We are all on a search for significance.

And this pursuit of significance varies in expression. For some, that pursuit may come in the form of an obsession to do “well” in life, for others, prominence, and for many, fortune.

The traditional definition of significance is to be “worthy of attention”. To be significant would commonly mean needing to stand out, do exceedingly above and triumph over competition. We all crave for significance, whether we are introverts or extroverts. However, we all know that we are never able to consistently perform and outdo the people around us.

When we base our significance on our ability to perform, we will find that our sense of significance and self-confidence fluctuates and dwindles like our performance naturally would.

The significance that Christ’s promises us is one that is consistent, eternal and isn’t at all based on our ability to perform. It is not derived by favourable circumstances but God’s constant favourable opinion of us.

I believe that an obsessive longing for external significance is often indicative of an internal void. If I were to take that thought further, I believe that even with all the fame and accolades the world has to offer, you will never truly feel lasting significance until you realise your significance in God.

I believe that an obsessive longing for external significance is often indicative of an internal void.

As I mentioned above, the common definition of significance is to be worthy of attention.

We spend a good part of our lives earning and pining for the attention and approval of the people around us without realising that we were worth the attention, effort and life of the most important being in the universal – God Himself.

We are familiar with the truth that Jesus Christ is our Redeemer, but we often forget that Christ wasn’t just the Redeemer, He was also redemption’s price.

He gave His very life to purchase us from eternal damnation. Because of that the price tag or value of our lives is no longer the sum total of our mistakes and accomplishments. We are now valued at the price that was paid for us – God’s life.

Since the Garden of Eden, the devil’s strategy against Christ’s beloved has remained, and that is to convince people that they are not significant to God. This sends them into a never-ending cycle of trying to find lasting value and worth in things and people that won’t last.

He gave His very life to purchase us from eternal damnation: We are now valued at the price that was paid for us – God’s life.

When Adam and Eve sinned against God, the Bible accounts that they hid from God because they perceived that they were naked and were, therefore, ashamed.

The Father then said, “Who told you you were naked?” Not “Why did you think that way?”, or “How did you come to that conclusion?” Who told you? This implies that there was a voice of accusation in the Garden that convinced them of their shame and nakedness.

And today, the enemy continues to wage this war against the people of God through voices of accusation. Here are three voices of accusation that attempt to distort and rob you of your sense of significance in God:

3 VOICES OF ACCUSATION

1. The Accuser of the Brethren

The Holy Spirit convicts us, while the voice of the enemy seeks to condemn us.

The difference between conviction and condemnation is this: Conviction says, ‘You made a mistake, but this is not who you are and you need to change’. Condemnation says, ‘You made a mistake and because of that you are now a lesser person’.

By extension, you are a mistake – and unworthy of love and belonging.

2. The 0pinions of the crowd

If you have been an athlete or know anything about the world of sports, you would know that there is a vast difference between the crowd and the coach.

The voice of the crowd is often one of condemnation, but the voice of the coach is one of correction.

The crowd would celebrate a player’s success but be just as quick to criticise a player when he fails. The coach would do the same, but at the end of his criticism, he presents constructive feedback to help the player grow, develop and learn from his mistakes.

The coach does so because he is personally invested into the growth, betterment and eventual success of the player. The distinct difference between the voice of the crowd and that of the coach is that the voice of the crowd is often one of condemnation, but the voice of the coach is one of correction.

We often give room to the voices of people who aren’t invested into us. We need to train ourselves to weigh the opinions and feedback of people who are committed to us heavier than the voices of others.

2. The inner voice of criticism

There is a popular saying that goes: “We are our own harshest critic”. Self-criticism can come in the form of the occasional, “Gosh, I am so stupid” to self-abuse.

The reason we are critical of ourselves is because we perceive to have less than someone else. Self-criticism thrives in the seedbed of comparison.

The Bible says that we ought to love our neighbour as we love ourselves. Until we rid the voice of self-criticism, we are incapable of genuinely celebrating the success of people around us and by extension, incapable of authentic relationships.

Do you tend to deal with feelings of guilt or doubt?

What circumstances or situations trigger those feelings? Who are some of the “coaches” in your life? How do they contribute to your life?

What would freedom from the voices of accusation look like to you?

As we identify these voices, it is my prayer that we would make a conscientious to silence the voices that contradict the voice of God, that you will rid the voices of accusation and condemnation in your life – and allow your worth and significance to be defined by a loving Father. 

His word speaks a better word then all others.