“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” Vincent Van Gogh

Ok, so this concept is quoted from a crazy artist who cut off his own ear. But that should actually encourage us, since it means any of us can realize and share profound truth!

Think about it. Most, if not all of us want to accomplish something great. Something that counts. Something that really matters. Something that even outlasts our own short lives, leaving a legacy that will benefit others for generations to come.

But we can’t get there without doing the small things that lead to it any more than we can win a race without running one step at a time!

This reminds me of the Great Wall of China. Workers built the wall, section by section, over the course of many centuries, at the command of a series of emperors of various dynasties. According to China Highlights:

“In mountain areas, workers quarried stone to build the Great Wall. Using the mountains themselves as footings, the outer layer of the Great Wall was built with stone blocks (and bricks), and filled with uncut stone and anything else available (like earth and dead workers).”

This process began in the 7th century BC and took until 1878 to complete—a total of around 2500 years! In other words, a lot of steps, a lot of effort, and a lot of sacrifice (hundreds of workers died building it in each section). But the emperors and builders felt it was worth it because they needed the wall to keep foreign invaders from entering and conquering their nation.

Hopefully none of us will have to sacrifice our lives this way, let alone have our bodies used as building material! But we can glean some biblical principles from this effort:

First—Make sure the vision of the great thing we hope to accomplish comes from God—the King of kings, Emperor of emperors. When we’re following His command, the commitment will be grand. When He initiates and drives the vision, we’ll be in it for Him, not for ourselves.

We know when it comes from us, if we think it up and then ask the Lord to bless our plans and ambitions, instead of hearing from the Lord and getting excited about participating in His plans. Likewise, we’ll know if we’re in it for ourselves when we think and worry about our reputation and getting credit. Furthermore, if we’re in it from and for Him, we won’t give up when the going gets rough.

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” Prov. 19:21

Second—Make sure the purpose is great enough to drive the vision. In the case of the Great Wall, protecting their nation, families, culture, gave them their “why” for each step, each brick, each section, until they fulfilled that vision. Then, as mentioned above, we’ll persevere in the face of adversity when our “for the sake of” is greater than the effort, opposition, or trials.

Third—Be patient—great oak trees grow slowly, and great things can take a long time to accomplish. Hopefully it won’t take as long as the Great Wall, though! If something seems to be “taking an eternity” to come about, that’s actually a good sign—it means it has an eternal purpose, leaving an eternal legacy.

“For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.” Hab. 2:3

Fourth—Be ready to sacrifice—time, resources, energy, whatever it takes to bring the vision into reality. Step by step. Part by part. Stage by stage. Anything worth doing and working for is worth the cost.

“Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Mat. 16:24-25

What steps will you take today, tomorrow, and continually to get to the great destination you seek to arrive at? What series of small things will you start now build toward achieving that great thing you hope to accomplish?

Start small and keep going—consistently—steadily—without giving up. Every snowman starts by rolling a tiny snowball and builds from there. As Zech. 4:10 reminds us—don’t “despise the day of small beginnings”—whether it’s a step, a snowball, a brick, or a participant.