Each day, you add a brick or a stroke of the paintbrush to your life’s masterpiece. But what is your life’s work? Every thought, word, and action leaves an indelible footprint in the annals of time—a seed sown that foreshadows your future. Life unfolds in the now; every breath cements your history, and once it’s gone, you can never reclaim that moment. Therefore, it is crucial to use your time wisely, to take advantage of every breath, thought, word, and deed because these moments ultimately shape your life.
The poet Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn.” This quote serves as a reminder that even the smallest actions can have a profound impact over time. Just as a mighty oak tree grows from a single acorn, your life’s work is built one decision at a time. Every small step you take contributes to the legacy you leave behind.
When we face great adversity, it’s natural to ask, “Why me?” We seek to understand why fate has chosen us for this difficult challenge. Yet, no matter how daunting the journey, we must confront it head-on. Never shy away from hardship or resent the obstacles; instead, find your indomitable spirit and rise to the occasion. The Bible reminds us in Romans 5:3-4, “We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.”
Consider the story of Joseph in the Bible. Sold into slavery by his brothers, falsely accused, and imprisoned, Joseph’s life was filled with hardship. Yet, through every trial, he remained steadfast in his faith and integrity. In the end, he rose to become the second most powerful man in Egypt, saving countless lives during a time of famine. Joseph’s life illustrates that God can use our adversities to position us for greatness. As he told his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20 NIV).
I have never envied a man who led an easy life. The men I admire are those who have faced soul-searing defeats and yet rose again, refusing to surrender to a life of defeat. They recognized that God did not forsake them but affirmed His promise through the complexities of their assignments. Life does not favor the coward; it strips him of all he has and leaves him with a life he is willing to accept, not the one he could have demanded through faith. As James 1:12 (NIV) states, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
Think of the great leaders throughout history—people like Nelson Mandela, who endured 27 years of imprisonment yet emerged to lead South Africa out of apartheid. His life is a testament to resilience and the power of a steadfast spirit. Mandela once said, “Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.” These words encapsulate the essence of true greatness—it's not the absence of failure, but the courage to rise after every fall that defines a legacy.
Hardships and criticism can either break us or build us up. It’s not about what others think or say or what happens to you; it’s ultimately about how you respond. As Thoreau wisely noted, “The fault-finder will find fault even in paradise.” We must encounter moments of trial where the enemy seeks to steal, kill, and destroy our joy and purpose. These trials are as essential to our soul as nutritious food is to our body. Adversity is an all-consuming fire that burns away impurities, revealing our true selves.
Consider the transformative journey of pregnancy. A woman’s body undergoes significant changes during the nine months, some visible and some unexpected. This process is much like the incubation of a dream or vision. Initially, the signs of growth are subtle, but as time progresses, they become more pronounced. Similarly, when a man is pregnant with purpose, the signs are palpable—his focus sharpens, his time becomes precious, and his actions align with his inner vision.
The analogy of pregnancy can also be extended to the growth of a vision or dream. When an idea is first conceived, it may be fragile, requiring care and nurturing. As it develops, the vision becomes more substantial, and the changes in the individual become evident. Like the expectant mother, a person pregnant with purpose may find their habits and priorities shifting. Distractions fall away as they focus on bringing their vision to life. Proverbs 16:3 (NIV) advises, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” By dedicating your work to God, you invite Him to guide and bless your efforts.
He doesn’t seek the easy path but finds the most astute one. Distractions like television fade away, and he stops wasting time on trivial arguments. Instead, he elevates his thoughts and amends his behavior to align with his goals. As Jesus taught in Matthew 7:16 (NIV), “By their fruit, you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?” A man of purpose doesn’t crave attention or seek to be liked; he only desires to be effective, knowing that his spirit, soul, and body must be fed.
The television will become a distraction, and he will not spend his time arguing over who is the greatest or consumed with other men living their dreams without him first living his. He will elevate his thoughts and amend his behavior to align with them. He knows he must first remove the mote from his eye before he can assist his brethren in removing theirs. He is a builder and cultivator of himself and others and will not degrade and dehumanize weaker ones. But, seek to inspire them to be better because he understands that all men have value. The race is not given to the swift or the strong, or the cool, rich, and famous. But to him, that endures to the end, who leaves the world better than he found it. He knows that freedom is not about the chains that restrict one’s limbs but about the boundaries within one’s mind.
The “Great One” put it this way; we will know the tree by the fruit it bears, and we shouldn’t do things to be seen of men because that becomes our reward, but we should do them privately, and God will reward us openly. What are you incubating? Though we may not see it now, it will be revealed. What’s in a man must come out. Let’s catapult ourselves into the future, literally using our today and the boundless energy of our imagination to cast ourselves into our dreams. Life’s intention is growth; to grow, we must change; to change, we must learn; to learn, we must expose ourselves to a new set of thoughts and ideas. Just do it! Today, throw yourself into the stratosphere of new possibilities.
For most of us, the image we have of ourselves is quite different from reality. Now, this sounds a bit worse than it is. All humans are in a constant state of becoming; so, it is feasible for one to imagine oneself to be something they have yet to manifest. Albert Einstein noted: “I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” I have always loved this quote due to the depth of its insight. Our life’s story can usually be summed up by the things we understand and could be further explained by the knowledge we lacked. The Bible says, my people are destroyed and-or perish due to a lack of vision and-or knowledge. As they say, when we know better, we do better. However, there are times when the experience you obtained isn’t enough; it is inadequate for your situation’s complexities. You have gone far beyond your knowledge and are hanging over a cliff. Therefore, there is no experience to be employed, and where there is no knowledge, there can’t be any understanding; therefore, wisdom can’t be present. It appears you are stuck with no suitable solution. But, God has given us the ability to escape the confines of our reality. We can leave the natural and deploy our imagination, the ultimate creative force. Remembering, this is not a journey you can travel without; it is an adventure you must undertake that begins within. Einstein speaks the truth by saying, “The imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.” The fantastic thing is that inside we are larger than the universe and more substantial than time because both time and the universe were made for us, and we weren’t created for them. We are their master, and they are our slaves. They are to serve us and not for us to bow to them. We are as old as God’s thoughts and limitless as love itself. We are the apple of His eye and the darlings of all creation. We are made in His image and were formed with His hands. He doesn’t limit us. Our thoughts are what restrict us. King David noted: “What is a man that You are mindful of him, And the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. You made him have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet Whenever life attempts to limit or discourage our pursuits, we break through those confines by deploying our imagination. As Abram became Abraham by viewing stars and grains of sand, God unleashed his vision and set his destiny. We must do the same, cast ourselves into the future, and live in our imaginations until they become our reality. To worry about a thing is like a rocking chair that gives you something to do but takes you nowhere. Remember, God didn’t take you out to let you down. But whatever He doesn’t deliver you from, He will sustain you through. So, step out, launch out into the deep, and dream again! Your future is waiting for you!
In the end, remember that you are as vast as the universe and as timeless as love itself, for you were created in God’s image. King David marveled at this truth when he wrote, “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor” (Psalm 8:4-5 NIV). So, cast yourself into your dreams with the boundless energy of your imagination and the steadfastness of your faith. Life is a journey of becoming, and with God’s guidance, you can create a legacy that endures, leaving the world better than you found it.
“The limits of my language means the limits of my world.”
― Ludwig Wittgenstein”
