Looking Ahead

A legacy is what you leave behind when you leave, whether that is upon your death or just a transitional period in your life. It is what people will remember about you after you have gone. Leaving a legacy involves far more than handing down a monetary inheritance or passing on a good family name. A lasting legacy, one that continues for eternity, is one that isn't set in stone but rather, it is written on our hearts, and the hearts of those we leave behind. So, then, what legacy will you leave behind? What will others say about you after you are gone?

As our children grow up, they may not see faith as something precious and invaluable. Especially if they have been raised in the church and surrounded by Christianity their whole lives, the value of a godly heritage may not be immediately apparent to them. However, as they grow up, the hope is that they will remember the “stones” of faith we have gathered for them, taught them, and lived as examples for them.Joshua 4:6-7 (ESV) says, “And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come,

‘What do those stones mean to you?’ then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.” Just as the Israelites were instructed to carry stones from the middle of the Jordan, and set them up as a memorial of God’s faithfulness, we too can gather “stones.” Our stones will certainly look different. The key here is recognizing that our stones, no matter the circumstances of the journey, are a launching point towards the future, not a place to relive the past.

I think we can all ask ourselves the questions, “What are the foundations of my legacy? Are they superficial things of earth or everlasting things of heaven?” When we die, everything we owned or did becomes useless unless it brought value and joy to others. To leave a godly legacy, we must focus on living life God’s way. Someone has wisely said, “The test of your leadership is not while you are living. It comes after you are gone. Then what will people do with what you gave them?” The way we live now and the choices we make today affect those around us now, in their future. Our legacies live on the lives of others. I think of the great people of the NT who died tragically because of their faith and belief. Their legacies are very clear, and inspirational, because they lived for Jesus Christ. They lived for His glory, not their own. So, what impact will your life have on the future of your family, your community, or this congregation? What legacy will you leave behind?

Sharing Our Story

There are a lot of paradoxical statements or concepts in scripture. Sayings like, "The first shall be last and the last shall be first." Or, "Blessed are the persecuted..." Being persecuted does not in any normal sense sound like a blessing, but in Christ, it is. Another paradox that we face as Christians is the that of humility. Being humble is hard enough in our westernized egocentric, self absorbed culture. How are we supposed to remain humble (James 4:6, 10), while also sharing what God is doing in and through us? (Matt. 5:16) I believe that the clue is in the later, not the former. I think that our understanding of humility is flawed. We have confused humility with timidity and silence, taking scripture further than it is meant. For instance, Matt. 6:3 tells us not to let the left know what right is doing, in other words, don't be boastful about what you do for the Lord.

This is a good teaching. But we have distorted it to mean that we should remain quiet about what God is doing in and through his people. We remain silent and refuse to share, out of a false humility. I think that we also use this as our scapegoat to get out of the need to share, to publicly tell our story. But telling the story of what God has done for us and sharing what we witness him doing is paramount to the spread of the gospel and the expansion of the Kingdom of God. The supreme example of this, among Jesus disciples, is seen in Acts 4:20 when Peter and John said, "We cannot stop speaking of what we have seen and heard." While we certainly don't want to be boastful of what we are doing, we should absolutely be boastful about what God is doing. Someone once told me, "Find out where God is, and go there." When people see and hear God things, they are drawn to it, wherever they find it. It’s that part of us, that God- shaped whole that is inside of us, that only he can fill.

Like Gollum in The Lord of the Rings is drawn to his "precious" ring; so our souls, which are in the form of God, (Gen. 1:26) - are longing for the things of God.The outside world is looking in, searching for answers, hoping to find excuses. When lived out properly, the church is a beautiful experiences. It becomes very appealing to those without hope. This is why it is so necessary that we share not only what God is doing and has already done for us but also what he is continually doing in and through us. Our story, is the most powerful tool we have as witnesses to the life-changing truth of Jesus. So, I say, share your stories! Share your blessings! Don't boast, don't be shameful and haughty or arrogant and proud, but share. Share and don't stop sharing what you see and hear God doing. When you do, lives will be changed, souls will be saved, our town will be transformed, and the church will multiply.