression on others. (Jeremiah 1:5; Romans 8:19-21)
However, we can only impact others in a way that pleases God, when we ourselves have been impacted by Him. The disciples were able to have such an effect on the early Christians and Christianity as a whole because they themselves had been impacted by Christ…so much that people called them by His name. (Acts 11:26)
P.S: The greatest way to live a life of impact is to tell people about Jesus. While you leave God’s mark in people’s lives through living out your purpose, showing love and doing good deeds according to the Word of God, be sure to tell them about Jesus. That way you invest in their lives and souls. Jesus has the ability to impact a person’s life and eternity. Tell someone about Jesus today.
Faith+blog 