Impression or Impact

Who has had the greatest impact in your life? Your character, conduct and conversation have been influenced by somebody.

Who am we impacting? Many people love to impress others with their education, wealth, car, clothes and so on and they love to talk about it. Impression and impact are different. Impact can be gentle or tremendously difficult. You have an obligation to impact people around you. Jesus said early in his ministry in Matthew 5:13 – 16: “you are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavour, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp-stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”


You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Follow Jesus and be connected to him. Our responsibility is to impact the lives of others. The followers of Jesus are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Let us make a difference to people in our homes, at the workplace and so on. Salt impacts food and light impacts darkness. Long back, salt was a very valuable commodity. Salt makes a difference. Influential people don’t necessarily need an education, money, big house, fancy clothes etc. Their character, talk and how they handle themselves have an impact on others. Don’t give in to pressure. People cannot take Jesus away from you. There will come a time when you need to stand up and be salt. Salt penetrates and creates thirst. Let us live Godly lives: the peace, joy, security, confidence, assurance we have from Christ creates a thirst in others.

If salt loses its saltiness, it’s useless. If a child of God lives in sin, it has the same effect. We lose the power to influence others.

John 9:5 “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When Jesus came into your life, you became the light of the world. What does it do?
1. It points the way
2. It reveals things
We determine how bright that light is going to be by our conversation, character and conduct. The light is pure, clear and makes a difference. Jesus is the way, the truth and the light. The light collided with the Sadducees and the Pharisees. There was also a collision with Rome because the light threatened their power.

We need to remain unstained to the world. Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God”. You do not win by compromising. The Church mustn’t compromise the truth in order to gain acceptance. I will be willing to be rejected to save my soul. It’s not what we do but who we are. When sin enters our lives, it darkens the glow in our life.

Whose lives are we impacting? Let our salt and light shine in the lives of others. Be more interested in Godliness than being accepted by others. If you want to see a change, walk in the light and you’ll impact others. The impact of our life is determined by the quality of our life. Trust God and take Him at His word. Your conduct, conversation and character are what draws people to the light.

Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”