Your Legacy: Will It Make It Through The Fire?
Scripture: Matthew 6:19-21; First Corinthians 3:11-15
Happy New Year New Light! This morning I want to talk with you about your legacy – the one you will leave behind on earth but will greet you in heaven. This is the first Sunday of a new year and once again we have the unique opportunity to make adjustments in our lives so that we might grow stronger in our relationship with Christ and as His ambassadors. I have shared with you before that we are the hope for this world and it is our works that are done here on earth that bring hope to others. These “works” that we perform on a daily basis become our legacy – they will remain long after we have departed this world and will meet us in the next. As we start a new year I want you to think about your legacy.
Webster's dictionary defines legacy as "money or property left to someone by a will; anything handed down as from an ancestor." This definition speaks to primarily physical things that are handed down from one generation to the next. In other words, a legacy is what you leave behind for others. While it could be money and/or property as the definition speaks to, it could also be the acts that you did that helped someone else; those things which others will remember about you. Your legacy will include your reputation or lack thereof. The focus of my message today is the legacy we leave behind based on those things we did to help others and I want to take a different approach in presenting it. Today I want to tell you a story of three funerals. Please come with me as we attend the funerals of Larry, Bro. John and Sis. Paula.
Larry: Larry grew up in a home with a God-fearing mother and a father who did not have time for all of that “religious non-sense stuff.” Although Larry was forced to go to Church as a child, his attitude was more like his father’s and as soon as he was old enough, he stopped going to Church and began to live his life. In his mind, Larry lived his life to the fullest. There was nothing that he did not try or experiment with until the day he died. During his life he only worked part-time jobs to support his “night life.” Shortly before he died, Larry had an experience that changed him internally. He was lying in bed one night thinking of something he’d heard in church as a child. He'd heard that Jesus loved the sinner and for some reason he could not get that out of his mind. That night while lying on his bed, Larry repented. He did not live long enough to share his experience because he died of a heart attack two days later. He was 30 years old. His mother decided not to have a traditional funeral in a church but a grave side service only. Since Larry did not have any true friends only his family attended the services. The minister stood before the family and said a few words about living right and closed with a prayer. The mother was crying heavily over the loss of her son. There were no songs, no long lines of people to tell stories about things that Larry had done for others. It was just his family. This was Larry’s earthly legacy. Now let’s look at another funeral, the services of Bro. John.
Bro. John: Bro. John was an active church member who willingly and happily served in several capacities. He sung in the choir, was an usher, assisted the trustees, helped with the announcements, everything. If there was a ministry to be involved in, and he was needed, John willingly rolled up his sleeves and did whatever he could. He would sit on the front row and was always the loudest in saying “amen” during the sermons. When something was not right within the church, Bro. John would point it out and demand repentance from all those involved. Two weeks before he died, Bro. John grew ill from a viral infection. As he thought about his illness, he decided to write out what he wanted at his funeral (he felt it was best to be prepared just in case.) He listed everyone he wanted on the program and what should be in the obituary. On his last night, he fell asleep and did not wake up. Bro. John’s funeral was elaborate. All of the big named preachers around town attended. There were songs, poems and all sorts of comments made about how wonderful a church worker he was. People were crying and shouting as the services went on for 3 hours. When the services concluded, everyone thought his funeral was one of the best they had attended in years and was befitting of someone who worked so hard in the church. This was Bro. John’s earthly legacy. Our final service is that of Sis. Paula.
Sis. Paula: Sis. Paula was active in the church although she did not do half of the things that Bro. John did as far as working “within” the church. She was not one of those who were always up before the congregation; she preferred to be in the background. Her funeral was ordinary without a lot of fanfare. None of the big named preachers in town came and it was just an ordinary service for an ordinary Christian. After her funeral, there were a lot of people who came up to her husband and shared with him how Sis. Paula had blessed them. Their revelation about her kindness brought peace to his grieving heart. This was Sis. Paula’s earthly legacy.
Each of these individuals lived their lives as they chose. Each had contact with people on a daily basis. All three had opportunities to impact the lives of others. All three left a legacy behind. Now, before we move on to what happened to these three in eternity, I want to share with you two scriptures to keep in your hearts. The first one is from Matthew 6:19-21. It says, “(19) Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. (20) But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; (21) for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21) Jesus said that our treasures should be stored in heaven, not here on earth. If you remember one of Webster's definitions of legacy involves leaving “money or property” behind for your heirs. This for many people is the only legacy that they will leave behind. However, this is not the legacy that Christ was referring to. It is what we genuinely do for others because of our love for Christ that stores up treasures for us in heaven. That is why our enemy works so hard to keep us focused on ourselves and our problems. Consider the verses found in First Corinthians 3:11-15.
“(11) For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (12) Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, (13) each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. (14) If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. (15) If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” In these verses Paul tells us that the only true foundation is Christ and it is this foundation that everything else must be built on. Regardless of my talents and gifts, if they are not built on and utilized on a foundation of Christ, they mean nothing. Paul says that our works will be tried by fire and those that come through the fire and not burned up will remain and lead to our rewards. What he is referencing is not salvation, but the rewards we will receive in addition to our salvation. Verse 15 explains that although your works may not stand up to the fire, if you have truly accepted Christ, you will still be welcomed into heaven but your rewards will be lost. Now let’s look at what happened when Larry, Bro. John and Sis. Paula stood before the judgment seat of Christ. Now let me say up front that the following are illustrations for the purposes of this sermon and did not really happen. But what I am about to share with you about what happened to them is grounded in solid Biblical doctrine.
Larry, Bro. John, and Sis. Paula all stand in line before the judgment seat of Christ. As they move through the line, they notice several things. First, each person was given a bag. Further down the line, their bag was taken from them and placed in a fire. When the bag was removed from the fire, the contents that remain were given to the person and he or she took it before Christ. Christ would take the contents of the bag and then give each person something in return. Neither Larry, Bro. John or Sis. Paula knew what this meant. As they moved further down the line, Larry receives his bag and notices that it is mildly heavy. He asks the angel what was in the bag and the angel replies “Your works from earth that must go through the fire.” Larry immediately drops his head because he knows that he had wasted his life on earth and will be rejected and spend an eternity in hell.
Bro. John, upon hearing what the angel said to Larry, smiled broadly as he thought about all of the things he had done in the Church. He knew his bag would be large and heavy and that he would have a lot of “works” to present to Christ. When he receives his bag he notices with dismay that his bag was the same size as Larry’s. When he questions the angel about it, the angel says, “It is not the size of the bag that counts, but the quality of the content within the bag. All of the bags in heaven are the same size – it’s the content that is different.” Bro. John took his bag and proudly moved further down the line. When Sis. Paula received her bag she hung her head and said thank you, knowing that she had not done a lot of works within the church. As they made their way further down the line, they came to the furnace. Larry gives his bag of earthly works to the angel. The angel places it in the fire and everything was burned. When the angel removes what was left from the fire, only ashes remain. Larry had nothing to present to Christ. Larry hung his head as he moves forward in the line to meet his Lord and Savior. Bro. John was next to give the angel his bag. Although he felt pity for Larry, he was glad that he had done all of those works in his church. As he gives the angel his bag, he begins to recount in his mind all of the things he had accomplished during his lifetime. When the angel removes the contents from the fire, all that is left is one small, solid gold piece. Bro. John was shocked. All of his works converted to just one small gold piece. Finally, Sis. Paula gives the angel her bag and waits for the ashes to be returned to her. When the angel removes the contents from the fire, Sis. Paula is given ten, medium size gold pieces that made it through the fire. Sis. Paula is surprised, but Bro. John was even more surprised.
As they made their way to the judgment seat of Christ, all were caught up in their own thoughts. When they got to the front of the line, Larry stepped forward as his name was called. He could not look at Jesus for he knew what his fate would be. Jesus stood and stepped down from His throne and walked up to Larry. He lifted his face and smiled at him. He said these words to Larry, “Larry, My child, although you did not received any additional rewards, you are My child and you will remain forever with Me.” With that, Larry was escorted into Christ’s kingdom. Next Bro. John’s name was called. When he stood before Jesus, he was embarrassed that he only had one small gold piece to give Him. Jesus took the piece from Bro. John and gave him the reward he was due. Bro. John asked Jesus why his reward was so small when he had spent all of his adult life working in the church. Jesus answered, “My child, truly you worked hard for years in the church, but you were not doing it for Me. Those works you did for yourself and you received your rewards on earth for those works when you received the praise of men. However, before you were firmly established in your church work, you did things privately to help others. You visited the sick and fed the homeless. Those deeds you did for Me and for those you are rewarded. Enter My child into My kingdom.” Bro. John understood and was escorted into Christ’s kingdom. Lastly, Sis. Paula’s name was called. She looked confused as she gave Jesus the ten gold pieces she had received. Jesus saw her confusion and asked her what was wrong. Sis. Paula explained to Jesus that she did not understand how she had earned any rewards as she did not do a whole lot in the church. She was not a minister, deacon, trustee or usher. She did not sing in the choir or teach Sunday school. Jesus smiled at her and said: “My child, you did more for Me than you understood. You fed those who were hungry; you gave to the poor; your visited the sick; you comforted those who were hurting; you took people into your home when they needed it; you listened when people called you needing someone to talk to. All of those things and more, you did in My Name out of your love for Me. Here is your reward; now enter into My kingdom.” Sis. Paula was escorted into Christ's kingdom. All three received eternal life, yet their rewards were different. Under normal circumstances, most would have selected Bro. John as the one who would receive the most rewards in heaven based on everything he did within the church, but that is not always the case. Yes church work is important, but what is more important is the reason we do the work. Are we working for ourselves, for our own glory or legacy, or are we truly working for Christ?
I want to close this message by asking you two sets of questions. Please raise your hands if you know the answers to the following questions:
1. Can you name the five wealthiest people in the world?
2. Can you name the last five Heisman trophy winners?
3. Can you name the last five winners of the Super Bowl or NBA?
4. Can you name ten Academy Award winners for best actor or actress?
5. Can you name the last ten World Series winners?
If you were like me, you could not answer any of those five questions completely and that is the point. Most of us do not remember the headliners of yesterday. Although these are no second-rate achievers and are the best in their field, the applause dies; awards tarnish and achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners. Now, let’s try another set of question. Please raise your hands if you can answer these questions:
1. Can you list four teachers who aided your journey through school?
2. Can you name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time?
3. Can you name five people who have taught you something worthwhile?
4. Can you think of a five people who have made you feel appreciated and special?
5. Can you name five people you enjoy spending time with?
Here is my point: the people who make a difference in our lives are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money or the most awards. They are the ones who care - they care about us and are willing to show it.
The acts of kindness that come from our love for Christ is what will be recorded and preserved when we stand before Him. Anything that we do for our own glory and praise will not make it through the fire. It does not matter how many awards we have on earth when we die; how much money we have in the bank or the size of our house. All of it means nothing when we stand before Christ. As we enter into this New Year, what will we do for Christ out of our love for Him and will we complete it regardless of the obstacles that may be in our way?
Happy New Year New Light and may God continue to bless you and your family.
Until next time, “The Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up His countenance on you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
(We are once again conducting live services on Sunday morning beginning at 9:15 a.m. We will continue to broadcast live on Facebook Live at 10:00 a.m.. Please tune in to "New Light Christian Fellowship Church" and like our page if you wish to watch our broadcast and be notified when we go live. If you are ever in the Kansas City, KS area, please come and worship with us at New Light Christian Fellowship, 15 N. 14th Street, Kansas City, KS 66102. We also have Thursday night Bible study at 7 p.m. via Zoom that you are also welcome to attend – please email me for the link. Also, for use of our social media, you can find us at newlightchristianfellowship on FB. To get our live stream services, please make sure you “like” and turn on notifications for our page so you can be notified when we are live streaming. We also have a church website and New Light Christian Fellowship YouTube channel for more of our content. If you would like to donate to our ministry you may do so through our website: newlightchristianfellowship.org by clicking on the PayPal or Cash App buttons. May God bless and keep you.)
