Three Truths to Significance
The unassuming cross stood nestled in the shadows of the prominent headstones.
Some may have walked along the cemetery path and thought the smaller honoring to be a symbol of insignificance. I didn’t think that at all. My imagination conjured a humble person of little means. A family unable to afford a substantial stone.
There were no dates on the cross, so I couldn’t tell the age of the deceased and assumed them to be young. I pictured their burial to be the first, with more prominent crosses following years later.
Had my visit to the cemetery been for research, I’m sure I could have learned more, but at the time, I was there for photos. Still, I couldn’t help but wonder about their stories as I stood next to all the graves.
Now, several years after taking the picture, I believe the same thing I believed as I stood there that cloudy, misty day.
Significance is not determined by the size of your headstone.
Three Truths to Significance #hope #joy #writingcommunity Share on XJames, an early Christian, and believed by many to be the brother of Jesus, wrote a letter to the early Christians. His letter centers on the Christian’s actions resulting from a saving faith. In other words, he stresses that our lives (works) should reflect our faith. So, in the middle of a letter about making sure we “walk the talk”, it is interesting to hear him remind us to live a life of deference.
“Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.” (James 4:10, NASB)
I may have everything wrong about the small cross in the photo. I appreciate God using the photo to remind me of a few truths about our significance.
- We should remain humble. The Bible consistently tells us to live a life of humility.
- We should always defer to God. God is more than we are—in all ways.
- God will make it about us if, when, and how He sees fit. It’s His decision.
Much like the inconspicuous cross, our significance is not based on power, wealth, education, or any effort on our part.
Seems simple enough. My question for you. What makes it difficult to live by these truths?
Today’s feature photo comes from a “photo-a-day” challenge I pursued several years ago. The photo inspires the topic. For me, the posts challenge my creativity, writing discipline, and dependence on God for His message. My prayer is that you find hope in God’s Word, and that you’ll share your hope with others.
Thank you for your thoughts, Tim. It’s difficult to be in the world and not to be influenced by it – to want the acclamation and accomplishment. But the reminder that God gives everything He wants us to have when He wants to do that is comforting.
You are so right Joni. It’s so easy to want to be significant to the world in worldly ways. God alone knows the significance we need to glorify Him.
I’m finding as I get older, it becomes easier to live with those truths. People and circumstances have forced a position of being humbled on me. I fought against that at first, but now I actually enjoy the peace of insignificance. And, since God has walked with me through it all, I want Him to have the highest place possible in my life. Without Him, I couldn’t live in this world at all:)
Thank you Jane. Yes, age and life maturity helps get us to this point. And as you say, “since God walked me through it all”, our reliance on Him helps the most.
Before I was walking with Jesus I placed my value in how others responded to me. That lead to deep depression, disappointments, and people pleasing. Then I gave my life over to Jesus and guess what? Nothing changed because I did not allow God to do a healing work in me. I still sought out my value from the world. Then God placed Psalm 139 on my heart and that passage changed my heart. I realized my value had to come from God but it was a slow change, a slow healing because I was afraid to give up control of every area of my life to God. God is a patient God. He also has a sense of humor. He loves me unconditional yet allows me to still make poor choices, but He also allows me to suffer the consequences to those poor choices BUT GOD…never stopped loving me no matter what. Some say humility is hard but I think surrendering it all to God is harder. I have learned to go to God in all things, be humble in my requests and with the answers I get from Him and be thankful for lessons learned when I step out of his will.
Thank you Teresa for sharing your life and your thoughts. As I read them I think about my own life and how often I see God’s hand in it. I need Him in every area of my life, that’s for sure.