I have been privileged to know some of the high-impact people of our time from many different fields. When I started meeting such people as a young man, I perceived it as a calling to understand highly successful people and to share what I learned with others who were similarly called to such a purpose. The lives of the famous and highly successful are not easy and can ruin those who are not prepared for it. In fact, remarkably few can navigate fame or great success and not be ruined and destined to live a miserable life. Why is this?
I was once shown in a vision that some of the most famous people in heaven and for eternity are not famous on earth. What attracts human recognition is rarely considered significant in heaven. Also, many who accomplish the greatest deeds on earth are not recognized on earth. However, heaven knows them well and honors them for eternity. It is far better to be known in heaven than to be known on earth.
Knowing all the most famous people on earth cannot compare to a single encounter with the Lord. He is not only willing to spend as much time with us as we want, but He also desires to be as close to us as we want. To know the Lord is the greatest treasure we can have, and to be His friend is greater than any earthly honor. He repeatedly tells us to “seek His face” because He wants to meet with us face-to-face, but few do. What could possibly be more important in life than this?
A testimony of Scripture and history is that some are born with a gift to influence other people. Another testimony of Scripture is when an obscure person has an encounter with the Lord, they also become high-impact influencers. Why is this? Because we are changed into His nature when we behold His glory (see II Corinthians 3:18) and because when He is lifted up, He draws everyone to Himself. Thus, those who are changed into His nature will also draw people.
That is influence, but what we do with our influence is crucial. If all people get from our influence is us, what a terrible and eternal waste. But if we connect them to the One Who upholds the universe with the word of His power, and to the One Who is in us drawing them, then that is eternal glory for us.
People who derive their encouragement and value from other people who are attracted to them have an earthly, human perspective. Such will seek fame to satisfy their need for significance. However, the truly great and wise receive their encouragement from nearness to the Lord and the ability to help others draw closer to Him. Thus, the greatest vision ever is perhaps articulated by the Apostle Paul in Colossians 1:28-29:
We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose, I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.
Is there a greater vision than seeking to present every person complete in Christ? What does this look like? I have thought about this for years, and my conclusion was that Paul was so consumed with making his Lord known to everyone he met, he would evaluate each to see where they were in their relationship with Him. If they did not know Him, Paul would introduce them. If they did know Him, Paul would seek to know where they were in their calling, so they could “grow up in all aspects into Him” (see Ephesians 4:15). Then Paul would try to give them what they needed to go higher, get closer, and grow up into Him.
What would our life be like if this greatest of all purposes became the drive of our life? This would not only moor us firmly to the path of life, but also to the greatest and most fulfilling life we could live on this earth, and the highest place we could attain for all eternity. We can only share what we have. If this desire to be near Him is not the main thing in our lives, it will not be the main thing we share with others in our lives. What in life could possibly be more important than being close to the King of kings?
© 2021 Rick Joyner. All Rights Reserved.
