i am currently writing a series of short stories that recount the legacies left by some of the early matriarchs, patriarchs, prophets and rulers of the people of Israel. Some of those men and women left legacies of faithfulness; others left legacies of faithlessness. It is particularly interesting to look at the legacies of the kings of Judah. Eight of the twenty rulers that followed Solomon in reigning over the southern kingdom of Judah are considered to have ruled with good character. The remaining twelve are not.
What is particularly interesting to me is that four of those “good” rulers were the sons of “bad” kings, and five of the “bad” rulers were the sons of “good” kings. Five who were born out of a legacy of faithfulness became faithless, and four who were raised under a legacy of faithlessness became faithful.
So, what’s my point? Each one of us chooses the legacy we will leave to those who come after us. Each daughter or son makes her/his own choice.
But still, the legacy we leave can make a lasting difference. There were nineteen kings that reigned over the northern kingdom of Israel after Solomon. And all of those kings are considered to have ruled with bad character. No one stood up to make the difference and break the cycle of faithlessness and disobedience to God. So the legacy of faithlessness remained unchanged.
So, the reality is, though we choose our own path, the legacy we leave will influence the choice of those who come after us.
Each one of us has a place in God’s eternal plan. It is not just taking place around us. We are in the story! God’s plan involves us, just as it involved Abraham, Moses, Ruth, Esther, Mary, Paul and so on. God’s redemptive work involves each one of us, just as it has included His followers throughout the centuries. God’s plan is for each of us to participate in His continuing work to redeem a lost world. Our obedience today will provide a legacy of faithfulness to the generations that follow – just as our disobedience will leave a legacy of faithlessness.
God has blessed me with a family history of faithfulness that goes back multiple generations. My paternal great-great-grandfather died soon after his 49th birthday. His widow was left to raise their seven children who were still living at home, ranging in ages from 3 to 17 years. My great-grandfather, John Calvin Winter, at age 13, together with his elder 17-year-old brother, assumed much of the responsibility in caring for the family farm in Central Pennsylvania, and otherwise assisting their mother in the support of the family.
In 1906, a local historian wrote of John Calvin, “it was through this that he developed those traits of persistency and industry which afforded him an equipment for his subsequent useful and successful career.” As the years went by, he formed a “general contracting and building business” that achieved considerable success and, to quote the historian, “the fruits of his labors are visible in the many ornamental edifices, business and residential, which adorn the city, and have given it the modern air which attracts the gratified attention of the visitor.” (i love the prose of the early 20th century!) His sons joined him in the enterprise, as did his grandsons (which included my father). The effort not only enjoyed commercial success, but also was “among the foremost in the advancement of every worthy enterprise” – including the advancement of higher education and the spread of the gospel.
i never met my great-grandfather. He died before i was born. But the legacy he passed on to me was “every worthy enterprise”. The apostle Paul defined every worthy enterprise best when he wrote:
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” (Philippians 4:8 - NLT)
Though it has always been true, i am convinced we live in a day that – more than anything else – desperately is in need of those who are committed to building – and leaving – a legacy of worthy enterprise. We can’t manufacture what is true, or honorable, or right, or pure, or lovely, or admirable. Our headlines prove that reality every day. Those things on which we are to fix our thoughts will only flow from One Source – and that source is not political, economic, or institutional. It will only be realized by a heart that is fully surrendered to our Redeemer and positioned to follow Him as a part of His story.
We must choose the legacy we will leave. We must choose to follow Him wholeheartedly, follow Him intimately, and follow Him steadfastly in every worthy enterprise. The impact will reach much further than we can ever imagine – reaching to the generations that follow – even those (if Jesus tarries in His return) we will never know on this side of eternity.
Excerpts from Walking With The Master, Ch. 16
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