Influence

On my way back home from church last Sunday I heard a sermon by Dr. Adrian Rogers, who has died but whose voice can be heard on daily broadcasts. His sermons were recorded and now are being replayed on the radio.
I heard Dr. George W. Truett preach, but never in person. It was a recorded sermon that I played on a cassette player — one of the sermons preached when he was pastor in Dallas, many years before.
Both Dr. Rogers and Dr. Truett are now dead, but their sermons can still be heard. In a way, I guess you could say, they are still speaking.
The Bible mentions Abel, from the Old Testament, and says, “Abel still speaks, even though he is dead” (Hebrews 11:4 NIV). We hear him speak, not by means of a recorded voice, but by the lingering example of a godly life.
The Bible says, therefore, that your influence can extend beyond the days of your earthly life. You can keep on living here on earth through your influence, which continues to work long after you are gone.
How strong, then, is a person’s influence. Not only do you influence others as long as you live, but you continue to have an impact even after your death.
Jesus told us that we should be careful with our influence. He said it like this: “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:13-16 NIV).