Your Story

Most people like to see something about themselves in the newspaper. Every year, I see pictures of people from our congregation in the local paper for one reason or another. Sometimes they are just snapshots taken at some community event. Sometimes they are for some activity that they are involved in. Sometimes they are for receiving an award. When Krista and I first moved to Greenville, a large picture of us buying snowcones was on the front page. (Maybe we were being honored for Excellence in Snowcone Purchasing.) I've seen several of you in the newspaper in recent weeks. Many of you have earned special honors at school, either in sports or academics (or both). It makes me proud of you every time I see it.

In the Bible, we don't see pictures of people, but God did record their actions. He included the good and the bad actions, sometimes from the same people. We read about the faithfulness of Abraham and the courage of Daniel. There's Samson, who was physically strong but had a weakness for women. The stories of David's heart and Joseph's righteousness, of Ruth's love and Peter's boldness--they're all there for us to read.

What if your story was being recorded for future generations? Would it show acts of your faithfulness, how you withstood temptation, how you proclaimed God's message? Would the pages show that you sometimes stumbled but still remained steady in your commitment to serve Him? What would people read about you a thousand years from now?

The truth is, you are creating your life's story. It's not being recorded for millions to read, but you're leaving a legacy nonetheless. What you do today affects your tomorrow. Other people see your actions and can be influenced for good or bad. And you get to choose the ultimate ending--here you will spend eternity. What will it be in your story?

Have a great week, and keep your light shining.

(From the Johnson Street Youth Group Trumpeter, 7/6/08)