Proverbs 13:22 A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.
While I was studying at the Commonwealth Bible College in Katoomba, Australia, in1980, I came across a book in the college library that had been written by a Franciscan monk in the mid-1850s. The book had been translated from Italian into English in the early 1900s. The thing that made me take note was the fact that what he had written a long time ago was what I needed to read at that moment in the college library in 1980. This monk had no idea when he wrote the book that his words would reach forward more than a hundred years and minister to my soul. In other words, his written legacy had lived on and had reached out to bless me.
Will our legacies live on after we are gone? I was talking with my publisher, Clay, about the books he publishes that I have written. What effect will the books have when we are gone? We were postulating that the audience who will read my books may not even be born yet. Maybe one day, some young man will be asking God for direction in life while perusing old books in a second-hand bookstore and happens to come across one of my titles and voila, – he gets the answer to what he had been wondering about. Wow, what a neat thought.
We all know the powerful written legacy the Apostles through the Holy Spirit left us on the pages of the New Testament. But, what about you and me? What are we – my fellow writers and bloggers leaving during our time on earth that will be helpful to those who come after us? Prov. 13:22a A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children. Everything we do has some kind of effectual merit or consequence within this world. Call it the butterfly effect if you want, but none the less, we can effectuate good or bad experiences in people’s lives. What do you want to leave behind that will always be a sweet savour blessing to the Lord and the people of God?
Before you go and involve yourself in some bonehead sin, consider the consequences of that action on all the work you have done so far in Christ. I was thinking about some of my brothers and sisters in the Lord who had crashed big time because of sin. The thing that hurts so much is that they had done some incredible revelatory work and lasting changes that are a blessing in the kingdom of God. What I have noticed, is when their names are brought up in conversations with other people, the sin is the thing that is remembered rather than the lasting legacy they gave to us and the kingdom of God. Prov. 25:10b And the evil report about you will not pass away. This is sad because they are much more than their failure.
The Word admonishes us to do everything in the name of the Lord so that our achievements in Christ are full of gratefulness and righteously effective. Col. 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. If we want a lasting legacy, then we will have to have the Eternal One directing our path throughout our life. 1Thes. 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Whatever you have in your heart to do, then bring it to the Lord in prayer. 1Thes. 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
As I approach the shores of my old age, I do not have to fear the waves of my eternity because my soul is secure in Christ. However, what I leave behind will hopefully be helpful to others who make their choice to follow Jesus. Because, when it is all said and done, Jesus is the reason for our whole eternal existence. Heb. 1:8 But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. Nothing else matters but that we become part of Jesus’ lasting legacy.
Not just over there Larry, there are bonehead temptations no matter where you go on this earth:) Blessings bro.
Before you go and involve yourself in some bonehead sin, consider the consequences of that action on all the work you have done so far in Christ. Thanks for that. There are so many bonehead temptations over here, a reminder is always welcomed.
Thank you for this testimony Kathleen. What you said is so true. "Forgive as God forgives is all part of our legacy!"
Excellent Sir Norm!! A legacy that never ends.
It is so true what you have said about those who have fallen … even though they have recovered again the body of Christ forgets that it is their responsibility to restore that person. How easily we slip into sin with our mouth when God has forgiven the fallen but we have not!
Not to many years back I had a very huge awakening right in my own family, my oldest brother had been a miserable person and was sometimes mean behind the scene, then he gave his heart to the Lord and over the years God changed him and he became a tender-hearted man. His children never took note of the change even though it was in everything their Dad did. When he passed away, I had his paper work and in those boxes were his Bibles, three of them one for each one of his children. I gave these Bibles to the children and they were blinded to the changes because all they wanted to see was the miserable old man …. and would not acknowledge the change. It was sad to see and hear, and even today they have not changed because they still want to talk about how miserable he was. My brother's legacy got passed on to strangers, but his children would not accept it.
Forgive as God forgives is all part of our legacy!
Keep on writing brother!
God Bless.
Kathleen A.
Thank you, Don.
Blessings to you and your family.
"As I approach the shores of my old age, I do not have to fear the waves of my eternity because my soul is secure in Christ. However, what I leave behind will hopefully be helpful to others who make their choice to follow Jesus. Because, when it is all said and done, Jesus is the reason for our whole eternal existence. Heb. 1:8 But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. Nothing else matters but that we become part of Jesus' lasting legacy."
That is good preaching, mate.