Don’t you just love creative sayings that make you think? I love it when I come across something in emails, church signs, or in funny articles in community papers. I don’t even know where I found the most recent one which captured my attention, but it is food for thought.
“Aspire to inspire before you expire.” If you break it down in definition form you get the following: “Seek ambitiously to fill with animating, quickening or exalting influence before you come to an end; die.” In other words, make your life count for something. You can’t take anything with you when your time on this ball is up, including your reputation. So, what do you want to be known for when you’re gone? What do you want written on your tombstone?
Most people don’t like to live life thinking about dying, but when you do pause and ponder life and how short it is, you begin to realize what matters in life and what’s meaningless fluff. Our world is filled with so much fluff. If you live a life of substance, a life that will impact your generation and the world around you, it isn’t by accident.
Acts 13:36a says “For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep.” David was the second king of Israel and one of the greatest in Israel’s history. He was said to have had the heart of God. God created David for a purpose and He has created you for one too. Are you fulfilling God’s purposes with your life or are you just taking up space?
Jeremiah 29:11 tells us the Lord has plans for us. John 10:10 tells us the enemy has a plan for us too. We cannot fulfill both of their plans because they contradict one another. The enemy’s plan for us is death and destruction and the Lord’s purpose for us is abundant life. Every decision we make, every action we take, supports one of these two plans.
When you finally do expire, will you have inspired others? Will you be known as one who drew others closer to the Lord by the things you said and the way you lived your life? Will you be able to stand before the Lord and say you have served His purpose in your generation?
Take some time today to reflect on how you invest your time, resources and talents. Ask the Lord if it lines up with His plan and purposes for your life. If He tells you yes, then press on passionately. If not, then ask the Lord to reveal what needs to change so you can have a powerful impact on your generation. Be a history maker…a world changer…and live out your divine destiny. Be one who inspires others to press in to Jesus.