What makes a man great? As G.K. Chesterton points out, it can be difficult to express the dictionary definition of the word great. Great men are so because of the influence they have when alive, and the legacy they leave when dead. They cast a broad and long shadow over the land of mere men. Picture, for yourself a small figure standing in a street, with a large shadow on the brick wall behind. In order for him to be casting a shadow, there must be a source of light. How much of a shadow is produced depends entirely on where this man is in relation to the light and to the wall. In fact, to produce the largest shadow, the man must be far away from the wall. And if that shadow is to be sharp and well-defined, he must be quite close to a singular point of light. When we look at great men in Christianity, men who have left a mark of significance on the rest of us, we consistently see two things: First, like that figure in the street, they are quite close to one light: the Light of the world, Christ. Second, they are far away from the world on which their shadow lands. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul explains how to walk close to the light. “Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true, and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.  Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them… Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:8–11, 15, 16) As Christians, we are children of the light. We have been redeemed from the darkness and been invited to walk in the light. It is imperative that we walk as children of the light. This involves, first and foremost, discernment as we seek to please the Lord. We must reject the works of darkness, and live carefully. Our time is short, therefore we must make the best use of it. Great men across history have made a choice. They have chosen to give up things, good things, in order to grasp at the great. Great men have recognized that they must deliberately not be average. They have stepped out of the crowd of typical, mediocre, good men, and pursued that which is greater. One such great man is Jim Elliot, who wrote this famous line: He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose. Great men are defined, in large part, but what they give up. What they give away defines what they become. And so, a man steps out from the crowd, gives up the comfort, peace, affluence, of being “normal”, walks into the light, and behind him leaves the mark of greatness. Anyone can be great. Anyone can choose to reject the mere good and embrace the great. Anyone can change the world. The real question is: Will you?