Legacy

I suppose it is kind of morbid to talk about death, but this post isn't really about that.  It's a reflection on a sermon series from Alistair Begg, "What Is Your Legacy".  Uncle Ali preached from 2 Timothy 4:1-8 and reflected on the people in his life that have left godly legacies.  This got me thinking.

What will my legacy be?

Will I be missed when I'm not around anymore?

Will people say that I did the best I possibly could for my family?  My friends?

Will former students say that I left deep impacts on their lives and careers?

Most importantly, will anyone say that they saw Christ in action because of something I said or did?

John and I recently had to write an one-page testimony, in part, to officially join the membership of our church.  It forced me to think about the people who had impacted my decision to trust Jesus.

Almost 25 years ago, a young woman fittingly named Liberty was the youth group leader at the church we were attending.  She was soft-spoken and epitomized gentleness.  At least, this is what I remembered most about her.  One week before my mom, sister, and I were to be baptized, she sat me down and asked me what "grace" meant to me.  I told her that it reminded me of ballerinas because they were GRACEful.  I can only now imagine what Liberty thought when I told her this.  She patiently explained that it's like someone coming to me if I were in jail and told me that he would set me free and take my prison sentence instead.  Indeed, this is exactly what Christ did on the cross to free me from the penalties of sin.  I think that's when the heart knowledge of God really began to take root in me.  Liberty's legacy is one seed sown in this heart.

There must have been countless souls who prayed for me and my family over the years.  I may never remember or even know who they were.  Yet, their prayer lives are the legacy that they will leave behind.

What will my legacy be?  I now ask myself.  I hope I will seize every opportunity to leave a good one.

I hope some day, I will see Liberty again and thank her for her faithfulness.