Setting out in life to make something of myself and find my destiny, I thought of many different things that I could do. My desire growing up was to make my dad proud to call me his son, and as I got out into the grown up world I still had that desire. I also had a desire to do something that would cause God to be glad to call me His son as well. Over the years I’ve watched others I know go out and do some pretty amazing things. Looking back at growing up in a small farming community, I’ve done some pretty neat things in my life as well.
Back in high school while I was dragging baseball diamonds or hauling hay bales for gas and movie money, I didn’t see myself traveling to foreign countries to work and speak. I didn’t see myself standing in Moscow’s Red Square one day as part of a ministerial team. If you would have told me those would be parts of my life, I’d have thought it sounded really cool and impressive. One day it caused me to think on this question: “What Impresses God?”
God isn’t impressed with our talents. He gave them to us. He isn’t impressed with any wealth we might have. He gave us the ability to have the wealth, and in this world, money can be obtained in some very ungodly activities He would have no part in. He isn’t impressed with who we know, what we drive, or where we live. Being at the pinnacle of our professions doesn’t impress Him, nor does the vast influence some may wield. He is Almighty God. He made it all. Our ability to influence a small portion of creation isn’t something that will cause Him to stop and say, “Wow, now that was impressive!”
So what does impress God? I dug in my bible years ago to see if I could find an answer. I wanted to find out how to get God to look in my direction and give me a smile that said, “That really pleased me, son.” I found my answer in Luke chapter 7, in the person of a Roman centurion. In the passage below, pay close attention to the centurion’s words to Jesus, and Jesus’ reaction to those words.
2 And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. 3 So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, 5 “for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.”
6 Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
9 When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” 10 And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick.
When Jesus heard what the centurion had to say, “He marveled at him.” It impressed Jesus so much that He turned and addressed the crowd to let them know! He called the centurion’s understanding of who Jesus was and how He functioned in authority, along with the centurion’s expectation of Jesus’ ability to grant his request and respond – GREAT FAITH.
What Jesus Found Impressive
In a Roman centurion serving Caesar as an occupying military representative in Israel, Jesus had found a man who possessed and acted on what was impressive to God. It wasn’t that he knew Caesar or that he was a centurion. It wasn’t that he was well off financially and gave to the community. None of those impressed God in the least bit.
What was impressive was that he saw Jesus as someone who deserved great respect and honor. The centurion knew that his authority came from Caesar and understood how this delegation of authority worked. He saw Jesus as a direct representative of God, and as such one who wielded the power and authority of the one He represented. He also believed that as God’s representative, Jesus has the ability to grant his request. He believed in who Jesus was, and that what He said would carry the needed weight to make his servant well.
When Jesus walked through the cities and countryside and Israel He hadn’t found a person who was so settled in this – That Jesus was who He said He was, and would do what He said He would do.
You may be working a 9 to 5 job and raising a family. Maybe you’re working with the youth at your church. You may not be on TV, or have a book in Barnes and Noble. That doesn’t mean you can’t be impressive in God’s eyes. In a nation full of people who believed in God – many who even followed after Jesus – it was a Roman from a pagan land who was most impressive in God’s eyes. Not a priest or a rabbi. It was the man’s heart and his simple trust in Jesus’ identity and authority that makes him an example to us even today.
You have the ability to impress God whether you’re pastoring a small church, serving as the CEO of a large company, or as a homemaker caring for her family. Be faithful to what He has placed in your heart to do. Trust him with all of your heart to be who He says He will be to you and do what He said He will do for you. Doing this will help you change your “what if” into “You are”. In doing so you’ll please God and put a smile on His face. That’s impressive.
