Built to Last Post - Kerry Shook

At some point in our lives, we encounter someone – whether it be a parent, a mentor, a teacher, a pastor or employer – who greatly impacts the way we look at our own life and the world. Perhaps, it’s someone with high standards and expectations who really stood for something they believed in, who inspired, encouraged, and motivated us to be more than we imagined we could be. Maybe, it’s someone who showed us how to set goals and imparted the confidence and energy to achieve them. These are true leaders.  True, authentic leaders create more leaders.  They lead us in such a way that we are forever changed. They leave a memory and a spirit that are built to last inside each one of us.

Jesus Christ is that true leader, and He and His Word are the foundation that are built to last for mankind!

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:11 (NLT)

“Heaven and earth will disappear, but My words will never disappear.” Matthew 24:35 (NLT)

A true leader must be a living example of his teachings, just like Jesus.  A true leader wants nothing more than to make people stand on their own, as believers and leaders in their own right.

“Anyone who listens to My teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.”  Matthew 7:24-25 (NLT)

Do you want to be an effective leader in life? If yes, Stephen Covey says “Begin with the end in mind” in his classic book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

What does the finish line look like for your leadership journey? And, with the end in mind, how will you answer these questions about your own leadership?

• Did you follow the example of Jesus to lead and change the way someone looks at their own life and the world?
• Did you make an impact in the lives of those that you lead?
• Were you inspiring, encouraging, and motivating?
• Did you instill confidence and hope?
• Were you someone they’ll remember?
• Was your leadership built to last?