2022: Stay the Course! - What Will Your Legacy Be?

What do you want people to say about you at your funeral without having to lie? It's an interesting question. We often used that question to kick off the men's ministry year in my former home church. It was a simple exercise asking how we want to be remembered by others. It was to encourage men to live in such a way now so that when the time came people would not have to lie about them.

When we think about the legacy we leave, we tend to think about tangible things – what kind of estate we leave, how much, and to whom? But a spiritual legacy is of much greater value. Do we live a life in the here and now that reflects the character and actions of Jesus?

We live in a culture where personal desires often compromise personal integrity, and cultural pressures, or inward self-doubt pressure us to act in ways we think will please those around us. Perhaps it's just temptation and sin that skews the legacy we really want to leave.

In his book "The Making of a Leader," Robert Clinton makes two observations about leadership that we can easily apply to our legacy. He states, “Observation 1) Few leaders finish well. Observation 2) Leadership is difficult.” (p. 207). But what if you're not a pastor, ministry leader, or even involved in vocational ministry? It doesn't matter. Each of us, in some way, is a leader, and all of us have been given the opportunity to reflect the character and actions of Jesus to others. Unfortunately, temptation, culture, and the desire to please others may lead us to not finish well. Life is complicated, and there are many challenges. Life is not getting any easier when we want to please the Lord in all we do.

The writer to the Hebrews wrote; “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder, and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2). We have an example of those who have finished their race and left a spiritual legacy, and we have the greatest example of the Lord Jesus Himself. Our culture is ever-changing, and not for the better, and people will always judge our actions and motives. Let that not be the influence that defines our legacy.

So, what is the legacy we want to leave? I think Peter and John give us the answer; “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). We want to be remembered as people who were known to have spent time with Jesus. Perhaps some of it will rub off on us and others will see Jesus in us. It’s a legacy to be emulated and passed on to the next generation.

Spending time with Jesus!

Rev. Bill Allan
AGC President