A Lasting Legacy

People die every day. Every day a vibrant life becomes a legacy... Something that people will remember.

It's been running around in my mind for a while: How will people remember me when I'm gone? Will they recollect a kind, selfless person who loved her Saviour? Or will her sour moods and grumpy features be remembered more?

In the Bible, I've recognized many legacies. I'd like to share a few with you:

Enoch: "Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him." (Genesis 5:24) 
Scholars believe that Enoch didn't die. God miraculously took him from the earth into His glorious heaven. When Christians are asked about Enoch, in many cases this is the first thing that comes to mind.

Noah: "Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God." (Genesis 6:9) 
Righteous... Blameless... Like Enoch, Noah had close communion with his Maker. But what is also said about him is that he was righteous and blameless. Imagine! Being remembered for being blameless and righteous...!

Rebekah: "The young woman was very attractive in appearance... She went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up. Then [Abraham's] servant ran to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water to drink from your jar.” She said, “Drink, my lord.” And she quickly let down her jar upon her hand and gave him a drink. When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.” So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough and ran again to the well to draw water, and she drew for all his camels." (Genesis 24:16-20)
At first glace, this text might not ring any bells. You might say, "Yeah, who cares? She was amazing." While there is a temptation to think like that, I noticed some things to apply to my own life.
She quickly let down her jar: She didn't waste time. She honored Abraham's servant by not wasting his time either.
She gave him a drink: She wasn't selfish with her energy. She thought about him and how thirsty he was and eagerly cared for him.
She drew water for all his camels: Yikes. It's something to give water to a man, who's approximate water consumption is 64 ounces a day, but it's something else entirely to water his camels! A thirsty camel can consume 135 liters of water. She undoubtedly exhausted herself bringing up water for his camels. But she did it willingly! She was hardworking and eager to be of service to others.

Authorities in Jesus's day: "Many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God." (John 12:42 & 43) 
I cringed when I read this. Doesn't it say in Matthew 10 that, "whoever denies Me before men, I also will deny before My Father who is in heaven"? It struck me that this is what those authorities will be remembered by: loving man's praise more than God's praise. Friends, man is mortal, his praise will not last (Psalm 103:15 & 16). Jesus Christ is the opposite. When He is our Saviour and we endure in our walk of faith, He will praise us. He will welcome us into His perfect kingdom.

Jesus: There is not one verse to completely describe Jesus and what He's remembered for. Honestly, I can't even wrap my mind around Him! I used to think I understood Jesus, why He came, and the things He did here, but while re-reading the book of John, everything I thought I understood was dashed to pieces.
Jesus is Saviour: "The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." (Luke 19:10)
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29)

John the Baptist recognized this, but few others did in those days. Sadly, the same is true today.

Jesus is Truth: "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32)

Jesus proclaimed, “You know me, and you know where I come from. But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true." (John 7:28)

Jesus and His Father are one. Jesus is Truth, and as John 8:32 says, the Truth will set us free.

Jesus is love: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you..." (John 13:34)

"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13) 

Jesus did exactly that, defining love. In the ultimate sacrifice, Jesus died on the cross and shed His blood to save sinners so we can be acceptable in His sight. (Read our post about it here.) Love is sacrifice. How much are you willing to sacrifice for someone else?

Jesus is Light: "In him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (John 1:4 &5)

"The light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil." (John 3:19)

"As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (John 9:5)

"I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in Me may not remain in darkness." (John 12:46)

In John 1, the progression of Jesus being the Word, then being revealed as the Creator, the Life, the Light, not only the Light, but the True Light, completely boggles my mind. How can Jesus be so wonderful?!

Jesus is God: "I am the one who bears witness about Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness about Me... And He who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him." (John 8:18, 29)

"I and the Father are one." (John 10:30)

Jesus is above all: "He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all." (John 3:31)

Jesus was obedient: Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work." (John 4:34)

"The works that the Father has given Me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about Me that the Father has sent Me." (John 5:36)

"...Shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given Me?" (John 18:11b)

In everything the Father sent Jesus to do, He did perfectly. There was not one thing He lacked. Something that was impressive to me (but like, what isn't when you're talking about Jesus!) was His love and patience with the people as He did it. He never did it begrudgingly, never grumbled, but went about His heavenly duties and fulfilled the plan of the Father.

Jesus was an example: "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you." (John 13:14 &15)

No one left a legacy like Jesus's, with no flaw or taint. We are sinners, we mess up constantly. But if we are redeemed in Christ, we are set free from the chains of sin and guilt! (We talked a bit about this in a post that you can read here!)

Christian, ask God to transform you into His likeness! It will take time, we are all a work in progress, but He will answer your prayer. Endeavor to live life well, honouring and obeying God. Let your life speak to those around you that you follow Christ! Pray with Jonathan Edwards, "Lord, stamp eternity on my eyeballs." Friends, pray that you would be eternally minded!

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." (John 14:27)

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

"Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written." (John 21:25)

<3 Berea