This week the world said farewell to a great man—Gen. Colin Powell. The list of his accomplishments is impressive: first African-American Secretary of State; the 16th United States National Security Advisor; the 12th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; awarded Purple Heart and Bronze Star; a professional soldier for 35 years and a four-star general. He served closely under Presidents Reagan and Bush. But as admirable as those accomplishments are, it was Colin Powell’s instincts that made him great according to his son, Michael Powell. In a eulogy of his father Michael summed up his father’s life this way:
“Colin Powell was a great lion with a big heart, and we will miss him terribly.”
General Powell characterized his life as one built on instincts:
“Built into each of us is a little calculator that can make judgments that will never appear on a piece of paper. And sometimes you know something's right, you can't prove it to anybody, or you know something's wrong. Little ethical circuit breakers you carry around inside...so I go with my instinct.” Colin Powell
The question was raised in the eulogy: Are we still making his kind—truly great men? That question has been raised before. Charles Schultz, the creator of the great Peanut comic strip, pondered the verifiability of true greatness in his day. He developed a simple test in in the form of a two-part quiz:
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.
The facts are, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners. Shultz added a second component to his test:
1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile who inspired you.
The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards, but the ones who have a personal impact, a character-building influence.
The question of true greatness was raised in Jesus’ day. In Mark 9:43-50, Christ offered up a simple recipe for greatness—salt. As salt influences the character of food as a flavor enhancement, preservative and cleanser, great men have the influence of the Holy Spirit and God’s grace on them as evidenced in their hands, their feet and their eyes. They must keep their saltiness. When it comes to greatness, if you’re gonna talk the talk, then you’ve got to salt the salt.
I. Judge your hands if you want them to do great things. Jesus admonished his disciples to judge what their hands have been doing and make some painful, but necessary choices to achieve greatness and avoid waste, so that they can serve.
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better for you to enter into life crippled than to have two hands and go into hell, to the unquenchable fire. Mark 9:43
The deeds of man can lead to a wasteful end. Make the tough choice and cut off some actions in your life that are a waste so that you can use your hands to serve like General Powell.
Second, judge your feet if you want them to lead you to great places. Jesus admonished his disciples to judge where their feet have taken them and make some painful, but necessary choices to achieve greatness and avoid waste.
If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. Mark 9:45
The paths where man chooses to take can lead to a wasteful end. Make the tough choice and cut off some places in your life that are a waste, so that you can use your feet to serve. Trust the instincts of the salt of the Holy Spirit to led you.
Finally, judge your eyes if you want to see true greatness in your life. Jesus admonished his disciples to judge what they looked at, and make some painful, but necessary choices to achieve greatness and avoid waste so they can serve.
If your eye causes you to sin, tear it out! It is better to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell… Mark 9:47
The imaginations and visions of man can lead to a wasteful end. Make the tough choice, but necessary choices and guard your mind and eyes.
Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other. Mark 9:49, 50
Keep the influence of the Holy Spirit over your hands, feet and eyes. Trust the instincts of God’s grace, and make the choices that make a difference, so true greatness will be found in your service to others for the sake of the Kingdom of God. Don’t just talk the talk, salt the salt. God bless General Colin Powell.
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