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?