WHAT WILL I LEAVE BEHIND? LEGACY?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (Watch YouTube: Wade Hughes)
We hear much fussing today that God’s Ten Commandments are not in governmental buildings and schools. I warn us that the COMMANDMENTS ARE NOT IN OUR HOMES AND OUR HEARTS! HISTORY? LET US PONDER WHAT AM I LEAVING BEHIND? EXAMPLE? LEGACY? What mark are you leaving in this world? Parents, grandparents, mentors, what is your focus and priorities? What are you teaching others?
YOU WILL HAVE AN ETERNAL IMPACT ON OTHERS… a lasting influence…
Deuteronomy 6:6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
*LEGACY: spiritual, moral, behavioral, cultural inheritance values and lessons you pass on to others, goals, to inspire, values, memories and teachings passed down to others, something that is left behind, transmitted to predecessor, LIVING WITH A PURPOSE, , a long lasting impact, a lasting impact, SERVICE, GRATITUDE, to leave behind.
Legacy can be TANGIBLE and INTANGIBLE ITEMS. THE CONCEPT OF LEGACY is to give other generations or people faith an eternal value system. The Bible encompasses spiritual, moral and material blessings that need to be passed to others.
ARE WE FACING A STUMBLING BLOCK OR A STEPPING STONE?
Do we allow problems and obstacles to define how we feel and what we accomplish? Ever heard of a lady named Susan Boyles? Many defined her by her handicaps. At birth Susan's brain was without oxygen for 5 minutes. Her family refused to become specialist in her problems. Her mom and dad cared for her until their deaths. They focused beyond today's situations and problems. Years later, she heard about an audition 5 miles from her house. She got lost several times and ended up on 9 different buses. All through life people mocked and made fun of her. People called her ugly and mentally handicapped. People were cruel to her daily. Susan finally made it to her audition. Her parents never allowed her handicap to define her. At the audition she turned to the center stage and took the microphone. She started singing. Immediately the judges and the world took notice of SUSAN BOYLES. Her singing captivated the audience. Today Susan Boyles travels the world singing for sold out crowds. Why do we know Susan Boyles? Susan and her parents never allowed her problems and obstacles to define who she was! What things are we allowing to define our emotional, mental and spiritual condition? This pain, this trouble, this obstacle and this trial... we are facing just might be the opportunity of a stepping stone that with greater effort we might endure to find V-I-C-T-O-R-Y! My friend, press forward, never give up. This does not have to be a stumbling stone... This could be a STEPPING STONE... it all depends on your attitude and effort! WHAT MIGHT YOU DO IF YOU EXERTED A GREATER EFFORT?
Proverbs 13:22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
HOW SAD THE NEXT GENERATION OFTEN FALLS. IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE. KNOW THERE CAN BE THREE GENERATIONS OF LEGACY…
2 Timothy 1:5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
ABRAHAM: LEGACY IS OBEDIENCE AND COMMITMENT. HE NEVER QUIT TRUSTING GOD’S DELAYED PLAN.
Genesis 12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
MOSES: BLOT ME OUT! MOSES RECOGNIZED GOD AT THE BURNING BUSH, BUT MOSES LEARNED INTERCESSION BY STANDING IN THE GAP…
Exodus 32:32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.
MOSES STOOD IN THE GAP FOR HIS FAMILY.
Numbers 12:1 And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.
GOD WAS ANGRY WITH AARON AND MIRIAM FOR THEIR GOSSIP. MIRIAM TURNED AS WHITE AS SNOW WITH LEPROSY.
Numbers 12:13 And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee. 14 And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again.
RAHAB: WHOLE FAMILY WAS SAVED BECAUSE SHE PROTECTED GOD’S MEN, THE SPIES. THE SCARLET CORD SPEAKS OF THE CROSS.
Joshua 2:18 Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee.
Joshua 2:21 And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.
ESTHER: LEFT A LEGACY! GOD HAS A PLAN. FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS.
Esther 4:14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
RUTH: WAS LOYAL TO HER MOTHER IN LAW. WHERE EVER YOU GO, I WILL GO!
Ruth 1:16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
KING SAUL LEAVES HIS MARK. DAVID LEAVES HIS LEGACY. HIS TRAIL POINTS TO WORSHIP and the greatest chapter on REPENTANCE IS CHAPTHER 51. David learned the beauty of worshipping God. David had weaknesses and sin but his heart was set on eternal values.
1 Samuel 13:14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.
Acts 13:22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
CONCLUSION: WHAT ARE YOU LEAVING BEHIND?
There was a widow that is famous for cooking her last meal for the Preacher.
How about ANDREW’S CLAIM TO FAME: He brought his brother PETER to Jesus. Andrew is known as the bringer.
BARNABAS: heritage was bringing comfort to people. He introduced PAUL to the church.
MARY’S HERITAGE was 3 times at Jesus’ feet. For service, for comfort, to learn.
DANIEL’S HERITAGE WAS PRAYER. He prayed 3 times a day.
HUR: LIFTED UP THE SWEATY ARMS OF MOSES TO BE HIS HERITAGE.
GIDEON’S HERITAGE was God uses little people full of self-doubt.
NOAH’S HERITAGE was a hundred years of hard work. Imagine the mothers’ that ignored the warning.
WHAT IS THE HERITAGE THAT AHAB AND JEZEBEL LEFT THIS WORLD?
Consider the heritage of ACHAN? Orphaned soldiers’ kids. Watching his children die.
HOW ABOUT THE HERITAGE OF LOT’S WIFE? Two daughters got Lot drunk? Father? Grandfather?
CONSIDER THE HERITAGE OF JUDAS?
Do we remember the sad case of the first king of Israel, SAUL? Dying on a hill side overlooking his dead sons’ bodies?
THE REAL QUESTION TODAY IS WHAT ARE YOU LEAVING BEHIND? WHAT MEMORIES DID YOU LEAVE YESTERDAY?
WHAT WILL YOU LEAVE BEHIND TODAY? COULD WE INVEST A GREATER EFFORT TO BUILD UPON THE ROCK OF AGES?
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (Go to YouTube: Wade Hughes)
