This past week our country (and world) lost two men of power and influence.  The death of each man will have far reaching impact on the world and especially on the circle of influence each was a part of.  Though they had power and influence, the reality is each man will have a far different eternity.

The two men I am talking about are David Wilkerson and Osama bin Laden.  Wilkerson was killed in a car accident and Bin Laden was killed by the USA military in an operation designed for that purpose.

Though I am confident you know whom Osama bin Laden is, you might not be aware of David Wilkerson.  David was a pastor in New York.  He wrote the book “The Cross and Switchblade” which was based on his own ministry to people on the streets of New York City.  He founded a ministry called “Teen Challenge” to help people with addictions.  This ministry has grown into a global ministry with one of the highest success rates of any recovery ministry.  He also founded World Challenge for the care of orphans around the world.

Osama bin Laden was the founder and leader of one of the world’s most violent terrorist organizations call al-Qaeda.  They are believed to be responsible for the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and the Pentagon along with many other attacks worldwide.  They have taken credit for the murders of thousands of people.

Though on the surface, these men seem completely different, as you look closer you realize they have similarities.  Let me explain:

• They had global, national, regional and personal circle influence.
• Their leadership changed the lives of countless people.
• Many people looked to them for wisdom and guidance.
• They dedicated their lives to the passion of their hearts.
• Their power and influence began with a single passion in their heart.

As you study each man, you will see their power and influence began with a passion in their heart.  Osama bin Laden’s passion was hatred and David Wilkerson’s passion was Jesus.  Their passions took them both toward places of incredible influence but in polar opposite directions.  Osama’s direction was paved with the deaths of many men, women and children and David Wilkerson’s path was paved with lives restored from the brink of death.

It’s easy for us to look at these men and see them as extreme examples.  Both of their lives might seem as “not even possible” for where your life could end up.  Bin Laden’s life was so violent and evil that it seems unrealistic for you to go that direction.  Wilkerson’s life was so successful the other way, it too may seem out of reach.  Here’s the truth though…the passion of your heart is a powerful thing.  It leads you to places you never thought possible…both good and bad.

No one has ever accomplished something big and difficult without passion.  Passion, even with small amounts, allows us to accomplish more than we ever imagined.  Have you ever wanted something that seemed out of your reach and yet you finally got it?  It was passion that got you there.

Though passion can take you further than you thought possible, the real power of passion is influence.  Like these two men, you too will have influence in your life.  You will influence family, friends, spouses, co-workers, churches, and maybe even the masses.  Your influence will be motivated by your passion…whatever that is.

Think about your life.  If you are passionate about a hobby, you influence your friends.  If you find an amazing product to use, don’t you recommend it?  Good book?  Good restaurant?  Good diet?  Good store?  Good recipe?  Good vacation spot?  Good repair shop?  Good church?

Negative encounters at any of the above mentioned examples will also cause you to pass that information on to friends. If someone wrongs you, do you bash him/her to your friends?  If you have hate, unforgiveness, frustration, or any other negative passionate traits, it will spill out to your circle of influence.

So I want to ask you…what are you passionate about?  My guess is we all can name simple things we are passionate about such as hobbies or TV shows, but what thing of importance are you passionate about?  Is your faith something you would say you are passionate about?  Does your relationship with Jesus affect every aspect of your life?  Does your passion for Jesus lead you to study His Word (the Bible), pray with anguish, worship with abandon, serve with purpose, and love like Him?  Or is your faith just something you kind of do?

I know for me, I have the privilege and responsibility of influencing hundreds of people every week at Lancaster Community Church.  I also know I influence the staff, my family, and my friends.   How I influence them can be directly connected to whatever I am passionate about.

For those of you that know me and see me on a weekly basis you are realizing that I am passionate about Jesus.  I really am.  He is the sole focus of my life…over my family, friends and church.  The reason I am comfortable about saying that, is my passion for HIM will flow into my influence of THEM.  That’s the greatest gift I could ever give.

Let us use David Wilkerson’s and Osama bin Laden’s lives as examples/warnings for what is possible with our passion and influence.  If both of their lives ended the way they seemed to be living, David is worshiping face to face with the passion of his life, Jesus, and Osama is realizing his passion led him and countless others astray.  Osama has come face to face with his loving Father and the full reality that his passion caused him to miss out on the greatest gift ever given, Jesus Christ.  As both men fulfilled the promise of God that every knee would bow, David Wilkerson bowed knowing he has served Jesus well and would be with him in eternity.  Osama bin Laden bowed with complete heart ache realizing he lived a life opposite of his calling and would for eternity be separated from the only real and loving God.