I attended the funeral of a dear sister in Christ this past Saturday. Such gatherings are a mixed bag of emotion for believers. We grieved the loss, yet celebrated her victory. It is particularly difficult for her husband, also a dear friend. He has suffered an astounding loss, yet celebrates her being in the presence of Christ.
I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.
– 2 Peter 1:13-15, ESV
To put the quote above in context, Peter is writing to believers who have been scattered abroad, and they seem to have been deal dealing with a number of heretics. Peter wants them to recall what they’ve been taught (the reminder) to be “established in the truth,” which is what he said immediately preceding the quote above.
What I want to call attention to is Peter’s “I want you to remember” exhortation. I want to remind you now so that you will remember when I’m gone and I can’t remind you anymore!
Peter is about to make what he literally calls his “exodus.” Peter is leaving, but Peter’s preaching and teaching will continue. Indeed, we are looking at it now!
What is Your Legacy to Be?
And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
– 2 Timothy 2;2, ESV
I’ll never be a celebrity preacher, and have no desire to be a celebrity preacher. When my time comes, and I am called home, I want the prevailing message not to be, “He had such a huge church or a huge following,” but rather, “He touched my life because he pointed me to Jesus.” How much better is it that the message remains rather than some monument to ourselves?
If there are monuments, they should be monuments to God, something like this:
And he said to the people of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in times to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’”
– 2 Timothy 2;2, ESV
What do these stones mean? What is the Ebenezer1 you have set up that will elicit such questions from those who don’t know? It’s not anything about us, brothers and sisters. It is the story. It is the gospel message.
At my friend’s memorial, it was a beautiful thin to see not just her children, but her grandchildren living and speaking for Jesus.
Speak the Gospel Message
Come and hear, all you who fear God,
and I will tell what he has done for my soul.
– Psalm 66:16, ESV
I will recount the steadfast love of the Lord,
the praises of the Lord,
according to all that the Lord has granted us,
and the great goodness to the house of Israel
that he has granted them according to his compassion,
according to the abundance of his steadfast love.
– Isaiah 63:7, ESV
Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.
– Acts 5:20, ESV
This is the legacy we will leave. Our children and grandchildren will know, “My father/grandfather loved the LORD,” or “My mother/grandmother loved the LORD, and here’s why.” So core is this to you, it is the essence of who you are. How can you but speak it?
If I say, “I will not mention him,
or speak any more in his name,”
there is in my heart as it were a burning fire
shut up in my bones,
and I am weary with holding it in,
and I cannot.
– Isaiah 63:7, ESV
This is what drives our legacy. It’s the fire in our bones that compels us, drives us to speak. We speak to the unbelieving world, and we saturate our children.
And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
– Isaiah 63:7, ESV
We will not hide them from their children,
but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,
and the wonders that he has done.
– Psalm 78:4, ESV
The gentleman who taught me the gospel in 1982-83, invested countless hours discipling me. One lesson he taught me is that I have only two types of relationships.
- There are brothers and sisters in Christ. I interact with them based on that common relationship. We fellowship in that shared faith and allegiance to Jesus.
- There’s everyone else. I interact with them on that basis. What that means is my every interaction is fashioned in such a way as to bring them just a bit closer to submitting to King Jesus. My every move is somehow aligned with the goal of bringing them to the point of deciding to align with and submit to Jesus as Lord, King, and Master.
Take some time this week and ponder what you want your legacy to be, and if you’re not already doing so, start building that legacy today.
Blessings upon you, my friends.
Victoriously in Christ!
– damon
DamonJGray.org
X – @DamonJGray
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1. 1 Samuel 7:12
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