Legacies

On a recent hiking expedition with my son in West Virginia, we came across something unexpected on the trail to Seneca Rocks. The trail to Seneca Rocks is an ascent of about 1,000 feet to a jagged ridge overlooking valleys on both sides. It's a beautiful trail filled with wildlife. On our trip, we encountered a doe and her two fawns eating along the trail. They were obviously accustomed to humans because we were able to walk very close to them without disturbing them. About halfway up, we came across something we often see along the side of roads but very rarely on a trail. It was a white cross, memorializing the death of a young man. There wasn't much information about him except for the date he died or even if he died on the trail itself, but it did make us stop and wonder.

These sorts of encounters make people think about a number of things, I suppose, but for me, because of my sabbatical mindset, I began to think about what legacy I would leave if someone came across my cross someplace on a lonely mountain? When I speak of legacy in the Christian sense, I'm not talking about anything necessarily physical that remains to remind people how wonderful and kind I was or wasn't. What I am talking about is the type of legacy that Jesus alluded to in Matthew 6.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21

Of course, I believe every Christian should strive to leave a godly legacy behind them. This would include being a good example in your community and living a life of faith so that your children and grandchildren can see Jesus in you. It would include using your spiritual gifts to their maximum capacity to glorify God in addition to finding a place to do ministry in every, and I mean every season of life. It would include working hard with your hands as the Bible instructs us because everything we do we do unto the Lord. It would include showing real, unashamed, Holy Spirit empowered love to everyone we meet. It would include these things and more. You probably have your list and if you don't, why not? Are we not supposed to live with purpose?

For me, because my calling is in pastoral ministry, I have to think about another legacy that I leave. Paul instructs Timothy to do something unique as a pastor.

And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. 2 Timothy 2:2

Pastors today, wear so many hats. We are expected to be experts in the Scriptures, effective public speakers, extraordinary administrators, wise counselors, computer and internet wizards. We have to be perfect husbands and have trained our children to be completely obedient in every situation. Most pastors have some musical talents, even if it just means leading the hymns from behind the pulpit on any given Sunday. Yet, Paul's instructions here have little to do with those qualifications. Paul's instruction is simply pass on what you know (whether you are an expert or not) to the next generation. Make sure that they are faithful with the Word so they can pass it on next generation.

As I contemplate jumping back into full-time ministry in the next few weeks, one thing that lays heavy on my mind is my time management. In my twilight years of ministry, I want to focus leaving a legacy like the one that Paul instructed Timothy to leave. I don't want to be known as the busy Pastor. I don't wanna leave a legacy (though it sounds good) of being a pastor that met People's needs. The legacy that I need to focus on, more so now than ever, is the legacy of the Word of God. I want to spend my time entrusting what God has given me to others who will pick up the ball and do the same.

So if you are part of my congregation, will you help me? No Pastor is good enough, smart enough or blessed enough to leave this sort of legacy without a faithful church family. I guess the ultimate goal is to leave a legacy together – to add our names to the long list in Hebrews 11.

There is no greater gift that we have been given than God's Word. There is no greater gift that we have been entrusted with to pass on to the next generation so they can see the glorious Works of our God and King .

So I make this covenant with you. I will dabble in some administration and counseling. I will get my toes wet with polishing up my preaching in producing some cool graphics for the sermon series. But one thing I will not compromise on is passing God's Word to the next generation.

I'm not looking for anything physical: a name on a building, piles of money in the bank, even a cross on a mountain side. I'm looking for God to grant me faithfulness so that my life not only impacts this generation but the next and the next and the...

We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power and the wonders he has done." Psalm 78:4