Your Mark

The moment we die, we’ll be transported by angelic ushers to heaven with Christ and all who have preceded us. The Bible refers to this as a homecoming. But to those without Christ, death is a dreaded affair, hence the variety of euphemisms used to disguise its meaning—checking out, buying the farm, crossing the bar, kicking the bucket and biting the dust.

“When my car slid on ice,” someone said, “I thought my number was up.” I suppose that’s based on the biblical belief that God has appointed us a certain number of days on earth. There’s nothing morbid about that for me. When my number’s up, I’m going—up!

But until I do, I want to send some numbers upward. Every day we’re sending numbers up to heaven—leading people to Christ, accumulating good deeds for Christ’s sake, funding missionary enterprises, helping the poor, and recording our prayer requests in heaven.

Your life does more good than you know. I spoke with a pastor who is doing a great work for the Lord and was humbled when he said God used an early radio broadcast of Turning Point to influence him toward the Lord and vocational ministry. I thought of all those who helped pay for radio time, produced programs, and got that recording on air. The Bible teaches our labor in the Lord isn’t in vain.

Let me suggest five actions that can outlive you, leaving a mark for eternity:

Pray

When God calls you home, the influence of your prayers will remain. A friend of mine met a children’s pastor who was one of eleven children, many of whom strayed badly during their adolescence and adulthood. Her father, a man of prayer, begged the Lord for his children to be saved in Christ. “He prayed all his children into the kingdom,” the woman said, “the last four coming to the Lord after his death.”^[1]

Win Souls

Besides praying, the greatest way to impact eternity is winning souls to Christ. Bill Bright, one of the greatest soul-winning forces in the twentieth century, once explained his secret: “Although I have shared Christ personally with many thousands of people through the years, I am a rather reserved person and I do not always find it easy to witness. But I…assume that whenever you are alone with another person for more than a few moments, you are there by divine appointment to explain to that person the love and forgiveness he can know through faith in Jesus Christ.”^[2]

Invest in the Next Generation

We should also invest our lives in the next generation. The psalmist prayed, “O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come” (Psalm 71:18). Perhaps you have children, grandchildren, nieces, or nephews to influence. The children’s ministry probably needs volunteers. A nearby school may need mentors, or a group of college kids may need a home-cooked meal. Think of the mark a few words of counsel to a young person could make. The Bible says, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver” (Proverbs 25:11).

Use Your Spiritual Gifts

Fourth, use your spiritual gifts. Some people saved during the Tribulation will perish while trying to use their gifts for the Lord. A heavenly voice will say, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” The Holy Spirit will reply, “Yes, that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them” (Revelation 14:13). That’s encouraging truth. God has given us opportunities and spiritual gifts. The Bible promises, “Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Galatians 6:9).

Accept Jesus Christ as Savior

Finally, if you want to impact eternity, let eternity impact you. Don’t wait. Trust the One who died for you and rose again. Receive Him as your Savior, and claim eternal life. The Bible says, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). Then join us as we live from here to eternity, leaving marks along the way and investing our lives in things eternal for Christ and His cause.

David Jeremiah is the senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church and the founder and host of Turning Point for God. For more information about Dr. Jeremiah or Turning Point, visit www.DavidJeremiah.org.