Lasting Legacy
Build your life on the Rock and He will make your name great.
“Now this is the history of the generations of the sons of Noah and of Shem, Ham, and Japheth…Sons were born to them after the flood. Cush became the father of Nimrod. He began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before Yahweh…Out of that land he went into Assyria, and built Nineveh” Genesis 10:1, 8-9, 11,
We all come from somewhere, we have a lineage, and we all build our legacy. Many of the names were mentioned and have long since been forgotten.
Have you stopped to consider how where you came from has shaped you and the way you think? Have you considered what your legacy is?
“The wicked, in the pride of his face, has no room in his thoughts for God…He says in his heart, “I shall not be shaken. For generations I shall have no trouble….Yahweh is King forever and ever! The nations will perish out of his land. Yahweh, you have heard the desire of the humble.” Psalms 10:4, 6, 16-17
Those who do evil can have temporary success, but they will soon be forgotten. Where have I allowed pride to steer me away from my kingdom calling? Truth tells us only God is king forever. Only a life built on him is lasting.
“Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death…The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot…He who walks blamelessly walks surely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out…Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all wrongs…The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hope of the wicked will perish.” Proverbs 10:2, 7, 9, 12, 28
How does living your life with the end in mind change the way we think and the way we live? If you could write your legacy what would it be? How would it change your plans for today?
“Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, and to the writers who write oppressive decrees to deprive the needy of justice, and to rob the poor among my people of their rights, that widows may be their plunder, and that they may make the fatherless their prey! What will you do on the day of visitation…To whom will you flee for help? Where will you leave your wealth?…Therefore the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, will send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory a burning will be kindled…It will come to pass in that day that…those who have escaped from the house of Jacob will no more again lean on him who struck them, but shall lean on Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel, in truth….The tall will be cut down, and the lofty will be brought low.” Isaiah 10:1-3, 16-18, 20-21, 33
Isaiah says justice will come and how you treat others will matter. Doing nothing is doing something. Those who build their lives on Jesus will not only humble themselves, but will look for how they can help others in need. Where is God calling you to humility in your heart and to give a helping hand to others?
“As you go, preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons…Freely you received, so freely give. Don’t take any gold, silver, or brass in your money belts…A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his Lord…Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body…Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body…Aren’t two sparrows sold for an assarion coin? Not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore don’t be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows…Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven…He who doesn’t take his cross and follow after me isn’t worthy of me. He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 10:7-9, 14, 24, 28-32, 34, 38-39
Following Jesus is not a call to easy living. Rather it is a call to build a legacy of impacting the world around you with the strengths you have been given. Jesus says when you preach not if. Jesus says He is the one who provides and He sees all that we need. How do we find and bring the kingdom life we are called to others?
The word "worthy" in this text means "center". He is challenging those who will hear and say they will follow to make Him the center. The center of all that they do so that their legacy will be one of living for Jesus. We surrender the life where we are the center and we make Jesus the center. We all are building a legacy. Will yours be built on the pleasures and pressures of the world and quickly forgotten? Or will you choose the narrow road that leads to life and allow all that you do be done to bring glory to God?