I honestly can’t tell y’all how many times I’ve sat down to write this blog post. Life has been so busy and my mind has been overloaded with so many different things. I feel as if this season of endless chaos is never going to end this side of Heaven. I’ve been putting off this post because it’s not going to be a “popular opinion” kind of post, but it’s something God has hard pressed on my heart over the past few months, maybe even the past year. After a heated discussion with one of my family members, Holy Spirit told me I couldn’t put this off any longer. Buckle up because I’m going to be transparent and it could hurt some feelings.

Between my husband’s family and my family, we’ve had quite a dramatic year with health scares and big family decisions. I’d be lying if I said it hasn’t been hard to handle. Preparing for the inevitable is never an easy task. Watching your loved one slip further and further away is so difficult. Adding family drama to the already high emotions is always a recipe for disaster, and boy, have I had a front row seat since 2011.

In our human nature, we always plan for the time and material possessions we have left. We write wills and medical care plans. We call upon family members to provide care. Sometimes we hire others to help provide care. We do everything in our power to make sure our loved ones have the best care at all costs. Sometimes, that cost is higher than we anticipate, and most of the time, the highest expenses has nothing to do with money.

All throughout the Bible, especially in red letters, we are told of the great worth of a human soul. God values our souls more than anything. We are worth more than all the money on this earth. ONE soul is worth more than any earthly possession. Think about that on a justice scale. One soul outweighs any and everything you could ever put on the other side. One. Soul.

Now think about all the people you interact with in one day. Every person you speak to, smile at, pass in traffic. Every single person has a soul that you are influencing. We are called to be a good influence to everyone. We are a light in the darkness designed to draw others closer to Christ.

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.

Matthew 5:14 NLT

When we get so wrapped up in caring for our loved ones, that we oppose others who have differing opinions on how certain matters should be handled, our light can start to flicker. Instead of allowing our light to be a beacon of hope and goodness, we begin allowing darkness to influence us. We say hateful things that demean and criticize others. We disregard their feelings because ours are more valid. We refuse to meet them where they are and try to understand their reasoning. It’s our way or the highway because we know what is best.

In doing this, we lose our witness to others, and we have far overstepped the path Jesus lined out for us. We fill ourselves with hate for the opposition and that hate spills out and becomes a heavy negative influence. Our bright light becomes more and more laced with darkness and eventually we allow the darkness to smolder our flame. satan seeks to destroy our light but he won’t overpower us all at once. he wants to ruin us slowly and he wants us to have the same slow, deceitful effect on others. Sadly, this happens far too often and most of the time, it’s within our closest attachments, our family.

Y’all, we can’t let satan win. We can’t let him influence us to hate others, regardless if they are our family or strangers. Our hatred (for anyone) is a negative influence on others, and Jesus said our witness is far too important to throw away! We need to be more interested in who gains the inheritance of Heaven than who gains an earthly inheritance! We need to be more focused on who we are taking to Heaven than what we are gathering here on earth. I understand the pricelessness of family heirlooms. I get the emotional attachment, but when it becomes more important than your Heavenly attachment you are wrong on all accounts. Nothing on this earth is more important than a human soul. N. O. T. H. I. N. G. If your Bible doesn’t spell this out for you, you’re reading from the wrong book! If your preacher doesn’t teach this, you’re going to the wrong church! If you aren’t being a role model for this to your kids, you’re raising them to be part of the problem, not the solution!

We need Christians to rise up! We need Christians to step into the roles they were born to serve! We need Christians to sow the seeds! We need Christians to speak out in love and compassion for others! We need Christians to hold Heavenly Inheritance higher than all else! We need Christians to cling strong to scripture and model it for everyone! Rise up men and women of God! Claim your Heavenly inheritance and encourage others to do the same. BE THE SOLUTION!!

– Influentially Walking by Faith & Finding the Blessings, ❤️ Renee