The Unknown Impact

The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20b, MSG)

Some time ago, we watched a movie, called “The Miracle of the Bells”. I still remember it because it affected me in a surprising way. The story centers around a young woman named Olga who felt destined to play the role of Joan of Arc in a film that was about to be produced. She became terminally ill in the process but refused to slow down until production was finished. As she succumbed to the disease, and finally lay on her death bed, she made this comment, “I did what I was supposed to do.” The result of her death, the release of the movie, and a publicity stunt by her agent/boyfriend all culminated in the people of her town rediscovering their faith in God. The local church that was barely attended by anyone was now filled to capacity Sunday after Sunday.

Olga did what she was supposed to do! She risked her life for the making of that movie, but the eternal impact was powerful. She risked her life but saved countless others. She knew what she was supposed to do, yet she had no idea what the result would be.

Sometimes we feel compelled to accomplish certain tasks for God, and we don’t know why. I’ve realized that we don’t have to know; we just have to be obedient. We have been placed on this earth to make a difference, and we may never know, in this life, what impact our lives have on the plan of God in the lives of others. It does not even have to be something we do out of compulsion but simply a desire to live by God’s Word.

It’s like understanding the concept of the ripple effect. The ripple effect is based on the understanding that we are all connected. The choices we make have far-reaching consequences. Each of us carries within us the capacity to change the world in small ways for better or worse. I like this quote by Mother Theresa: “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples”

Our lives are being monitored by those around us. Knowing that should instill a desire in us to be more mindful of how we live. What kind of example are we setting for others to follow? Will what we do draw others to Christ or repel them? What kind of eternal effect will our lives have? Even the smallest decisions can have a great influence on someone else’s life.

When we are in Christ and truly embrace that our lives are no longer our own, our desire to impact the world for Him will increase. Our desire to obey His Word in all things will be amplified, and we will make an eternal difference in our jobs, our communities, and our homes.