Leaving a legacy

How do you want to be remembered for when you leave a place, a community or a town? How would you be remembered when you pass on? Have you ever asked yourself the above questions? Well if you were to write your own obituary, what are the memories people would celebrate for about you?

For my sermon, I delivered this weekend (February 6 & 7) on the topic of "Leave Boldly," I talked about leaving a legacy, something that people will always remember about us. I like the way the Psalmist says it in Psalms 22: 30 that "Posterity will serve Him; future generations will be told about the Lord." When future generations are told and talk about something, that is called a legacy, something generations to come will remember.

How do we leave a legacy? Well there are three ways I would to share with you today.
1. Make Jesus be the foundation and center of your life
In 1 Corinthians 3: 12-14, Paul urges the church that Jesus is the foundation and what matters the most is what type of materials to use to build upon this foundation. Temporary materials (temporary legacy) do not last. It is just for a season and then time will wash them away. People will remember only for a while. However, an eternal legacy will not just be for a give period of time. It is eternal. Generations will hear and will talk about it.

2. Position yourself in the word of God
A person who mediated on the word of God day and night is like a tree planted by the river. It bears fruit in its season and produces seeds every year. There is nothing or nobody that can prevent this tree from growing. When you position yourself in God's word; when you make it a priority to do in the morning before you do anything else and the last thing you read before going to bed, you will be like that tree. You will be rooted in God, and nothing or nothing can take away anything you get from God. Then, you will be able to leave a legacy.

3. It not about you, but all about God
The last thing to know is that all is about God. In Psalms 145: 4, the bible tells us: "one generation shall laud your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts." If you would like to be remembered for ever, make sure that everything you do, say and think may be all because and for God alone. That will let one generation tell the other about what God had done through you when you would be gone.

When Jesus is the center and foundation of your life; when you position yourself in God's word and make it a manual and reference to use for everything you do; when you do all because and for God alone, then, my friend, you will surely leave a legacy behind. People will always remember the mighty acts God did through you, and will tell future generations about them.

Be blessed and of good courage!

Emmanuel