One morning this past week, my oldest son, Kai, and I were watching a television show about dinosaurs. This particular show always ends with a paleontologist speaking about fossils or extinct creatures. Being a secular show, the paleontologist made an inaccurate and unbiblical statement: “All birds are just dinosaurs.” This was, of course, referring to the evolutionary view that ancient dinosaurs evolved into birds. I immediately said, “No they’re not,” to which Kai looked and stared at me curiously (dad does not often argue with the TV). I explained to him as simply and kindly as I could that some people, even smart people like the scientist on the show, believe things like this, but it’s not actually true. A huge smile formed across his face and he immediately began explaining to me what I had just told him.
I was amazed at how quickly and easily he took to sharing my view on this matter. When dad’s opinion was placed against a highly intelligent, accomplished scientist with a PhD, the choice was clear to him: dad was right. He didn’t look for my degree and scholastic awards. He did ask about my credibility in the matter. He based it on an entirely different set of credentials: the credentials of love and devotion. As someone who has poured my life into him, loved him, disciplined him, played with him, taught him, and cared for him, my opinion and example were more important than the professional’s.
It is truly amazing to see how much power we have over other people. We can build up or tear down. We can move them closer to Heaven or closer to Hell. Perhaps this is part of the reason that we are commanded so many times in scripture to invest our lives into other people.
Philippians 2:4- Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
Romans 12:10- Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor…
Galatians 6:10- So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
Like it or not, you are influencing people around you. The question is whether it is for good or bad. Who are you investing in? What impression are you giving about the Christian faith? Is anyone being drawn closer to Christ because of you?