Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Thursday February 17, 2011

For the bulk of my adult life I have studied the principles of "Success." The most sensible definition of success is simple and the only one that is truly quantifiable;

"Ultimately success is accomplishing what you set out to do."

Being successful at achieving what you set out to does not mean that you are/becoming a successful human being and most definitely doesn't mean that you are a successful Christian. A Christian could climb Mount Everest and be a flop as a person of God.

As I write, several pithy sayings flash across my mind concerning the subject, but the one I choose to spear as it swims by and share with you is this one by Mac Anderson:

"It's not the things we get but the hearts we touch that will determine our success in life."

According to the scripture fame is fleeting, gold will diminish in value to little more than construction material and most other things that are held as trinkets of achievement will burn to ashes. Observation bears enough evidence to the truth of this that it really isn't hard to take the rest on faith.

The heart that is touched profoundly by one caring human can be so changed that their life will shine as the brightest star for eternity. A man or woman who so lives so as to touch another heart for Christ is not living in vain, even though their dwelling be a hovel here below. People who understand that broken and dispirited hearts can be repaired and re-energized are of more value than all the gold that used to be in Fort Knox.

A line in the gospel song, "Rescue The Perishing" states:

"Down in the human heart crushed by the tempter, feelings lie buried that grace can restore; Touched by a loving heart, Wakened by kindness, Chords that are broken will vibrate once more."

Talk about touching hearts, how about writing 8000 gospel songs, a secular song in the 1850's that produced $3000 income and being married to a blind man, and yourself blind from infancy. At the passing of this heart touching giant Eliza Hewit wrote:

Away to the country of sunshine and song,
Our songbird has taken her flight,
And she who has sung in the darkness so long
Now sings in the beautiful light."

Fanny J. Crosby was not successful because of the number of songs she wrote, but because her songs still touch hearts for Christ and good.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2011 Use with credit.

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