Jeremiah 29:11 Impacting the World, God's Way

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Recently an icon of the world passed away, he was mourned by millions, and undoubtedly blogs, articles, magazines, and news-posts will cover his life, reliving his glory moments. You see, he was the first man to ever step foot on the moon. He was a test pilot and flew many of the great aviation “firsts” and then he retired to his home town. People will remember him for one thing, millions will adore him because of his steps on the moon. Yet it is hollow glory that he has. He himself never sought out the glory and adoration of the world, but instead tried to live humbly and quietly, never making an issue about his accomplishments. He knew that it could have been anyone who stepped foot on the moon, not just him.

We as people have this inbuilt desire to be part of something bigger, to be present when the world changes, and to be part of that change. We want to feel important and needed, that we are doing something wondrous. Many of us think that we are wasting our life if we aren't doing something visibly unique and special. Our day-to-day normalcy holds no uniqueness and we don't see that perhaps we are doing something special. The Chinese Christian author and speaker Watchman Nee remarked that one of the most Christian people he knew was a lady who lived her life in simplicity and normalcy, reaching out and ministering to him and other young believers like him. God placed her where He needed and wanted her so she could minister and teach someone who then went on to write prolifically (55 of his books have been translated to English).  If it wasn't for  one lonely, eloquent evangelist in North Carolina who spoke a sermon so moving that only a boy responded to the alter call, Billy Graham would never have gotten his start.  God takes people in the course of their everyday life and turns it into something amazing, something profound. He ensures that those whose lives are lived for Him are never lived fruitlessly or ineptly. Every believer is part of something bigger than himself, every life dedicated to Christ changes the world so tremendously that we don't see the ripples, for when a tsunami is coming and the water is drawing back there are no waves until that first devastating wave crashes down.

We as people desire to do something life changing and world changing, but as believers and followers of Christ we know that we are changing the world and changing lives. While it may not be as flashy and visible as taking mankind's first steps on the moon, it is no less important. God has placed you where He needs you and wants you. He has placed you in a place that is perfect for you right now according to His will and His desires for your life.

This week then, lets remember that God has a plan for our life, a righteous, holy, and rewarding plan. As long as we are walking with Him, obeying Him and following His lead, we will change the world one step at a time. God has put you in a position today to do something for Him that no one else can do!

Lord, as we Thy name profess,
May our hearts Thy love confess;
And in all our praise of Thee
May our lips and lives agree.
                                ^{Edwin W. Parker, 1889.}