The Difference It Makes in a Christian Life
Matthew 16:13-20
Illustration
by King Duncan

In one of his books, Gordon MacDonald tells about a young Florida man who became devoted to Elvis Presley. For Dennis Wise, devotion meant spending every bit of money he had to collect Presley memorabilia (books, magazines, pillows, records, and even tree leaves from the Presley mansion in Memphis). Wise never met Presley but he saw him perform several times, and he had once seen him at a distance when he looked through the gates at Graceland (Presley's home). He had stood there for more than twelve hours to get a fleeting glimpse. Wise's devotion is so great that he underwent six hours of plastic surgery to make his face resemble that of the famous singer.

Dennis Wise needs to get a life. Still when you worship someone, it is natural to want to be as much like that person as possible. When we say that Jesus is the reference point for our lives, it means we want to make our lives as much like his as possible.

Does it make any difference who Jesus is? Only if you are concerned about the nature of God; only if you are concerned about living a Christian life. And only if you are trying to find any meaning in life.

ChristianGlobe Networks, Inc., ChristianGlobe Illustrations, by King Duncan