Living the Simple Legacy
Legacy: the word has almost become undesirable because we most often hear it used to describe something that politicians and especially get obsessed about. Most of us assume that there will never be a biography written about us so we don’t worry too much about our legacy.
What will your legacy be?
We have looked at what it means to live like Jesus lived and love like Jesus loved. We discovered that Jesus modeled God-following for His disciples and we discovered that He promised to empower them to live like He lived. We believe that living like He lived is a 24/7 event. We also learned that loving like Jesus loves is 360 degrees. Our love should be vertical and horizontal reaching up toward God and out to those around us. We learned that love is motivating and will cause us to be faithful, forgiving and free in sharing Christ love with others.
Today we are seeking to understand what Jesus left behind so that we might prioritize and position our lives to leave a legacy of faith and value to those we leave behind.
What did Jesus leave behind?
Philip Yancey writes in the book The Jesus I Never Knew these words: “On the day Jesus ascended, the disciples stood around dumbfounded, like children who have lost their parent. Two angels sent to calm them ask the obvious question, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky?” The sky was blank, empty. Still they stood and gazed, not knowing how to go on or what to do next.”
Yancey continues, “Jesus left no traces of himself on earth. He wrote no books or even pamphlets. A wanderer, he left no home or even belongings that could be enshrined in a museum. He did not marry, settle down, and begin a dynasty. We would in fact know nothing about Him except for the traces He left in human beings.”
Augustine wrote, “You ascended from before our eyes, and we turned back grieving, only to find you in our hearts.”
From the day Christ returned to heaven until now He has been searching for bodies in which to begin again the life He lived while on earth. The church serves as an extension of the Incarnation. Christ came to this world as flesh and blood and now we are to be that representation for Him on earth.
The writer of Romans surely had this in his mind when he wrote these now classic words:
1And so, dear brothers and sisters,[a] I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice--the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? 2Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is. Romans 12:1-2
God lives on this earth through the church. Jesus gave to a few, healing, grace, the good news message of God’s love and now the church can bring it to everyone. It’s the commission that He left for us to do.
Are you passionate about the mission Christ left for the church to do?
Actually, I need to say it another way, “Are you passionate about the mission Christ left for all Christ followers to do?”
Everyone of us who takes on Christ name should be a reflection of what He was when He was on this earth. Have you thought about that lately?
What was He when He was on this earth?
Do you and I honestly strive to be those things? Are we passionate about it?
“I want deliberately to encourage this mighty longing after God. The lack of it has brought us to our present low estate. The stiff and wooden quality about our religious lives is a result or our lack of holy desire. Complacency is a deadly foe of all spiritual growth. Acute desire must be present or there will be no manifestation of Christ to His people. He waits to be wanted. Too bad that with many of us He waits so long, so very long in vain.” C.S. Lewis
I am going to be really honest about something here today. The church in America is failing miserably to be Jesus in a culture that desperately needs the message of Good News. Unfortunately, this problem has been in existence since the first disciples got around to being called Christians.
“The word “disciple” occurs 269 times in the New Testament. “Christian” is found three times and was first introduced to refer precisely to disciples of Jesus. . .”
“For at least several decades the churches of the Western world have not made discipleship a condition of being a Christian. One is not required to be, or to intend to be, a disciple in order to become a Christian, and one may remain a Christian without any signs of progress toward discipleship.” Dallas Willard in The Great Omission
Too often Christians, much like their Old Testament counterparts, the Jews, take the pure, simple truth of following Christ and turn it into something far removed from the life of simplicity and covenant Jesus envisioned for us. Consequently, the results have for centuries left a sour and bad taste in the world regarding Christianity.
Annie Dillard: “What a pity that so hard on the heels of Christ come the Christians.”
Popular Tee shirt: “Jesus save us . . . from your followers.”
Frederick Buechner writing about the church at Corinth: “They were in fact Christ’s body, as Paul wrote to them here in one of his most enduring metaphors – Christ’s eyes, ears, hands – but the way they were carrying on, that could only leave Christ bloodshot, ass-eared, (and) all thumbs, to carry on God’s work in a fallen world.”
St. Augustine: (Fourth Century) “The clouds roll with thunder that the House of the Lord shall be built throughout the earth; and these frogs sit in their march and croak – ‘We are the only Christians.’”
Why is it that we don’t look much like Christ? Why is it that we find it so hard to live like He lived and love like He loved? Why is it so hard to stay focused on the mission that Christ gave us to do? We are always insistent on taking the church our own way. Forcing Christ into one of our little comfortable boxes, we define Him on our terms and try to control His mission on earth.
Jesus never said, “All men will know you are my disciples . . .if you just pass laws, suppress immorality, and restore decency to family and government,” What He did say was, “They will know you are my disciples if you love one another.”
The church and individual Christ followers are to be a reflection of the teachings, principles and purpose of Jesus Christ.
Let me give you three things He left behind that we are called to leave behind.
1. He left behind people that He touched.
Everywhere He went Jesus reached out to touch those around Him. There were blind people, people who couldn’t walk, people possessed by demons, people accused and found guilty of adultery, people who were outcasts and despised and yet in all of these situations and more Jesus was there for them. He was “with” them.
Richard Halverson in his book, The Living Body, writes about God’s promise to be “with” us. Jesus said to those disciples He sent out to ministry, “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) This is the same promise that God made to Joshua after Moses death and the same promise that He gave to the children of Israel when He was trying to live in covenant with them. Halverson writes, “The “withness” of God is one of life’s most precious realities.”
It is the heart of Jesus message. He is still touching and willing to be with us. Matthew 18:20 says, “Where or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”
If we take Christ seriously and make Him our model for discipleship, then we do not need a book or a workshop or a class on how to disciple. What we need is to make a decision: to choose to be with the person we are called to disciple. You can’t disciple someone through a book or television. You can only make a difference in someone’s life by connecting and being with them. It is costly. It takes time and effort. It’s much simpler to write a letter or give someone a book to read but if we take Jesus command to make disciples seriously, there is no substitute for “withness.”
Jesus never left a set pattern for us to follow regarding method. He just was with them.
To the rich young ruler he said, “Go, sell all your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then, come and follow me.” Matthew 19:21
To Zacchaeus He said, “Come down immediately, I must stay at your house today.” Luke 19:5
To the woman at the well in Samaria He said, “Will you give me a drink of water?” John 4:7
To Nicodemus, the Pharisee, He said, “No one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again.” John 3:3
Every person Jesus encountered was treated differently. He had no agenda but love. The bottom line is that Jesus spent time with people. He invested time and energy in leading into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
He was willing to be with people. He was willing to take time to touch those around Him. Little children led the way but He didn’t flinch away from the poor or the rich, from the well or the sick or from the rejected and the marginalized.
Are you willing to touch others in Jesus name?
You may be wondering who you would be able to teach. Let me give you a list:
Your children.
Children and youth in the church body.
New Christians
People struggling with the need for a friend.
2. He left behind people that He taught.
Jesus spent time with 12 men. They were handpicked not for their extraordinary intelligence or flashy résumé’s, but because they would be willing learners and they would get the job done.
There is only one way to leave this behind in your life and that is if you are willing to spend time with others and share the grace that God has put into your life.
3 C’s: We have as a part of our church structure three C’s that we refer to often. They are celebration, community and call. We have become fairly good at showing up and celebrating but I am distressed and very concerned that the other two C’s are woefully being neglected.
Until we as a church come to understand the importance of community and embrace the importance of discipleship we will continue to draw crowds but fail miserably at making legitimate Christ followers.
I’m going to be brutally honest. I don’t want to take any step forward as a church until those of us who are so-called, “mature” believers take the great commission seriously. Jesus said very simply that we were to make disciples of others and that we were to teach them to obey what He had commanded.
I want to talk to you very seriously for a moment. The second C is community and we should have twice as many small groups and home groups as we have. You know why we don’t, we have a lack of leadership.
Everything indeed rises and falls on leadership. Leaders are willing to touch and teach other people. Leaders see and hear the call of Christ and respond by making room in this life for people who desperately need someone to care about their spiritual condition.
3. He left behind people with a testimony.
The idea here is that when we die there will be very little made of our titles, degrees, and all the things we spend enormous amounts of time, energy and resources on. What will be celebrated most is the relationships that we have formed with others.
What have you done for others? What will people say at your funeral? Will there be people standing in line to testify about what you have done for them?
The ultimate testimony will come on the day when we stand before Christ someday. He will testify to the Father on our behalf.
Jesus left behind a lot of people who had testified about His actions.
“Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He told me everything I ever did.” John 4:39
“I don’t know whether he is a sinner,” the man replied. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!”
“The disciples were terrified and amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “When He gives a command, even the wind and the waves obey him!” Luke 8:25
“Then a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to Him.” Luke 9:35
“One Sabbath day as Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, he saw a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit. She had bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness.” Then he touched her, and instantly she could stand straight, How she praised God!” Luke 13:10-12
“One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” He fell to the ground at Jesus feet thanking him for what he had done.” Luke 17:15
“And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too.” Luke 18:42-43
“Meanwhile Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back as much four times as much!” Luke 19:8
Tony Campolo preached a message on August 20, 2006 and included in the sermon is something he has used for years but I still find in moving. I have used it here in partial form but today I want to share it with you in full.
“I belong to a black church and it’s really fun to speak there. You’ve been pretty good for a white congregation. White people are hard. In my church, you always know how you are doing. You never know whether you are good or bad at a place like this. People are so polite. My church, even when you are not doing well, they let you know. One time I was halfway through a sermon that was going nowhere and some lady in the back yelled, “Help him. Help him, Jesus. Help him, Jesus.” I knew it wasn’t going well.
Once a year at my church we have student recognition day and the college students come back and sit on the first three or four rows. One by one, they come to the pulpit and they tell the congregation what they are doing. “I’m studying engineering at MIT.” And you’ll hear grandmothers and grandfathers going, “My, my. Thank you, Jesus.” Someone else will say, “I’m studying law at Harvard.” “Oh, lordy, lordy, lordy. Thank you, Lord.” “I’m studying music at Julliard.” “Thank you, Jesus.” You think you’ve heard great music today (that young man sang beautifully today) but you haven’t heard the greatest music until you hear about 500 grandmothers and grandfathers moaning and groaning the moans and groans of joy because their grandchildren are becoming what America never let them become. You all know what I mean by that.
When they were all seated, my pastor looked at them and said, “Children, you are gonna die.” It’s a good thing to tell young people because they don’t think they are going to die. He says, “You’re gonna die. They are gonna take you off to the cemetery, they are gonna drop you in a hole, they are gonna throw dirt in your face, and they are gonna go back to the church and eat potato salad.” Ain’t that the truth? He said, “When you were born, you were the only one that cried—every body else was happy. That is not important, here’s what’s important: when you die, won’t you be the only one that’s happy and everybody else will cry. It depends on what your life is about and what you are living for. Are you living for titles or testimony” (that’s black preaching it’s got poetry, alliteration, rhythm).
Let me give what only my black preacher can do, he swept through the Bible in five minutes. It was incredible. He started with Genesis and went through Revelation. He said, “There was Moses, there was Pharoah, Pharoah had the title; but when it was over, that was all he had, was a title. Moses had testimonies. Queen Jezebel, she was going to destroy Elijah, the prophet of God, but when it was over, all Jezebel had was a title; but, Elijah had testimony. There was King Darius and he threw Daniel into the lion’s den; but when it was over, all Darius had was a title, but Daniel had the testimony.
People of God, one of these days they are going to drop you in a hole, throw dirt in your face, and go back to the church and eat potato salad. And the question is, what will it all mean? Do you want a tombstone with all your titles? I guess that’s alright. But wouldn’t it be even better if there were people gathered around your grave giving testimonies about how you blessed them and how you helped them and how you ministered to them. Don’t get me wrong, I wish for you both titles and testimonies. But if you have to make a choice, hear me out: if you have to choose between titles and testimonies, you go for the testimonies.”
You know the question we ought to be asking God everyday? It is simply put, God, what can I do for you today?
Bob Dylan wrote some gospel songs and performed them for 75 straight shows from 1979 to 81. They are not your typical pop Christian songs that make the charts. They were deeply biblically rooted and filled with theology. Recently a CD and DVD were released with these songs being covered by some pretty well know gospel singers. It is a moving experience to watch them sing these songs and sense the presence of Jesus in their lives.
Helen Baylor sang a song entitled, What Can I Do For You? That’s the place I wish we all would be today. We’re going to watch and listen to her sing but I want you to internalize the words so that they won’t leave you in a couple of hours after you leave today.
Do you love Jesus today? Is He your best friend? Is He sweeter and dearer to you than life itself? Do you want to be more and more like Jesus or have the things of this world come between you and passion for Christ and His message?
I have a feeling that some of us need to reconnect with the Lord. I have a feeling that we need to start working on a legacy of leaving behind what Jesus left behind.
“Jesus did not say discuss me; he said follow me.” We do not make terms with Christ; we surrender to Christ. We do not compromise with Christ; we submit to Christ. Christianity does not mean being interested in Jesus Christ; it means taking the same oath as princes take to a king or queen in a coronation ceremony and saying, “I am your liege man of life and limb, and faith and truth will I bear to you against all manner of folk. So help me God. William Barclay, The Apostles’ Creed for Everyman (New York: Harper & Row, Pub., 1967), 68.
Jesus Christ came to the earth to show us how to live and love. His life was a legacy, the perfect example of how we are to carry on with our lives. We are to be the eyes, hands, feet, and heart of Jesus Christ himself, a life that points others to God, our Father. What legacy will you leave behind?
Jesus we hear today your simple words, “Follow Me.” Help us to have a heart that will cause us to break away from the things that keep us from following you. Give us today the courage to follow you into a world and community that desperately needs Christ followers who are not afraid to get their hands dirty. Make us to followers with a holy and passionate work ethic about your command and mission.
“Take, O Lord, and receive my entire liberty, my memory, my understanding and my whole will. All that I am and all that I possess You have given me. I surrender it all to You to be disposed of according to Your will. Give me only Your love and Your grace; with these I will be rich enough, and will desire nothing more.” St. Ignatius Loyola
23Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139
Lord, You know what is best; let this be done or that be done as You please. Give what You will, as much as You will, when You will. Do with me as You know best, as will most please You, and will be for Your greater honor. Place me where You will and deal with me freely in all things. I am in Your hand; turn me about whichever way You will. Behold, I am Your servant, ready to obey in all things. Not for myself do I desire to live, but for You - would that I could do this worthily and perfectly! –Thomas A Kempis
“Dear Jesus, help us to spread Your fragrance everywhere we go. Flood our souls with Your spirit and life. Penetrate and possess our whole being so utterly that our lives may only be a radiance of Yours. Shine through us, and be so in us that every soul we come in contact with may feel Your presence in our soul.
Let them look up and see no longer us, but only Jesus. Stay with us and then we shall begin to shine as You shine, so to shine as to be a light to others.
The light, O Jesus, will be all from You; none of it will be ours. It will be You, shining on others through us. Let us thus praise You in the way You love best -- by shining on those around us.
Let us preach You without preaching; not by words but by our example; by the catching force, the sympathetic influence of what we do, the evident fullness of the love our hearts bear to You. Amen.” Mother Teresa
Let me breathe with you O God. Let your ways be my ways and your will my will.
