Psalm 139:14-16 - You ARE changing the World, but How?

Psalm 139:14-16 “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven  together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” (NLT)

This past week, the world saw the death of a man who changed it. Newspaper articles abounded describing his effects and magazines covers were filled with his face. One man who almost single-handedly changed the way the entire world works – or so the story is being told.  In truth, if not for the efforts of this man, the world we know would be quite different. His leadership in his field has been marvelous for technology, but the world before him was not so radically different. People are the same and would be able to do the same things in a different fashion, if not so easily.  But he himself was not the only one who should be lauded for his changes. His family who guided him and sacrificed for him, his teachers who taught him, and even the people who influenced him are also responsible for his success. Few of them will ever be acknowledged or well known but if not for them and their influence then this man would not have been the man he is today.

We do not know all the events in his life that made an impression on him. We do not know the people who put the time and energy into leading, guiding, and teaching this man as a young boy. What we do know is that by the world's standards he and therefore they were quite successful.

Is it any wonder that God has a plan for each of us? A plan to help us and not to harm us? (Jeremiah 29:11) He knows what He wants for us in our lives. Most of us will never be as worldly successful as this man, but spiritually we never know. We do not know the effects we have on people. If it was not for Elijah, there would have been no Elisha. If not for an obedient pastor, there would be no Billy Graham. If not for you then someone would not be where they are now. You are changing the world every day but you just do not know it yet. That is why it is so important to be centered in God's will for your life. I know that we all want to change it for the better and to make a positive impact on people. Today is your chance, today and everyday you have the ability to affect people and to show that you are a true child of God.

This week then, lets all remember that it isn't really us who is in charge of our lives, it is God. He is the one who guides us to every encounter we have that we may declare His glory in word and deed. Lets make every effort to exemplify God and change the world for the better. We may not have the media coverage that this dead man does, but we all have just as important an impact on people's lives even if we do not realize it!

All that I am I owe to Thee,
Thy wisdom, Lord, has fashioned me;
I give my Maker thankful praise,
Whose wondrous works my soul amaze.
                                             -Puritan Hymn