Today's Journey
Leaving a Legacy
Jan.16,2013
http://getmorestrength.org
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” 2 Timothy 4:7
Do you ever wonder what kind of legacy you’ll leave behind?
I
remember an older gentleman from one of the churches I pastored. He was
the epitome of grace toward others; and he was deeply loved by his
wife, his daughters, and his sons-in-law. In fact, his sons-in-law
kneeled by his bed as he died. Afterward, one of his daughters wrote me a
letter. At the end of the note, she concluded with these powerful
words: “Our world has lost a righteous man, and in this world, that’s no
small thing.”
I love the legacy expressed in those simple words
from the pen of an admiring daughter. It reminds me of the heart of Paul
as he wrote to his friend Timothy. Paul had expended himself in the
service of Christ and had a keen sense that he was nearing the end of
his life. We know from his writings to other churches that he was not
afraid of death. In fact, he clearly stated that if he were absent from
the body, he would be present with the Lord (1 Corinthians 5:3). The resurrection had defeated the sting of death (1 Corinthians 15:55), and Paul couldn’t wait to meet his Savior.
As
Paul pondered the end of his life, he made three very simple statements
about his legacy. He had “fought the good fight”—standing firm as a
spiritual warrior, clothed in the armor of God, faithfully defending the
truth of the gospel. He had “finished the race”—ensuring in the process
that he was neither disqualified nor disheartened in the marathon of
life and ministry. Most importantly, he had “kept the faith”—remaining
true, committed, and loyal to the One who rescued him from sin and
darkness.
Notice that Paul’s brief statements here say nothing
about the education he had received, the places he had traveled, the
letters he had written, the people he had preached to, or the churches
he had planted. He flat out wanted his legacy to be labeled as
“faithful.” I love that! It’s what I want to aspire to as a follower of
Jesus.
So, I have to ask myself, “If that’s the kind of legacy I
want to leave, how would I pursue it today?” Well, it means that my
choices need to be more about “fighting the good fight.” I need to put
on the spiritual armor each morning, as Paul told the Ephesians to do,
and live to be victorious in all that comes my way. I need to be running
the race to win, putting off all that hinders and the sins that
entangle (Hebrews 12:1). And, it means that in every situation I want my attitudes, my words, and my actions to be loyal and true to Jesus.
As
Paul told the Philippians, “Forgetting what is behind and straining
toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for
which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Hebrews 3:13-14).
There’s no better time than the start of this New Year to set our
sights on new goals that will, over time, develop a legacy worth
leaving.
Building a legacy worth leaving behind begins today and
is made one decision at a time. Live this year to hear Jesus say, “Well
done, good and faithful servant.” In my book, that’s a legacy worth
living for!
YOUR JOURNEY…
- Spend a few minutes thinking about the legacy you would like to leave. How does that compare to Paul’s desired legacy expressed in 2 Timothy 4:1-22?
- What type of legacy will the current choices and priorities of your life lead to? Are there some changes that need to take place today to move you back toward a legacy of faithful service to Christ?
- The good news for each of us is that God’s grace is available to forgive, cleanse, and refocus us today! He can use whatever time you have left to bring glory and honor to Him.
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