What comes into your mind when you hear the word legacy?
A house? Property? Money? Stamp Collection? Laughter? Faith? What do you want to leave to your loved ones that will be an accurate representation of your life?
Sometimes I fall victim to thinking that a great legacy must consist of a sizable gift, a epic, memory provoking event that will be remembered for generations to come. Few people operate in that kind of rarefied air, and even if they do, rarely do we view the type of life that crosses the boundaries of the ages.
When I think of people that I admire, respect and still think about I don't equate their legacy to a possession or even a great memory. I remember the legacy of their love and care that they freely bestowed upon me during our interactions. I remember the example of my Grandma Lee who prayed for our entire family and is impacting generations beyond her physical life. I think of my Papa Bible who lived life to the fullest, a man who recognized his need for a Savior despite a life of great independence. (And stubbornness)
When I think of people that I admire, respect and still think about I don't equate their legacy to a possession or even a great memory. I remember the legacy of their love and care that they freely bestowed upon me during our interactions. I remember the example of my Grandma Lee who prayed for our entire family and is impacting generations beyond her physical life. I think of my Papa Bible who lived life to the fullest, a man who recognized his need for a Savior despite a life of great independence. (And stubbornness)
My parents have also modeled commitment, love and faith in Jesus throughout my entire life. That is the type of legacy that I hope to leave to those I leave behind.
Shifting gears for a moment, I wrote a song after God recaptured my heart in my early thirties called, "5 Seconds After I Die". The point of the song was to try to convey what I felt like the Bible promised would happen at the point of our leaving this world and entering my true home. If I were to write a song like that now, almost 30 years later, I think I would approach it from a different perspective.
Shifting gears for a moment, I wrote a song after God recaptured my heart in my early thirties called, "5 Seconds After I Die". The point of the song was to try to convey what I felt like the Bible promised would happen at the point of our leaving this world and entering my true home. If I were to write a song like that now, almost 30 years later, I think I would approach it from a different perspective.
I would write about the things that would no longer hold my attention or the desires of my heart. No longer would I worry about finances, health issues, work stress and much more. But those are the very things that Jesus warned us to not allow ourselves to be overcome by in our lives. Jesus said that we were never destined to live in two separate kingdoms.
In the book of Luke, Jesus says that the Kingdom of God is among us if we are believers. (Luke 17: 20-21) He was affirming to us that He will always be with us and where He is the Kingdom of God resides. It does not mean that God's Kingdom is currently of this world (John 18:36) but it does mean that He is with us as we navigate this fallen world.
That is the legacy that I want to leave to my family and friends. I pray that I have lived a life that despite my many faults, relied on the power of Jesus Christ to bridge that gap between my sins and the perfection of God. I hope that I have worn my faith as an active part of who I am, what I do and the decisions that I make. And my prayers are that my family and friends will know Jesus Christ personally and give their life over to Him.
That is the legacy that I want to leave to my family and friends. I pray that I have lived a life that despite my many faults, relied on the power of Jesus Christ to bridge that gap between my sins and the perfection of God. I hope that I have worn my faith as an active part of who I am, what I do and the decisions that I make. And my prayers are that my family and friends will know Jesus Christ personally and give their life over to Him.
That is the legacy that I hope to leave behind.
