Our Influence in Life

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 2, 1856

Our Influence in Life.

THE great mass of professing Christians in our day, seem to disregard their individual influence upon the church and the world. They talk of the religion and duty of the church, and perhaps complain of the low standard of piety, the want of true devotion and spirituality, while they never turn their thoughts to their own hearts and the influence of their lives. Every one has, nor can he avoid exerting, an influence for good or evil. It springs from his very being, and from all his relations in society; and is seen and felt by the church and the world. Every expression of the countenance, idle word and thoughtless act, makes an impression which may affect character and destiny; and it is because of the influence of these things on ourselves and others, that they are to be brought into judgment. We cannot escape the record which we are making on the character and efforts of others—we must give an account of ourselves to God! We must read before an assembled universe the influence of our life on the church and the world. Our various opportunities, efforts, and relations here, will be reviewed, and to us will be placed the exact amount of our influence upon character and destiny. We cannot grasp or measure that which it will take an eternity to reveal. It is beyond the estimate of human computation. Compared with it, the temporal interests of society, and even of nations, are nothing. These interests, and all earthly relations, will soon pass away; but that influence which is forming character for endless ages, will be seen in its results amid the solemn realities of another world.

Reader, are you conscious of the influence that you are exerting upon those with whom you mingle in life? And are you preparing to meet that influence at the Judgment Bar? Pause and inquire. Pray answer these deeply solemn questions!—True Witness.