I think there is something in the human soul that causes us to yearn for significance. We want to make a difference. We want to make an imprint on this world—an imprint that will outlive us.

Few men or women have this lasting impact. Generally, they are geniuses in their field, someone so uniquely skilled in an area that history CAN’T cover over their accomplishments. This list is small. Not only do their works outlive them, but their names are remembered. Shakespeare, Galileo, Beethoven, Einstein.

Another group of individuals who live on—both their works and their names—are those who committed such horrendous crimes against humanity that history uses their lives as a warning—of how debase humanity can be. These include Nero, Genghis Khan, Attila the Hun, Jozef Stalin, Benito Mussolini, Adolf Hitler. Clearly, this notoriety is not the type that most of us seek.

Most of us seek to be remembered for changing the world for the better in some way, be it through scientific discovery, improvements in culture, but especially for advancing the Kingdom of God.

Such goals are lofty. But, in trying to achieve them, perhaps it is not our desire—but our self-determined path—that is our problem.

What if we defined “significance” differently. What if the yearning we have is to stand before God and have Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23, NIV).

The truth is, we don’t know what impact we have on the world. We can’t foresee how we will be remembered or if we will be remembered. And, we don’t get to see, on this side of heaven, what our true impact has been.

A good illustration of this can be seen in the life of George McCluskey. You probably don’t recognize the name. I didn’t either. George McCluskey was a true prayer warrior. He prayed every morning from eleven to noon for his children and for the future generations of his family. Toward the end of his life, he announced to his family that God had made him a promise that every member of his family for four generations would become Christians.

This has been working itself out in remarkable ways. His great grandson states, “By the time I came along, every family member from my great-grandfather to me not only had accepted Christ but also had been or are ministers. My great grandfather is long dead, but he still provides the richest source of inspiration for me.”

The great grandson who stated this did not become a minister. He was the only one in his generation who did not. He became a psychologist. But, although not a minister, he has been called “the nation’s most influential evangelical leader” by the New York Times. Who is he? James Dobson, the founder of Focus on the Family, a daily radio show that is heard by more than 220 million people in 164 countries. (Source: Focus on the Family).

I think when George McCluskey entered heaven, he had the first assurance that his daily one hour prayer that his family that would make an impact for God really did make a difference.

It doesn’t matter that the world does not know the name “George McCluskey”. What does matter is that vast numbers know and love Jesus because his family members were and are willing servants of Christ.

George lived a significant life.

How can you live a life of significance?

King Solomon, in Ecclesiastes, laments the meaninglessness of all that life offers. He had over a thousand wives, nearly unlimited wealth, a mass of servants, tremendous learning, and what did he conclude? It was all meaningless.

He ends his lament with this conclusion: What matters is to “Fear God and keep His commands”. (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

Read the Bible each day. Learn to hear His voice. Do what He commands you to do. It is the guaranteed pathway to a significant life—for eternity.