50 years from now, what will they say about you?

About 75 years ago, Walter Scott walked down the sawdust trail at a tent revival in Truesdale, Iowa to accept Christ. A Danish immigrant who was fond of his liquor and quick to swing a fist, he was changed! His conversion was solidified a few years later when a terrible automobile accident left him unable to care for his farm. Members of the local Assembly helped out  while he healed. Their concern for him drew into faithful Christian service and he became part of a little country church that changed my life!  Grandpa Scott's example pointed my Dad toward Christ.  Dad responded to the Spirit and made his own decision to embrace Christ as Lord.  Dad and Mom were Christians, first, all else second. So, I was raised in a home where I was led to love God. As a child I obeyed the Spirit and received Christ as Lord. My children received the Word, taught the knowledge of the Holy One, and each has made a decision to trust Christ.  They are pursuing His will in their lives. And now... my grandchildren are being trained to pray, to trust, to look to eternity.

The long line of influence ripples through time, across miles, and into eternity because of the decision made by  a man that my children never knew, Walter Scott!

What effect will ripple through time from your life? Positive, joyful, encouraging, life giving actions? Critical, embittering, crippling choices? Uniting or dividing words? We do not live without influence, though we sometimes have no idea who will be influenced by what we say and/or do!

Influence that ripples out into the lives of others does not require that we shout our message or overwhelm the world! Jesus says we influence others like  "salt and light."  "You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it useful again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. You are the light of the world—like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don't hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:13-16, NLT) Salt is a critically importance ingredient in so much of our food, but it doesn’t take much! Light is a powerful influence. Put a brightly colored rug in front of a sunlight filled door. It will fade quickly! Plants bend toward the source of light.

I bless Walter Scott’s memory!  In the mystery of the will of God and the response of man, he played a critical part in changing my destiny, and hopefully, through me, the destinies of many others. Will my grandchildren bless my memory, remembering me as salt that preserved their lives from the rot of evil and light that dispelled their darkness?  I pray I am answering that question with daily decisions of faithfulness to God and His will!

Pray this prayer with me today:

“Heavenly Father, may a ripple of grace follow me today.

Let my conversation be full of grace,
my life marked by compassion.

Create a wholeness in me that

lifts the hearts of those come through my life this day.

I thank you for the faithfulness of those who influence me.

Make me a salty saint, a bearer of the Light, as I

give you honor and worship in my thoughts, words, and actions.

I pray in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.”  Amen

____________

I would be true,

For there are those who trust me;

I would be pure,

For there are those who care;

I would be strong,

For there is much to suffer;

I would be brave,

For there is much to dare!

I would be friend of all,

The foe, the friendless;

I would be giving,

And forget the gift;

I would be humble,

For I know my weakness;

I would look up, and laugh,

And love, and lift!

I Would Be True

Walter, Howard Arnold / Peek, Joseph Yates © Public Domain