When we share our testimony, its not to edify ourselves but to Glorify Jesus.

 

What Legacy Will You Leave Behind?

Legacy is not what we did for ourselves,It's what we doing for the next generation. The greatest legacy one can pass on to one's children and grandchildren is not money or other material things accumulated in one's life, but rather a legacy of character and faith.

 

Its what we leave behind when we depart this earth to be with our Heavenly Father.

It is what people will remember about us after we have gone ..it’s not something we think about all the time, however the question is  .. what legacy will you leave behind? .What will others say about you? 

 

Martin Luther King Jnr who died in 1968 was once asked ‘what do you want us to say about you at your funeral? 

He said he didn’t want a long funeral and no long speeches. No mention of his awards – that was not important. 

Tell them I gave my life serving others. I tried to feed the hungry.

His name and legacy does live on – no doubt about that.

 

How fitting is the story of Sir Nicholas Winston when Israel is at war at this time.

He was a stockbroker in 1938 when Hitler’s troops began to march into Czechoslovakia. He knew that something evil was going on ..  He quit his job as a stockbroker and began to charter trains, raise money, and transport Jewish children out of Nazi occupied Czechoslovakia and Poland. Because of him, 699 Jewish children escaped what would have been death in  Nazi prison camps. Vera Gissing, one of the 699 children who escaped said  “He did not only save 699, he saved a generation. We have had children and grandchildren. Because of him, there are about 7,000 of us alive.” That’s a real live legacy.

 

Life has a meaning ,it is for us to discover this. When we die, everything we own or did becomes useless unless it brought value and joy to others. Did we help others? 

Did we give encouragement and hope to others? 

It’s not about money – it’s more than that. it’s to have time, energy and resources to give something of yourself back to others.  

If we  have a family, we want to leave good memories for our children and grandchildren .. will we be remembered as a genuine, kind, caring and generous person? 

 

What does the Bible say about legacy?

Psalm 112

1 Blessed are those who fear the Lord,
    who find great delight in his commands.

2 .Their children will be mighty in the land;
    the generation of the upright will be blessed.

3 Wealth and riches are in their houses,
    and their righteousness endures forever.

4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.

5 Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice.

6 Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
 they will be remembered forever.

7 They will have no fear of bad news;
    their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.

8 Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear,in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.

9 They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor, their righteousness endures forever;their horn will be lifted high in honor.

 

Proverbs 10:7 

Good people are remembered long after they are gone; but the wicked are soon forgotten

 

There is a saying you can’t take it with you when you die.

When our lives come to an end, it wont matter how much was in the bank, or how many cars we owned, or how big our houses were, or whether we could afford to eat out in the best restaurants .. it will be what impact did we make on the lives of people who God bought across our path?

To leave a godly legacy, we must focus on living life God’s way. The test of our leadership is not while we are living. It comes after we are gone. The way we live now and the choices we make today affect those around us. Our legacies live on in  the lives of others. 

 

Proverbs 22: 1 

A good reputation and respect are worth much more than silver and gold.

 

We can talk about many people in the Bible that left lasting legacies which  will go on forever.

I am reminded of the life of Apostle Paul 

When through so much for the cause and the love of Jesus 
He was a persecutor of Christians until he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus. He then became one of the most influential figures in early Christianity, spreading the Gospel message .Paul’s legacy is found in his numerous letters, which provide guidance and teachings that continue to shape Christian theology.

His legacy continues today with the written word of God in the Bible.

Lord give us the desire to leave a legacy that pleases You. 

Help us to always take the time to consider how much of an influence our lives and our actions have. help us to remain in a place of greater awareness to live in your ways to leave a spiritual legacy to , our families and all those that cross our paths.

 

Proverbs 22:6

Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.

 

Pray for our children 

Lord you instruct us to raise our children in accordance with your Word so that as they get older, they won’t stray from Jesus. Help us to teach your Word and your way to our children . Give us the knowledge we need to encourage them to align their hearts to you that the legacy we leave in them will be passed on for generations to come.