I just want to make a mark
I just want to touch someone’s heart
In this world, Lord Jesus, for You
May I ever burn with Your fire
Never let me lose the desire
To make a mark on this world for You

This song by the Hoppers was going through my head this morning when I woke up. I don’t expect that it was a coincidence that the pastor’s sermon this morning was on humility. I do want to make a mark on this world but I wonder how much of my focus is on Jesus and wanting to please Him and how much is on wanting to feel better about myself.

Yesterday, as I was praying for loved ones of friends who are fighting for their life due to COVID-19, I wondered why my life was spared. I just went through a minor case of it and, although I am dealing with extra fatigue, I am doing okay. Maybe God brought this song to mind to remind me that He still has a plan for me and that I still have time to make a mark on this world for Him. But it’s important that that is where my mind is at: on Him.

I would like to encourage each of you, my readers. Since you are alive, you are here for a purpose. It doesn’t matter how bad your health is, how dysfunctional your family is, or how tremendous your trials are. God still wants to use you in some way.

I will go further and say that you are making some kind of a mark. The question is really, What kind of a mark are you making? Are you encouraging people to draw closer to the Lord or are you stressing them with your continual self-focus? Are you making it clear to those around you what they do not want to become, or are you full of the Spirit, being someone that others can imitate as you exhibit Christ?

If this past year and a half has taught us anything, it’s that no one knows whether or not they will be here tomorrow. That should sober every one of us. Life is more than us personally being ready to go to Heaven. People around us are dying, discouraged, and depressed. If we do nothing else, we can pray, but we should also seek to be in tune with the Spirit in order to know how we can give to others a word fitly spoken which will, in turn, inspire them to pass along a kind word to someone else.

Let’s not waste whatever time we have left on earth, but let’s actively begin to make a mark on this world for the Lord.