CALL TO A LIFE OF IMPACT (1)

“By this MY FATHER is GLORIFIED, that you BEAR MUCH FRUIT; so you will be My disciples”” – John 15:8

Salvation by Faith in Christ is a CALL to a LIFE of IMPACT: “By this MY FATHER is GLORIFIED, that you BEAR MUCH FRUIT; so you will be My disciples” (John 15:8). These scriptures highlight the importance of remaining connected to Christ and the fruit that comes from that relationship. Jesus, as the Source of Life and Sustenance, is described as the Vine and the disciples compared to branches. Just as a branch cannot survive without being connected to the vine, no one can experience a life of God-glorifying impact without a relationship with Christ. Believing in Jesus as Lord and personal Saviour is not a call to simply live for self, but to affect others and our world positively.

A Life of Impact and fruitfulness is a function of our connection with and rootedness in Christ: “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (v.5). However, abiding in Christ is a choice that disciples must make. It means deciding to maintain contact and sustain fellowship and intimacy with Him, while avoiding whatever could hinder the relationship. To be detached from the Vine is to be “cast out as a branch” – fruitless, withered, gathered and thrown into the fire to be burned (vv.6-7). A life of Impact in Christ is not a suggested option, but a compulsion! Praise God, abiding in Christ leads to lasting value! Nothing of spiritual or eternal significance is possible apart from abiding in the vine. The alternative is spiritual barrenness! 

Salvation is a seal of Distinction on the earth: “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Pet.2:9). Redemption in Christ is our Guarantee for a Life of Impact; it is not a mere escape route to heaven. We are born again to reign again. The first Adam was in charge as king of the earth, until sin dethroned him. The second Adam, Jesus Christ, came to reestablish our Dominion: “For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ” (Rom.5:17). We are born-again to shine, not to suffer frustration, humiliation, or oppression.

This is what glorifies our Father in heaven – a Life of much fruitfulness, maximized productivity, and positive Impact; one in which we make positive difference in the world around; a life of meaning and purpose – finding and pursuing what gives life relevance, significance, and fulfilment. A Life of Impact is one that’s lived to the fullest, using our Gifts of Time, Talents, Trainings, Treasures, and Passions, positively, constructively and productively.