I love stories. All kinds of stories. Movies, TV shows, novels, comic books…basically any medium that can communicate a good story. I love the stories that capture my emotions, create characters with whom I can relate, and of course give me a good shock with an unexpected twist from time to time. The comedy, drama, and heart-pounding suspense that is experienced in a good story is really something special. Stories are a good thing and a beautiful thing. But lately I’ve been wondering: “Why are stories so endearing?” Or, perhaps digging a little deeper, “Why are stories that capture our feelings and emotions so endearing, as well as those which are great epics?” I believe this stems from a desire in each of us to be a part of something greater than ourselves.

When we start to feel something emotionally because of what’s happening on a screen or a page, it is in some sense becoming a part of us. Or, rather, we are becoming a part of it. We want to be a part of something great. We long to do something worthwhile as we watch Frodo carry the great burden of the One Ring across the lands of Middle-Earth. We want to fight for freedom and the chance to change history like William Wallace. Or maybe we want to dramatically get the girl and give up our life for her like Jack did for Rose. The point is, we all want to be a part of something great. We want what we’re doing to matter.

This feeling is especially prominent in high school and college students. How many Valedictorian speeches are basically a call to “go out and change the world”? I’ll give you a hint…all of them.

The desire isn’t a bad one. Of course we all want to make a difference. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be a part of something great? In fact, if you don’t have that kind of desire in some capacity, there might be something wrong with you. With everything so wrong in the world, who wouldn’t jump at a chance to change it all for the better? I know I would. We all want to matter. But the cold hard truth of the matter is that 99.999% of us won’t be changing the world. We will die, get buried, and be forgotten. The world will keep on spinning as if we were never there. This can be a depressing thought, particularly for those of us who are young with great aspirations. We want to be a part of something great, and then the reality sets in that by any of the world’s standards, we probably won’t be. There are only a few Martin Luther’s or Albert Einstein’s in this world.

I don’t know about you, but I’m no Albert Einstein. I’m not exceptionally smart or bold. I’m not a prodigy of any kind. My singing sucks. So does my art. And I’m still not quite sure how to fold up those circular window shades for my car. Cooking…yeah I’ve messed up Ramen noodles once or twice in my life. God has certainly given me some skills and talents, but the point is, I won’t be changing the world apart from an amazingly miraculous work of God. Which, sure, God can do that with ease. But I am not gonna sit here and count on that. Instead, I can remember this truth: no matter where I go in life, I am a part of something great. Something greater than the star player of an NBA team. Something greater than the creator of the printing press or the first man to walk on the moon. Something even greater than becoming the President of the United States. I am a part of God’s story. And this story is the greatest epic known to mankind.

To all the college students with aspirations of graduating college and then moving on to greatness: You are already a part of something great. God is working and moving in this world as He accomplishes His mission. From the beginning, we have been invited into this mission. In Genesis 1:28 God tells Adam and Eve, “Be fruitful and multiply…” He calls us, these pathetic little creatures called humans, to be a part of His good work. God could have just created a couple billion more people like He did Adam and Eve, but instead he invited us to be a part of the process. Throughout history, God has always used people as tools in His mighty hand. He used Moses to lead Israel out of slavery. He used Esther to save the Jews from slaughter. He used Paul to bring the gospel to the Gentiles. He continues to use His broken Church to save lives, change hearts, and redeem cultures in unbelievable ways.

“But,” you might say, “those people from the Bible are once in a lifetime world-changers.” Yes, they are. The point isn’t that we need to be some magnificent world-changer like them, but that God has invited human beings to be a part of His mission. He wants to work with us and through us, despite all of our weaknesses and difficulties.

For the Christian, this means that in every moment of every day we are a part of something great. You may not change the world by any measurable standards, but if you are living within God’s framework for this life, then you are doing something that is truly great.

Every time a mom gets up at 2 in the morning to comfort a child who is crying from a nightmare. Every time you share the gospel with a non-believer. Every time you laugh with your friends and family. Every time you give some food to a homeless person or open up your home to a stranger in need. Every time you teach a young child to read or to add and subtract. Even when you thank God through your enjoyment of the great gift of food and drink (1 Cor. 10:31, Col. 3:17). When you do these things, you are serving the Lord. And that is the greatest thing anyone could ever do. These little acts may be overlooked and forgotten by the world, but in the end God will look upon these acts and smile as He says, “Well done my good and faithful servant”(Matt. 25). The point of the parable Jesus tells in Matthew 25 is this: We don’t have to change the world, we just need to be faithful with whatever small portion of influence we have been given in this life.

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“We look for the big things to do – Jesus took a towel and washed the disciples feet.  We like to speak and act out of the rare moments of inspiration – he requires our obedience in the routine, the unseen, and the thankless.” – Os Guinness

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In the end, it doesn’t matter how much we’ve done, but the person for whom we’ve done it. Young Christian, you don’t need to feel insignificant in your thirst for being a part of something great. You are a part of something great. You’re a part of God’s mission. And in God’s mission, even the smallest of acts can have eternal significance, if indeed they are done to the glory of our great God.

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“I may not know you, but I bet I know you wonder sometimes, does it matter at all? Well let me remind you, it all matters just as long as you do everything you do to the glory of the One who made you…”- Steven Curtis Chapman, Do Everything

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Clem Onojeghuo