Legacy - dictionary clipThe past couple of weeks have been interesting. Judy and I attended four funeral services for dear saints. Some had gone well beyond the Bible’s suggestion of three score and ten, others a bit less. All loved the Lord and served Him faithfully.

Some thoughts cross my mind as I reflect on these experiences. First, I need to get younger friends. OK…just kidding. I am blessed with many younger friends, and I am grateful to God we aren’t attending memorial services for them.

No, what has really been brought out into the light in each of these sweet services is the fact that these saints left a legacy. One of the definitions of a legacy is this:

[blockquote author=”” link=”” target=”_blank”]…anything handed down from the past, as from an ancestor or predecessor….[/blockquote]

The legacy these people left was not necessarily money or things. It was something in their lives from which we all have gained. We heard stories of love of family, of being a friend to many, of service to the Lord and His church. Over and over stories were told and testimonies were given…often with tear-filled eyes…of lives well lived, of a legacy of love and life and loyalty.

Billy Graham has said,

[blockquote author=”” link=”” target=”_blank”]The greatest legacy one can pass on to one’s children and grandchildren is not money or other material things accumulated in one’s life, but rather a legacy of character and faith.[/blockquote]

These reflections also remind me that you don’t begin to build a legacy at the end of your life. I have heard of politicians and business leaders who wanted to establish a legacy for their life work. For many, it is too late. Our legacy is our life. Steve Saint, son of one of the five missionaries martyred in Ecuador in the 1950’s, said,

[blockquote author=”” link=”” target=”_blank”]Your story is the greatest legacy that you will leave to your friends. It’s the longest-lasting legacy you will leave to your heirs.[/blockquote]

Even though Nate Saint’s life was cut short (by our human understanding), he left a legacy to his son, and to all of us as well.

I’m not sure we should set out to “build a legacy.” I think we simply live the way God intended us to live, and, from that, our life-legacy emerges. The Word of the Lord reminds us,

[blockquote author=”Deuteronomy 12:28 NLT” link=”” target=”_blank”]Be careful to obey all my commands, so that all will go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is good and pleasing to the Lord your God.[/blockquote]

It was said of one man whose memorial service we attended, “I never saw him angry.” Another told a story of one of these godly men who was approached by another church member who began to rant and rave at this dear saint. Our friend simply listened, then gently said, “I’m sorry you feel that way.” Little things, little instances, that indicate a legacy is under construction.

So…what will you do and what will you be today that adds to a legacy of life by which the Lord will be pleased and by which your children…and your children’s children…will be blessed? Don’t wait. Start today.