Leaving an Impact
Leaving an impact, everyone does it. Everyone we meet laves an impact on us, and everyone we meet we leave an impact on. Sometimes it is a good thing, while other times it’s a negative thing. But, good or bad we leave an impact.
Notice how a small drop into water leaves its impact. Ripples spread out from where it hits so anyone can tell the water’s surface was disturbed. Yet, it only a few moments that affect is gone. The fact that the drop impacted the water will soon be forgotten.
I remember hearing a speaker share a good illustration of making an impact. He said, if you want to see how much impact we often make, put your hand in a bucket of water and begin swirling it around. After you have created quite a disturbance, remove your hand. For awhile the affects of your swirling will remain. Yet, after not so long a time, the water returns to same placid state in which you found it! So much for lasting impact.
Yet, on the other hand, let’s think of a different type of impact. Have you ever been visiting a tourist spot and seen a machine that will stamp a penny with an image of the place? I have. For fifty cents and one penny I can make an object, impacted or imprinted, with the image and keep it for all time. The old image is overlaid by the new one. Though it’s still just a copper coin, the face of Lincoln is gone for the picture of the attraction. No longer is it “spendable.” Rather, it now bears the impact and image of a new stamp. This permanent impact and change is the kind of impact we should seek to leave on people around us.
Whose life are you leaving a lasting impact for the Lord? Are you intentionally attempting to leave this kind of impact on others? Each of us are to be engaged in impact ministries.
Think about it.