Living to Make a Difference

Donnie Snyder

September 2022

If you truly want to start Living to Make a Difference in our culture, there are four things that you can regularly reflect upon for ongoing motivation. They are heart, authentic evaluation, legacy and focus. Just think of the acronym H.A.L.F. Let’s drill down on the four.

Heart

“Heart” is an interesting word used in many ways. You have probably said to someone “I love you with all my heart.” Have you ever heard the saying “let’s get to the heart of the matter”? What about “my heart is broken”? As a Texan, I would be remise if I didn’t mention the saying “deep in the heart of Texas “.

The word heart is mentioned over 700 times in the Bible. Almost every time it refers to the innermost being of the person. That makes it obvious to me that our “heart” is important to God.

I believe that hearts are calloused today. Think about it, a callous develops gradually over time to prevent pain or feeling. Where is our culture when it comes to ethics, morality, truth and “sanctity of life”? Do these and other issues today stir your heart? If not, you might be developing a calloused heart.

Jesus always went straight to the heart when he interacted directly with people. The story of the rich young ruler recorded in Matthew 19:16-22 is an excellent example.

Obviously concerned about his future, the rich young ruler is clearly searching for something that wealth and position can’t provide. He asks Jesus what he must do to have eternal life. After a short dialogue with this young man, Jesus goes straight to his heart. He tells this man to sell his possessions, give to the poor which will provide him heavenly treasure and then follow him. When the young man heard this, he went away sorrowful, because he had many possessions. Even though he wanted eternal life, his possessions were ruling his heart, his innermost being.

Another example is recorded in John 5: 1-9. Jesus sees a lame man at the Pool of Bethesda and knows that he had been in that condition for a long time. He immediately asks the man “Do you want to be made well?.” The man begins to offer up excuses but Jesus said to him “Rise, take your bed and walk.” Straight to the heart, the innermost being.

God wants our Heart above all else! Consider Abraham, he was willing to sacrifice his son Isaac as God instructed. When Abraham raised that knife, God knew he had Abraham’s heart, his innermost being, and stopped him.

Consider David, who was called a “Man after God’s own heart.” David failed many times in life, but always repented and sought a right relationship with God. Therefore, God honored David’s heart, his innermost being. Think about this:

• Jesus is from the line of David

• Jesus was born in the City of David

• Luke 1:32 says that Jesus will sit on the Throne of David

• Jesus’ last words were from of a Psalm of David (Ps. 22:1)

I think it is clear that God wants our hearts and he will honor a right heart.

Authentic Evaluation

The difference between good coaches and great coaches is that great coaches don’t fear “authentic evaluation.” It is just a part of their DNA on problem solving and improving. Coaches like John Wooden, Tom Osborne, Bobby Bowden and Tom Landry all had this common denominator.

We need to “authentically evaluate” our present culture if we are going to change it. If we take an honest and authentic look, I think it becomes apparent that this present American culture is not what our Founding Fathers intended. The signers of the Declaration of Independence risked all they had, including their lives, to launch the United States of America. I doubt that our present culture is something they would have risked everything for.

Think about those Minutemen on Concord Bridge, the soldiers on Omaha Beach on D-Day or Marines at Iwo Jima. Ask yourself, do you think the state of our current America culture is what they fought for?

We presently live in a “dark culture.” For every good thing about the internet there is 100 bad ways it is being used. Substance abuse, mass shootings and sexual immorality are becoming the norm. Studies show that over 28,000 users are viewing pornography every second. I could go on and on, but you get the picture.

We live in a dark culture, but there is good news:

“The earth was without form and void and, darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.” Genesis 1:2-4 ESV

“Light” was created to eliminate “darkness.” There is power in light and light is good. We must never forget that Jesus Christ is the “Light” of the world. We must shine the light of Jesus Christ on this culture as we do everyday life. Light eliminates darkness.

Legacy

Have you thought much about your legacy? What are you going to leave behind? I’m not talking about money or possessions. I’m talking about “impact.” What impact will you have on those people and institutions you were connected to? What do you want people to say about you?

I heard a Christian author tell a story once called “Titles or Testimonies.” The author's neighborhood transitioned from a white neighborhood to a largely African American neighborhood. The same happened to the church he attended in that neighborhood.

One Sunday in May was dedicated to high school and college graduates. The graduates were recognized and asked to share about their plans. Several graduates spoke briefly and shared where they were going to college or what their career pursuits would be. It was a powerful day and you heard many people exclaim “Amen” and “Praise Jesus” as these young people shared their plans.

After they finished, the African American pastor stepped to the pulpit, looked directly at those graduates, and said:

“Young people, you’re gonna die! Right now you don’t think you’re gonna die, but you’re gonna die. You are going to die, they are going to throw dirt in your face, and people are going to come back to this church after your funeral and eat potato salad.

When you die, what do you want people to say about you? Do you want them to say that you were president of this organization or that organization or do you want them praising Jesus for the impact you had on their lives and the lives of other people?

Well, it depends on what you are living for. Are you living for the “titles” or are you living for the “testimonies”?

You know there was a man called Pharaoh, ruler of all Egypt. Great title, Pharaoh. Then there was a man named Moses. You see, Pharaoh had the title, but Moses... Moses had the testimonies.

Then there was Jezebel. She was the queen. Great title, queen. There was also a man named Elijah. Jezebel had the title, but Elijah... Elijah had the testimonies.

Then there was Pontius Pilate, Roman ruler of Israel. He represented Caesar and all the power of the Roman Empire. Great title, Pilate. Pilate had the title, but Jesus young people, Jesus had the testimonies. Are you going to live your life pursuing the titles that will fade or are you going to live your life pursuing the testimonies that last for all eternity?".

What about you? Have pursued a life of titles or testimonies? I think deep down we all want the testimonies. You can do a life pivot if need be and start making an impact on the lives of people for all eternity.

Focus

If you want a legacy that honors God, you must have a right heart that authentically evaluates your own personal life and is committed to proper focus.

Focus is another characteristic that separates great coaches and athletes from good coaches and athletes. Focus can enable you to recognize game situations and make proper calls and adjustments. Focus keeps you working toward the outcome you want.

Legendary golfer, Arnold Palmer once told a story about the first time he and a young professional golfer named, Jack Nicklaus had their first real head-to-head battle in a golf tournament. Both were leading the tournament and were paired together on the final day. It became almost like “match-play” on the final six holes as they were tied.

At the time, Palmer was the undisputed king of professional golf. He was physically fit, handsome, and somewhat of a swashbuckler on the course. Nicklaus was new to the PGA Tour. He was calculating and was a little overweight with greasy hair. Fans actually referred to Nicklaus as “Fat Jack.” In just a few years however, Nicklaus would lose the weight, grow out his shaggy blonde hair and henceforth be known as the “Golden Bear.”

The gallery that followed them on those last few holes began to become very vocal in favor of Palmer. This was during a time when that simply was not appropriate golf fan etiquette. As it came down to the last hole, the gallery was almost rooting against Nicklaus. Only having to sink one last putt to win the tournament, Nicklaus makes the putt to win. Palmer, now so embarrassed at what the gallery had done, immediately congratulates Nicklaus and apologizes for the gallery.

Arnold Palmer said Jack Nicklaus looked him square in the eyes and said “What are you talking about?.”

You see Jack Nicklaus had so much focus on what he needed to do, that he wasn’t even aware of all the gallery shenanigans. His head was what golfers call “in between the ropes” and not listening to the crowd. All of Nicklaus’ contemporaries would say he was the most focused golfer they ever saw. His subsequent success put him at the very top of all the great golfers in the history of the game. There is something to be said about "focus".

Focus keeps us in alignment on what we want to achieve. Our present culture has many distractions to get us off focus. Technology, materialism and pursuit of wealth, power, self-indulgence are just a few. Do we really need 200 TV channels?

Howard Hendricks used to tell his DTS seminary students that he wasn’t worried about them getting involved in bad things upon graduation. He was more concerned about them getting involved in too many good things, because good things keep you from the best things.

Where is your focus today? Are you focused on the things in life that just keep you busy? Are you involved in many “good things” that keep you from the “best things”? Are you focused on the accumulation of “stuff”? Or, are you focused on how to maximize making an impact for Christ with the gifts and talents God has given you?

Are you living for the “titles” or are you living for the “testimonies”? These words from the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:10 should be a constant reminder of how we should really live:

“For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”

This brings us full circle back to heart. The only way you can change a culture is to change the hearts (the innermost being) of the people. Only Jesus Christ can truly change the heart.

My prayer is that you will live life in the “light” of what Jesus Christ has done for you on the cross knowing that one day you will stand before him, fully loved, and accepted with eternal security through grace for eternal life, but giving an account for how you lived your life. Living life in the knowledge of this truth should be ample motivation for us all to "Live to Make a Difference".