A Forbes.com survey released this month called NFL quarterback Tim Tebow America’s most influential athlete — and that, in spite of the fact that he saw limited play time last season with the New York Jets, who cut him from their roster just two weeks ago. Tebow, who is deemed “influential” by 29 percent of survey respondents, finished ahead of Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps (25 percent), Jamaican track star Usain Bolt (23 percent) and Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter (22 percent).

“That’s a huge honor,” Tebow said. “I see it as a great responsibility to be a role model for future generations. That’s something I care about more than winning football games. What I want to do with my life is impact lives. When a kid in a hospital is fighting for his life and I’m trying to win a football game, what really matters? This game isn’t as important as a lot of us make it out to be. If I can give him a little bit of hope, I can do something that matters. That’s what I want my legacy to be about. That’s how I want to be remembered.”

To impact lives for time and eternity is what it’s all about. Money doesn’t last. Fame doesn’t last. The praise of men is fleeting and fickle. But a single life brought into relationship with the Creator of the universe will last forever. How do you want to be remembered?