INFLUENCE/REPUTATION You have a record.  With the internet, computers, law enforcement etc., we all have a record.  A paper trail follows all of us.  We live in an ever-changing “Brave New World.”  We are told that there are three credit reporting agencies and that we have a credit score.  You can go on the internet and get a background report on anyone.  All this information is out there for whoever wants to find out about you or me.  It is somewhat scary and intimidating.  It sometimes makes you want to destroy all the trails we leave and just use cash we store under the mattress for all our transactions.  There are appliances we buy and warranties we fill out.  All this information can be stolen and modified to make us look bad.  Our names can be placed on mailing lists without our permission, and we can be and often are sent tons of junk mail.  Solicitors can now be stopped regarding the use of our phones, but solicitors can still fax us junk mail.   We make our record day by day as far as this world is concerned.  We also make our record with our God day by day.  What are we doing each day and each hour with the opportunities that are entrusted to us?  Are we redeeming (using) the time wisely (Eph. 5:16)?  There is a day coming when God will open up His accounting books (Rev. 20:12).  The All-Knowing God already knows, but there is a record we are making before our God at the present time and in the future judgment. What is your reputation with God and with man?  How are you using your influence to bless, encourage, and enrich the lives you have opportunity to touch every day?  Sadly, in today’s world more people care to pay attention to their credit score than they do regarding their lives before the eternal God.  Satan makes it so easy for us in this world to get our priorities all messed up.   One-hundred percent of humanity uses its influence to promote that which is good or that which is bad.  Influence affects the rich and poor, the young and old, the weak and the strong.  Influence and reputation affect all cultures as well as both men and women.  The worldly today want others to think that there is no such thing as good or bad.  The worldly want to rationalize and justify who and what they want to believe and do.  The God who created 100% of humanity has the unique right to make all the calls regarding what is good or bad.  He speaks to those who will care to listen to Him in His revealed word, the Bible. Christians are to shine as lights in this world filled with illusions and darkness (Mt. 5:16).  Christians are those who listen to God and with God’s help make the   effort to be like Him.  Others are to observe our good works and because of our good learn to glorify not us, but the Father in heaven.   Christians are to be the flavor enhancers of life.  Christians are those who are to be the preservers who stop decay and corruption.  Christians are to be the salt of the earth (Mt. 5:13-14).  In listening to God, Christians know that in the real world, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches” (Prov. 22:1).   Americans possess great riches, and Christians are greatly tempted in this area.  By faith in our God we know that a good name is more important.  The good name speaks of one’s reputation on an employment application.  The good name simply declares that a   person is trustworthy and reliable.  The good name does not run unpredictably hot and cold, but rather they express themselves as steadfast, stable, and dependable.  This is what is needed in families and in marriage.  This is what all employers are looking for in their employees.  Wise Solomon repeated this idea in Ecclesiastes 7:1, “A good name is better than precious ointment.”   How are you and I influencing others?  From God’s perspective a good man brings forth good things from the essence of his being and the evil man from the essence of his being brings forth evil (Mt. 12:34-35).  This is both simplistic and   profound.   Paul admonishes Christians to live life in such a way that they are read in their conduct as being worthy representatives of the gospel of Christ (Phi. 1:27).   Christians, we are constantly being read by our mates, children, and parents.  The definition of who and what we really are is constantly being redefined.  Christians themselves are living letters from God placed in the hearts of all who read us and know us for who and what we really are (2 Cor. 3:2).    Like all people Christians have the power of influence that they can and do use for either that which is good or that which is bad.  With the gift of free will (part of our being created in God’s image), we do both knowingly and unknowingly influence all the lives we touch every day.  Sadly, too many Christians are shying away from this world to the point that they are not using their influence to promote good.   They are not letting their light shine brightly as they should be.  Some of us are allowing ourselves to be intimidated by a world that is more and more openly hostile to Christianity.  We are to use our influence in the area of love to let this terrorized world know for sure that we are for real the disciples of Christ.  We cannot and must not withdraw from this world and go live in a monastery.  We are called to use our influence and fight spiritual battles.  We are to be winners; but we can only be winners if we choose to involve ourselves in the battles all around us.   We are not wimps.  We have entrusted to us the gospel, the  power  of  God unto salvation.