In a Faith Promise Missions conference at our church in 2003, missionary Ron White challenged us with these words, “If every time when your loved ones remember you, they think of Him, your influence lives on.”
Puritan pastor Richard Baxter wrote a book titled A Call to the Unconverted, and many folk were drawn to Christ who read it, including Philip Doddridge (1702-1751), who became well known as a preacher, hymnist and president of a seminary.
Doddridge wrote a widely-read book, The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul. That book touched the life of William Wilberforce who, upon reading it, came to Christ as Savior. Wilberforce was instrumental in advocating freedom for slaves in Great Britain. In time, he wrote A Practical View of Christianity, read by Leigh Richmond, who later became the author of many gospel tracts, touching multitudes of lives, many of whom found Christ as Savior.
Sir Walter Scott realized how important one’s life story and influence was. He wrote: “I am drawing near to the close of my career. I am fast shuffling off the stage. I have been perhaps the most voluminous author of the day. It is a comfort to me to think I have tried to unsettle no man’s faith, to corrupt no man’s principle, and that I have written nothing which on my deathbed I should wish blotted out.”
One child so lived that even after her untimely death she continued to influence others for good. On the tombstone at her grave were chiseled these words, “A child of whom her playmates said, ‘It was easier to be good when she was with us.’”
I wish I could tell you whose words the following are, but I cannot; the author is unknown to me, but his/her words should never be forgotten:
“We die, but we leave an influence behind that survives. The echoes of our words are evermore preserved for the ages. It is what a man was that lives and acts after him. The sphere in which he acts may be small or great; may be a fireside or a kingdom. The grave buries the dust, but the character walks the world…the sun sets on the western hills, but the trail of light it leaves behind guides the pilgrim to his distant home. The tree falls in the forest, but in the lapse of ages it is turned into coal and our fires burn the brighter because it grew and fell. What we do is translated on a stage of which all the universe is spectator; what we say is translated in echoes that will never cease!”
We all leave our print and imprint upon lives we touch day by day. A little boy sat down beside his weary father who, on a front porch, sat viewing what a day before had been a brilliant golden field of grain—before, through the dark of night, a violent storm had swept through the farmer’s field, leaving nothing but a path of destruction. The lad expected to see tears falling from the father’s eyes, trickling down his weather-beaten cheeks; but instead was startled to hear his dad break forth with, “Rock of ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee.” Years later, when the boy had grown to manhood, he testified, “That was the greatest sermon I ever heard.” His dad had lost his grain crop, but it just might have been the turning point in changing the course of that son’s life forever. We all influence others every day, for good or for bad.
I read of a pastor who, at the close of a church service, led an eleven-year-old boy to Christ at the altar before the service was dismissed. Rising from the front bench, the pastor introduced the lad as a new member of the family of God. But before dismissing the assembly, the pastor asked if there were anyone who had, at one time or another, a part in this youngster’s life, including his parents, teachers, superintendents, etc. All were invited to come to the front of the auditorium to stand with this young believer. So, one by one they came: a nursery worker, who recalled singing, “I like to go to church” when the boy was just a toddler; a beginner’s Sunday School superintendent, who remembered the smiling face of a five-year old as the child saw seeds sprouting in their Nature Center. A superintendent of the Junior Department rejoiced that he had made those extra visits just last year when the child was confined with the measles. It took several minutes, as people moved to the front of the building—thirty-seven adults in all who gathered around this boy, each of whom in some way had a share in the child’s decision that day to accept Christ.
So, again, one day, or even today, when people remember you, do they think of Him?
“Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men.” (II Cor. 3:2)
YOU and GOD 