As a child, My mom moved us so quickly (when my parents separated) that we left all my childhood belongings behind. Resulting in my becoming very sentimental about physical things. Not a hoarder mind you, but I did collect boxes of “memories”. At 55 years of age, I just threw away letters that I had kept since elementary school. I couldn’t even remember who some of them were from. But, I still had the memories of these things and didn’t need the physical items. I wondered, if I died, were these the things that I wanted my children to have to sort through as part of my legacy? It this caused me to ask myself…”What is your legacy? “LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.” Psalm 16:5-6.
To answer the question “what is your legacy?” we first have to determine what a legacy is. A popular online dictionary indicates that a legacy has two definitions. 1. a gift by will especially of money or other personal property (such as my boxes of clutter or a monetary inheritance). Or, 2: something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past (such as our memories and testimony of our lives).
When it comes to definition 1., I doubt that there will be an incredible monetary legacy/inheritance that we will be leaving our children when we die. It just doesn’t seem as though there is a lot of potential for that.
With regard to definition 2. however, we will all leave this type of legacy behind. And we get to choose what that looks like.
As my children grew up, I was always very emotional. Every little milestone brought me to tears. Whether it was their first day of school bus ride or 4th grade Christmas concert…I was in tears. I used to tell them (when they asked why I was crying) that my job was to hold the bottom of the ladder so it wouldn’t tip over and their job was to just keep climbing, until they became moms and dads and had ladders of their own to hold.
Each of these events and milestones (concerts, graduations, etc.) represented a rung on that ladder. And with every event they were growing/climbing one more rung further away from me (and I was crying lol). But they understood that this was a parents job, to help their children grow up and to hang on to that ladder. I believe that this will be part of my legacy with my children. But, when you really think about it, by itself… that isn’t much of a legacy.
Other aspects of my legacy will probably be: my children’s knowledge that I love them. And (as much as I regret it) that I made mistakes along the way. That I was a hard worker and that I was kind. Unfortunately, they will also probably remember that I was tough, strong willed and independent. Which sound like good things, but not when they are rooted in pride (another part of my legacy).
Our legacies can be the good things that people remember and they can also be the bad.
The beauty of a legacy is that (until we die) it isn’t written in stone. Very much the way that we change when we become followers of Jesus Christ, our legacies can change too.
Part of my old legacy would have been that I was extremely negative. But now, I am a new creation. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” 2 Corinthians 5:17. And, I am no longer a negative pessimist. In fact, if my glass isn’t running over, it is at least half full. “You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.” Psalm 23:5 (NLT).
Another aspect of my old legacy would have been that I was strong willed and independent. But, now that I am a follower of Jesus Christ, He is my strength and the one to whom I turn for help. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1.
So, you see, our legacy can change.
The most important thing about a legacy though is how long will it last. Will it have an impact on our children and stop there? Will it effect our children and grandchildren and then be forgotten? Perhaps it will last for several generations before no one remembers us.
Or….will it have an eternal impact?
Our legacy will last for all of eternity, if our legacy is Jesus. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” John 10:27-28.
The greatest life we can live is in Jesus. The greatest legacy we can leave behind is Jesus.
If we will do what Jesus did, we will leave a legacy of Him behind. “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40.
No amount of money, wisdom or material possessions will ever compare to a life lived well and for God. We can leave no greater (or longer lasting) gift or legacy to the generations to come than Jesus.
In fact God instructs us to teach our children about Him and His Word. “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ” Deuteronomy 11:18-19.
We can do everything we know how to prepare our children and grandchildren for the day that we are no longer here. We can try and leave the greatest legacy we know how. It will never be enough. We can try to do all the right things, but we will fail. We can try to say all the right things, but we will fail. Our children will never receive enough instruction from us.
But if we have lived a life that pointed them to a personal relationship with Jesus, that is our greatest legacy. We may make mistakes. He never will. We may not always be able to Help. He will always make a way. We may die and have to leave them. He never will. He is all they will ever need.
Father God, we praise you that you are all that we need. We praise you that (through the shed blood of your Son) we have a beautiful inheritance. And, we praise you that our Life and legacy can have an eternal impact on the generations to come, through your precious Son. Father, forgive us for focusing on earthly inheritance and not on eternal legacies. Holy Spirit, help us to live a life, well lived. One that glorifies our Father in Heaven and points our families, friends and those around us to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and you. Help us to leave an eternal, Jesus, Legacy!
If you are not sure how to answer the question “what is your legacy?” And if you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and have been trying to lead a “good” life or leave a “good” legacy, please go to our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/). On this page you will find a prayer outlined. Please pray this prayer. Through it God will forgive you of your sins, introduce you to a greater love than you even knew was possible and you can begin to leave an eternal legacy. Once you have prayed that prayer, please reach out to me at Admin@Forgiven-N-Loved.com and let me know. I’d love to be in prayer for you.
Luv Ya!
