You want your life to count for something. Maybe not to be well-known, or be filthy rich, or be on TV, or even to make a name for yourself that everyone around you will remember. But you want to make a difference.
It boils down to your inner being. You become somebody, not when you focus your attention on making a good impression. As you place your emphasis on what other people see, you are not yourself. It is only a matter of time until others find out the truth about you. The image you give other people must be genuine. It must be the real you. “Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it, but the tree is the real thing” (author unknown). The shadow often looks much bigger, than the tree. Thus, what others think of us, is often much bigger, than what we really are.
The Word of God gives clear teaching as to how you can be a somebody in the kingdom of God. Christ teaches you in just a simple statement, how a Christian is to live. “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27; NKJV). Notice that Christ says, “and I know them.” Once you have a relationship with Christ, He knows who you are. Isn’t that refreshing? The One who created this whole universe knows you by name. When you become a Christian, you will hear Christ’s “voice.” He speaks, and you hear. After Christ tells you, in His word or in prayer, what you are to do, you obey Him – “they follow Me.”
Do not strive to be a somebody. No one likes someone all caught up with himself. Make a conscious decision to live what verse 27 above says. Just listen for Christ’s voice to tell you what you are to do. Then with all the strength you have, follow Christ. Live that way every day!
