Making an Eternal Difference: Keeping Jesus at the Center of Your Life

Summary

Many Christians pursue self-interest, while others face eternal loss. Paul’s life shows that lasting impact comes from keeping Jesus central in thought, speech, and purpose. Expecting results, enduring opposition, and refusing to quit marked his ministry. His single-minded devotion to pleasing God enabled him to testify faithfully to Christ despite resistance. Believers make their greatest impact when Jesus, not success or comfort, is their primary focus.

Chasing Butterflies or Saving Lives

In the 1940s, Vladimir Nabokov, a Russian-born novelist, collected butterflies and moths while staying with James Laughlin in Utah. While chasing a butterfly, he heard someone groaning near Bear Gulch. He did not check it out.

He had to get the butterfly. The next day, the body of an old prospector was discovered. Are you chasing the butterflies of self-interest while people around you are perishing?

Many professing Christians do. Paul did not. Acts 17 describes his approach.

Paul’s Model for Eternal Impact

To make an eternal difference, you must talk about Jesus. Paul preached in Thessalonica on three successive Sabbaths. He explained how Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament Scriptures.

He talked about Jesus to all who would listen (1 Corinthians 2:1-2). Jesus filled his thoughts and his speech.

Thinking About Jesus Leads to Talking About Jesus

You have to think about Jesus like Paul to talk about Jesus as he did. He thought about all he was in Christ. It filled him to overflowing with gratitude.

Guarding the Heart’s Supreme Affection

Jesus said, “The mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (Matthew 12:34 NIV). Something else is thriving in your heart if you are not talking about Jesus. Something else is occupying His deserved supreme place. We all struggle with keeping first things first.

Expecting Results When Sharing Christ

To make an eternal difference for Jesus, expect results. When I was young, I sold homegrown strawberries door-to-door for fifty cents a quart.

I didn’t say, “You do not want to buy any homegrown strawberries, do you?” I expected them to buy. Most did.

Enduring Opposition Without Quitting

Paul encountered opposition to the gospel in Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens. But he did not quit. He expected positive responses in each new city.

He was willing to sacrifice himself to win more people to Christ. But he fully expected to win some (1 Corinthians 9:19-22) and make an eternal difference for Christ. Do you? Why?

To make an eternal difference, you must endure opposition. On September 19, 2025, I received this message from a man in Malawi, obviously Muslim, in response to a blog I promoted there about finding peace in our hearts through a relationship with Jesus: “You believe in lies about Jesus. You rank him the same level with God, which is big sin and you will be responsible for that on the judgment day.” Other negative responses I have received are not suitable for printing.

People opposed Paul in every city where he preached the gospel. He saw much fruit in Thessalonica (Acts 17:4) and experienced much opposition (17:5-7). In Berea, many believed (17:12) and many resisted (17:13). The people in Athens rejected Paul’s message. He was denied permission to continue preaching. He did not give up.

Making an Eternal Difference

Paul’s secret was his single-minded agenda for life. Earthly power, fame, and wealth were not his goals. Making an eternal difference and accomplishing God's will mattered. Bonds and afflictions did not stop him.

He wrote, “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24 NIV).

You make the greatest impact for Jesus when that is your primary focus. See additional free spiritual growth resources for Christians.

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God has empowered me to write His Power for Your Weakness—260 Steps Toward Spiritual Strength. It’s a free, evangelistic, devotional, and discipleship e-book. Pastors have used it in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia to lead 7,590 people to Christ and teach the basics of Christianity to 17,681 people. I invite you to explore and use it in your setting. 

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