Why Do I Matter?

I recently went zip lining from about 50 feet up. For some people that is not a great achievement, but for me it was a big deal. As I walked up the hill with the trainers and other zip liners we entered an opened canopy where we were trained. When I looked up I saw hundreds of name tags stuck up on the top of this canopy. Some were faded yellow and some were about ready to fall off.  Yet there were some that being newly stuck on held tightly to the top. With pride, I became a name among the hundreds that experienced something. However, I couldn’t help but think that eventually over time my name tag will become weathered only to be trampled under the feet of others. Sound grim? I have learned that apart from God I am only a name in the billions, and all worldly achievements that I experience will not carry over into eternity. So why do I matter? What keeps me from becoming something that just occupies space in this world? Let me share three quick thoughts.

I matter because I have the ability to choose. I have the choice to seek the higher good and not be entangled by sin that causes me to become less significant and eventually if left unchecked of no significance. Matthew 6:33  “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

I matter because I have a soul. The Bible teaches that I am set apart from everything else that He created. Mark 8:36 “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?”  Every soul is unique including mine and every soul has a significant role to play, not only in this life, but in the greater eternal picture. That is amazing!

I matter because I have been created by God and created in His image. This simple yet profound truth has changed my life. Genesis 1:27 “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

As I left that day from zip lining I felt accomplished and that I had done something great, but sadly I knew that feeling would quickly fade.  When I looked back at my name tag stuck neatly to the top of the canopy I knew that as it faded over time the love God has for me and that I have for Him will never fade and that is truly why I matter. John 3:16 helped me trump that feeling that I don’t matter.  In that verse alone the Holy Spirit reveals why I matter and why you matter.  Don’t let anyone or anything take that away from you.