Living A Legacy

(Read 1 Timothy 6)

The first 15 minutes of our conversation covered fishing tips, fishing stories, and fishing results. My friend (D) is a hard-core fly fisherman. That’s a skill I will probably never tackle — excuse the pun. (D) is a friendly and self-described “quiet” man with a dry sense of humor. His life as a believer is a beautiful reflection of obedience pointed towards Jesus Christ.

Like so many others I have spoken with, (D) came to know the Lord in his youth. “I came from a strong Christian family, especially from my Dad and Grandmother. Dad left a legacy,” he continued. “At 12, I was involved with an organization called The Boys Brigade (BB).” This group is an international non-denominational Christian youth organization that combines activities and education around Christian values. It includes summer camps, organized learning, and memory verses. “I accepted Jesus as my Savior at 12. I believed in everything I knew about Him so I thought it was time to make a formal commitment to live my life accordingly,” he said.

“I served as a BB leader through high school. When living in Denver, there was one boy I drove to meetings every Wednesday.” We didn’t go into details, but what I gained from our conversation is that this boy didn’t have the means or willing adults in his home to get him to the meetings.

“Many years later my Dad said, ‘You’ll never guess who I ran into today? That boy you drove to the BB meetings is a Pastor now.'” (D) and I talked about the fact that you never know the impact you have on people. God’s legacy is eternal and it runs through every believer.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
Deuteronomy 6:5-7

Early on, children should know that God has a plan for each one of them. It’s something parents need to drive home morning, noon, and night. A real legacy isn’t forced or contrived, it’s the result of continuous effort, patience, love, correction, and example. Moses told his people in Deuteronomy that God wanted them to listen to God, to love Him, and to teach the ways of the Lord persistently to their children. A real legacy isn’t a winning tradition from a baseball team, it’s an eternal model given by God and greater than anything we can ever create on our own. It has nothing to do with our works and everything to do with God’s grace.

(D) discovered that he had a calling to be a Youth Pastor. He went to college and studied for his degree, headed an event group for youth, and merged his love for climbing and the mountains with his desire to share and teach the Gospel. “I then spent a hot, humid, non-mountainous, snake-filled, buggy summer in Oklahoma.” It sounded like a drastic departure from a pleasant Colorado summer in the mountains. God has a reason for everything, I thought to myself. “Right before that summer, I met my future wife,” he said.

“For several reasons, we decided to move to Oregon. One was to serve as a youth pastor. One was to be a witness to my wife’s father.” (D) explained further, “We thought that if we could be an example, to be a witness for Christ for him, it would make some kind of difference.” His legacy story continued. “My Dad would have said to my father-in-law, ‘Do you know where you’re going when you’re gone?’ I’m more subtle than that,” (D) laughed. He described how they went to church regularly and lived disciplined lives as Christians so as to try to model the right path for his father-in-law.

Eventually, (D) changed jobs and became very successful working at a 24/7 restoration company. “It was literally, 24/7. No day was off my schedule,” (D) said. “Slowly, I was fading away from my quiet time in God’s word, not reading enough.” He now recognizes that it was another season for him and in his current retired state, (D) is able to enjoy quality quiet time and is currently reading the Bible cover to cover again.

“It took us 9 years to have children. It was hard on us and we were wondering if was going to happen.” I described to him something I had heard recently of Hannah’s story in 1 Samuel.

Hannah was a faithful woman who was not blessed with children. Her husband, Ramathaim also had another wife, Peninnah. Well Peninnah was a real peach. She constantly berated Hannah for not being able to bear children. Hannah was so bothered by her situation that she even lost her will to eat. But she still prayed fervently to God.

“I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”

She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.
1 Samuel 1:15-16, 18

Hannah reached a point where she put her life and condition, like it or not, in God’s hands. She aimed her heart towards God above her desire to have children.

So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”
1 Samuel 1:20

(D) and his wife, also aimed their hearts towards God. When we aim for Him with our desires and prayers, we get His blessings and everything under Heaven too. (D)’s retelling of this very personal story displayed their faith so vividly. Loving God with all your heart won’t get you everything you ask for, but it will connect you with His comfort, grace, and legacy.

“How does God guide your life?” I asked.

“He’s in control. Through struggles, and victories. He’s always with us and there’s no need to worry.” (D) mentioned his connection to Psalm 23 and I see why. God travels with us down to the valley of the shadow of death with His rod and staff — we are comforted. “He’s always faithful to provide,” (D) stated.

“As a believer, what gives you hope?” I asked.

“Knowing that some day, I’ll be with Him. Things are black and white with me. You’re either going to heaven or you’re not. There are rules. I’ve read it. Said it. Believed it. Case closed.” I joked back that he sounded a little like a lawyer.

“No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.”
– President Theodore Roosevelt

“This was my Dad’s motto. He lived his life accordingly.” That was his Dad’s legacy that is living on through my friend (D), I concluded. “In relating to others, I try to get to know people first, then to plant a seed and build a friendship. I try to get them thinking, what’s different about what I believe?”

Throughout our entire interview, I saw a very clear message from (D). God’s legacy as evident first through his Dad, then through him, and finally through the people he’s impacted is an unwavering beacon shining brightly for the world to see and follow.

Go ahead, and say I’m dead and gone
But you will see that you were wrong
Go ahead, try to hide the Son;
But all will see that I’m the One!

‘Cause I’ll come again!
Ain’t no power on earth can keep me back!
Yes, I’ll come again;
Come to take My people back
Rise Again – Dallas Holm

Key Applications:

1. Deuteronomy 6. What do you think God wants us to do for the younger generations? We should reflect on this every single day of our lives. If we prioritize on loving God with our whole heart, everything else becomes easy and secondary.
2. Are there things in life that your heart desires so much, it makes other things blurry? Sometimes, we think we know what we need because in the moment, it seems like life or death. God sees the true picture, the before, during, and after for eternity. Pray that we try to see things as God sees them and put our time table down.
3. Pray for anyone you know in life who needs a boost. Pray for anyone you know who needs God’s love to comfort them. Maybe you are that person God will use to heal, help, or lift someone’s spirits. Be open and ready for God to use you.

Where else in your life can you live out the teachings of Christ? Look for next week’s Devotion.