It is a Wonderful Life

We received word recently that a pastor friend had passed away to heaven.  This particular man was used of the Lord to encourage me to consider going into the ministry. The first time he tried he said, “You should be a pastor !” I responded like Moses, with excuses and a little bit of “Are you serious?” but he persisted and God used him greatly to encourage many others to live for Christ.  Now, his direct influence is gone, he is enjoying the blessings “beyond the vale” !!

It is news like this that God can use to awaken us all to the FACT that there is more to life than what we see and experience here.  There is coming a day when we will all pass on to what God has prepared for us.  But also, what about your direct influence you can have for the Lord each day?  God places you around certain people, puts you in specific situations and what we do and say can have a spiritual impact or it can detract from Christ to others.  We make a mark either way, let it be a Christlike one.  I have always liked what Paul wrote to the Thessalonians when he penned, “You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the Word in much tribulation, with the joy of the Holy Spirit.” (1Thess.1:6).

Yesterday my wife and I met two young ladies, one of whom had three small children at home, no husband and she worked hard in a profession cleaning homes to support them.  I thought, chances are we’ll never see them again so I did what I could to encourage them by handing them a tract and sharing the gospel then encouraging them to call should they have any questions or need any help.  Who knows where one tract will lead, or one positive remark, or encouraging or kind words?  If this man hadn’t encouraged me so, I would’ve never met my wife, never started a church in all likelihood, and never seen the souls saved through our ministry !

Like that Christmas classic “It’s a Wonderful Life”, each life touches so many, but when the life is Christlike that life not only touches it greatly transforms lives into something absolutely wonderful.  So today, as God gives you another day of life here, invest it wisely by being a spiritual encouragement towards someone for Him !!