Editorial

In God’s agenda for man, He ordained every man to make significant impact in the lives of people around them. When you can do such, you become valued and celebrated, and being celebrated by others is an indication of your life counting in your generation. Your life cannot count by itself except you make it count. You do this by taking steps to make a difference every day and avoid giving excuses. Joseph had enough reasons not to interpret the dreams of the butler and baker, but he looked beyond what he was going through to help them and this act ultimately aided the realization of his dream (Genesis 40:6-22, 41:9-14). David had men who were in debt, distressed, and destitute come to him during his tough time and rather than give excuses and dismiss them, he helped them become noteworthy men in their generation. He not only made his life count but equally built these men to the point that their lives also became significant (I Samuel 22:1-2, II Samuel 23:8-9). Therefore, do not give excuses about your destiny. Making your life count is not only in times of convenience but equally in times of inconvenience. Help people around you find their purpose and direction; build them to become meaningful in their generation. Like Mordecai, help an Esther to find her path and you will be eternally significant and relevant in your generation (Esther 4:13-16, 8:1-2, 9:4&26-32, 10:3).

MAKING YOUR LIFE COUNT

God has called every man to express meaning in his/her generation, but whether an individual will be meaningful is determined by what the person lives for. Our light needs to shine and bring illumination to others. Jesus in one of His teachings emphasized that you are the light of the world and you must shine enough for the world to see (Matthew 5:14&16). The moment your light begins to shine, your life begins to count, and your value is expressed. Your life must count in your generation, you must be noteworthy, and your value revealed.

Your life will count when you make every day of it count. That was why Moses said in Psalm 90:12, ‘So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom”You amount to nothing when your life does not count or touch other people. You are created for meaning, and when your life starts expressing that meaning, then your life starts counting. Fulfillment begins when other people’s lives experience changes through your own life.

The oddity of life may make you feel that your life is not counting, but that is far from the truth. Embracing the easy way of residing in a comfort zone does not make your life count. You are called into a noble mission, so march boldly into a future of significance, irrespective of the hardship of life. In this year, no matter what you feel about the situation and circumstances around you, your life must count! The Lord raised every man to be significant, including  you. You are given as a gift to your generation;therefore, your life must count.

However, you need to know the things that you must do to make your life count. One key ingredient in being impactful is KNOWLEDGE. If you don’t have the right knowledge, you cannot impact people, thus your life will not count. You must be a merchant of knowledge, seeking earnestly for it. Proverbs 19:2 says, “Also, that the soul be without knowledge is not good: and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.”Knowledge is necessary as this gives you an edge and makes you be ahead in life, thereby making you impact others.

Don’t live for yourself. When you live for yourself, your life will not count. Even Jesus Christ did not live for Himself (Rom 14:9). Nothing is created to live for itself. When we live for ourselves, everything ends with us, and we cannot make meaning. Live for God and your life will in return affect others. Philippians 1:21 says, ‘For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.’ Christ gave Himself for you that He might give Himself to you and that He might live His life through you.

Another way you can make your life count is through your SERVICE. You don’t need to be a philanthropist before you can touch lives. Watch out for the lives that are hopeless and give them a sense of hope. Use your life as a lifeline for others, let your life be a reference point. Make up your mind this year to invest in other people. Allow others to find and express their meaningfulness through you so that their lives can be meaningful. David was a man given to service and this was expressed in Acts 13:36, ‘For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:’He served his generation according to the will of God and that is why he is a reference point till date. When you’re doing what others don’t do, your life is counting; but most importantly when you’re bringing up people to do the same thing you are doing, then you are making your life count the more. David was a giant killer and he raised men after such (I Samuel 17:42-51, II Samuel 21:15-22).Be a hand that God can work through. God is still in the business of asking, ‘whom shall I send?’ (Isaiah 6:8). So, if you can make yourself available, then God will make use of you. Be like David, Esther, Deborah, and the likes who brought significant changes during their time. Bring out the reality of God embedded on your inside.

Push your service to the point of SACRIFICE for people to become what God wants them to be. An example were the three mighty men of David who risked their lives for David and by that gained relevance (II Samuel 22:15-17; 23:13-17).  Jesus is equally an example of a man that sacrificed; ‘Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he SACRIFICED (emphasis mine) Hebrews 5:8. He endured the cross so that many sons will come to glory. By this sacrifice Christ is eternally relevant. Abel, another example, gave an excellent sacrifice to God, and although he’s been dead, yet he still speaks! ‘By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh’ (Hebrews 11:4).

To make your life count, you need to understand and exhibit A SENSE OF URGENCY. Know that there is time for everything, and for that which you are to do, now is the time! You don’t have to wait again. It’s high time you stepped out to make that change and difference, stop procrastinating. Wherefore Jesus said, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” John 9:4 KJV. The time to start making your life count is NOW! If you don’t commence now, there may not be any time again. Remember that there is time for everything. ‘To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:’ Ecclesiastes 3:1.If it is not now, then when? If it is not you, then who?

You also need to learn to tolerate people. Don’t be too quick to judge people or conclude on them based on their present attitude, understanding that people can change if given the opportunity and helped. God is the God of second chance and tolerance. It is not always good to conclude on a person based on first impression, learn to give them another chance. They will soon rise to beat your imagination and become more than what you were expecting of them. Paul attested of Onesimus as initially being unprofitable, but eventually became profitable to his ministry later on – ‘I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me’ Philemon 1:10-11. Paul also initially rejected John Mark from following them further in the ministry work in Acts 15:37-40, but later attested to his need of him because of his profitability to his ministry. ‘Only Luke is with me. Take Mark and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry’ II Timothy 4:11. So, give people the benefit of doubt, while helping them become what God ordained them to be. Their transformation will surprise you. In addition, note that it is not where you sow that you will reap, but you will surely reap what you sow. Therefore, when your effort is not appreciated over a life, do not be discouraged because one thing is sure, you will still have your reward. You must make up your mind to be a hiding place, that people run to for rest and succor (Isaiah 32:2). When you are such, their meaning will be expressed, and their lives take a new turn.

In conclusion, you must remember that making your life count “is a must’ and you should embark on it and make it an everyday affair. Jesus said in John 9:4,” I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work”, and He has sent you as His Father sent Him (John 20:21b) so, we must equally give attention to this assignment laid ahead of us. You do not need to have so much before you can start imparting others. Start from where you are and with what you have; and by this, your meaning will be expressed, and your life will count.

Making your life to count starts from giving your life to Jesus Christ. And if you are yet to do so, confess this prayer and experience peace and freedom from God.

‘Lord, Jesus, I invite you into my life today. I believe You died and resurrected for me. I believe your blood was shed to cleanse and set me free. Forgive me all my sins and make me new. I accept you by faith today and receive the free gift of eternal life. Come be my Saviour and Lord. Amen!’

Congratulations! You are now born again. To keep growing, it’s important to attend a Bible Believing Church. We welcome you to worship with us at our centres. God bless you.