Humans will be like the stars in heaven

Standardlion, do you mean this reference?

Daniel 12:3 NIV

"Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever."

standardlion said:

What if you can't lead many to salvation?

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Oh, but we do, sometimes by doing no more than planting a seed. The rub is that we don't always get to see the fruit of our labor in this life. I'll give you just one example of the value of planting seeds... me.

In my last year as an unbeliever, I took a roomate who I knew was a Christian (he told me years later that he had prayed fervently over whether he should move in with me because I was a real wild child!). Thankfully he did. And though I had a dim view of "do goody-good self-righteous hypocritical Christians" - I knew somehow that he was different from my stereotype. That, and the fact that he was willing to be my friend, despite all my warts.

Over the course of a year he never whipped out a copy of the 4 Spiritual Laws on me, or his Bible to try to lead me to Christ. And looking back, I firmly believe that he was doing God's will, because I would have been hostile to any such attempt. God had a particular plan in how to reach me - one that He had been orchestrating since He brought me forth from the womb. And here's where I want to testify about the potency of planting seeds...

Over the course of that year, I watched this guy intently. I tried unsuccesfully to drag this guy down to my level, and he wouldn't budge. And though he had some flaws, he had something I didn't have - somehow I knew that this guy was absolutely 100% certain that he was going to Heaven when he died.

One night I could handle it no longer, I swallowed my pride and flat-out asked him how to be certain that one would be saved. He said only two things - when you stand before God, what will you tell Him to convince Him to welcome you into Heaven? I shrugged. Then he said that someone's blood has to be shed - either mine, or Jesus' in my place.

That's it.

Well, after that year I decided I wanted to live alone, so we parted. And do you know what? Over the next few months I was in a perpetual struggle over what he said because 1) I knew I had no answer for his question - which really threatened my identity as I had long thought I was a philosophical genius, and 2) I knew that if I accepted Christ I would then have to behave like all those Christians whom I despised.

Thankfully one night I gave in and accepted Christ. Bought a Bible and absolutely devoured it and learned how to fellowship with God in prayer. Finally joined a Church and was thrilled to learn that all of these brothers and sisters were all fellowshipping with the same God and embracing the same Biblical truths. And not surprisingly, I found them not so perfect as I thought Christians thought themselves to be.

That guy and me have been friends and brothers for over 30 years now. He is precious to me - for his sensitivity to the Holy Spirit's direction to be my friend and allowing Him to witness and speak through him with just the right words at just the right time. Thankfully the Lord has given me opportunity over the years to bless him and his family in return.

Here's my long-winded point. Like you, I would love to lead someone to Christ and experience the thrill of witnessing the person's transformation. I dare say we all do. But friend, I want you to know that being a seed-planter along the path of someone's journey through life is just as valuable to God. You and I have NO IDEA what all the Holy Spirit is accomplishing through us. If we have a spirit of readiness we can be confident that we are serving Him faithfully.

As for taking pleasure in planting seeds, whether we see the result or not:

1 Corinthians 3:5-9 NIV

"What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building."

One more word of encouragement. I too would love to be another Billy Graham, leading multitudes to Christ. Here's something, though, I would like all of us to embrace and have peace about...

If I am the only person who inherits eternal life due in part to your efforts, will that be enough? When we meet in Heaven, will you consider all of the trials and tribulations you endured worth it just because I am there? I dare say you would say yes! I know that *I* certainly appreciate it, as the recipient of God's love through you.

Here's how I handle the temptation to compare the results of my ministry to anyone else. Each morning I ask God to allow me the privilege of planting just one more seed today. That's it. And I have found that He faithfully provides that opportunity every single day. And because of His willingness to do so, I live each day in peace.

And I have this sneaking suspicion, that we will be astounded when we finally get to see the results of our efforts, and give all glory to God. I believe that we will be amazed to discover that God didn't waste a single day of our lives.

Hope this encourages you, friend. God bless!

Hello @standardlion, first off, since I see that you are a new member, WELCOME TO CF

When humans are spoken of as "stars" in the Bible, it often refers to the people of God becoming so numerous that, like the grains of sand along the seashore, they cannot be counted (e.g. Genesis 15:5, Genesis 22:17; Hebrews 11:12).

In Daniel 12's end times vision however, it has to do with the brightness rather than the number of stars above, stars which stand in such beautiful and glorious contrast to the darkness of the night sky and, in the case of the resurrected saints of that day, refers to those who will help light the way to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and, thereby, to eternal life .. e.g. John 3:16.

standardlion said:

What if you can't lead many to salvation?

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Though all of us are not called to be evangelists, per say, all of us are called to share our faith with others as God's "witnesses" .. e.g. Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8. After all, as the Apostle Paul tells us, "Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ" .. Romans 10:17.

Doing so, "witnessing", that is, isn't something that requires a special skill or gift from God, rather, we share what we already know and what we have experienced, personally, of God, His word, and the Christian faith (things like why we became a Christian and what becoming and being a Christian has meant to us, what our lives were like prior to coming to saving faith, and what they are like now, etc., and how we became a Christian so that they will know how to become one too ).

There are SO MANY lost and hurting people out there (as I know you know) who need to know the truth about God, His love and the salvation that He offers those who turn to Him and believe, so be sure to be on the lookout for them, and pray that God will not only help your find them/recognize them, but give you the opportunity to share your faith with them, and by doing so, help you lead them towards Him

Like @Joseph G has already mentioned, leading others to saving faith most often involves planting the seeds of faith, or watering the seeds that others have already planted, as many (most?) people do not come all the way to saving faith the first time that the Gospel is presented to them (so planting and watering, as @Joseph G also pointed out for us, is no less important than reaping is). Remember that God is the only One who is actually capable of saving people, but He intends for us to be part of the process along the way, nevertheless

You know (if you think about it) "witnessing" is a Christian's raison d'être (our main reason for being/existing) in this world, the main reason that God leaves us here rather than taking us home as soon as we come to true, saving faith in Him. It is a big part of fighting the good fight as they say (our being God's witnesses to the truth and His love, that is), as salt and light in BOTH word and deed (e.g. Matthew 5:13-16; 1 John 3:18) to this dark world, for as long as we continue to live here.

God bless you!! (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)

--David
p.s. - if you are still pretty young in the Christian faith, no worries, because again, "witnessing" (like you might do in a court of law, for instance) is principally about what you already know and feel and have personally experienced, not about what you don't know.

So, if someone asks you a question that you don't have the answer to, and they will, then just tell them the truth, that they've asked a great question, one that you don't know the answer to or are not sure about right now, but would like to as well, one that you will find the answer to and then get back to them when you do. This, BTW, will give you another opportunity to talk to them further about the Lord I have never had anyone say "no" to me about that, about getting them the answer to their question(s), that is, because I've discovered that what people are really looking for from us is, first and foremost, that we are genuine, truthful/honest, trustworthy, etc., far more than anything else.

standardlion said:

What if you can't lead many to salvation?

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They become falling stars.