God has created every individual with great potential. In order for one to reach that full potential, he must pursue the one who gave it to him with all his heart (Deut. 6:5), allowing God to lead, guide and direct him in the paths and through the doors of opportunity and purpose. King Uzziah in the Old Testament is a great example of this. Made a king at 16 years old, as long as he sought the Lord, God prospered him politically, militarily and personally. However, once God prospered him, he began to trust in all God had made him and gave him instead of in God. Although we say God is our refuge and strength, once he blesses us and we put our focus on the "blessings" instead of the "blesser" we begin to lose ground fast. Uzziah went from great potential to being remembered in with one pointed statement: "He is a leper." (2 Chor. 26:23) There was so much more to his life than that, but that's how he is remembered. When your days are over, will you be remembered for your great potential or something else?

Dr. William Burnham is a pastor at Point of Grace Church in Covington. He can be reached at burnhamw@charter.net.