Mine has gone from good to middling, especially as my kids have become more active. I don’t always remember, for example, where I put my keys, my wallet, my phone, my sunglasses, or some combination of all of them. I sometimes forget whether or not I’ve paid a bill, or made a call. There’s only so much RAM available in my head, so sometimes things just leak out.
But you know what I do remember?
I remember my mentor, Jeff, a man who showed me what loving God and loving people looks like. I remember long conversations with him as he shared his wisdom and experience with me. I remember watching him deal with all kinds of ministry issues with grace and truth. I remember how he consistently served others sacrificially, and I remember how he dealt with his flaws and mistakes. His life is, in many ways, a roadmap for my own.
Why do I remember Jeff? Because he took the time to make sure that his life impacted mine. Because he gave me a vision for what life and ministry can be. Because he passed his legacy on to me.
When I mention the word legacy, many people think first about death or the reading of someone’s will. What will the inheritance be? How much money will I get? Who will get the house? Each of the definitions of the word in the dictionary have something to do with property or money that is handed down from one generation to the next.
Let me suggest, however, that our legacy actually has very little to do with stuff. Our legacy is about the kind of person we are becoming. It’s about our ability to impact the lives of people, to show others what following Jesus looks like. What is the sum total of our legacy when we subtract all of our material possessions?
The Apostle Paul was aware of his legacy. In Acts 20:17-38, right before he boarded a boat for Jerusalem where his life was going to end, he made time to stop and meet with the elders from the church he planted at Ephesus. After spending a total of three years working with these guys, he called them together to sum up his legacy. With great emotion, Paul speaks to these church leaders so that they can learn from his life and take up his legacy as they move the church forward.
This week, as we celebrate Graduation Sunday, it’s a great time to consider what kind of legacy you and I are building right now. What will we be remembered for? How are we impacting lives? What are the elements of our legacy that we should work on now? Let’s talk about these questions together on Sunday.
In addition, we will be honoring all of our graduates from all of the major milestone educational levels. It’s an especially special time for our high school seniors, who will be recognized in a special ceremony. It’s also Communion Sunday. And, to top it all off, our Summer Kick-off All-Church Picnic begins right after second service.
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Submitted by Pastor Tom, 11:15 pm
