Have you ever thought that when you die what will people remember you for? Will you be remembered as a loving father, an innovative businessman, someone who lived a life of high integrity, or maybe even a great soul winner? Just how will history remember you or will you quickly fade into a distant memory in the minds of even our loved ones.
As a Christian the legacy we leave the world with is important because it will determine what future treasures we will take with us into eternity. Randy Alcorn states the case for our legacy well when he shared: “When you leave this world, will you be known as one who accumulated treasures on earth that you couldn’t keep? Or will you be recognized as one who invested treasures in heaven that you couldn’t lose?”1
Scripture confirms Alcorn’s thought well when we read: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21). For you see worldly accumulations of goods can’t be taken with us into eternity nor do they leave much of a legacy here for us on earth since material goods are not what a lasting legacy is all about. But when you use your talents and treasures to help others and bring glory to God now, this sacrifice will be well remembered long after we are gone – and in fact will be part of our future eternal legacy.
So, if you want to leave a lasting legacy learn to be a person of integrity. Give of your substance and time to help others. Have a long prayer list and pray over it daily. And most of all invest your time, talent, and treasury in things that advance the kingdom of God and bring glory to the name of Jesus. Yes, it is true that your earthly bank account may not be that large as you reach the end of your journey here below, however, your legacy will shine brightly, not only with the many people you have impacted for good, but with your heavenly Father who has been storing up your good deeds above!