LIVING LEGACY
--By Sondra McCauley

In the latter years of life, many people begin to think about drafting last wills and testaments as to how their estates or possessions will be doled out to those they leave behind after they die. But how many think about leaving a legacy that will live on and on in the hearts and minds of men after they expire? Unlike a will that focuses on material goods, a living legacy focuses on the intangibles-the mark that one makes on the lives of others here and now. Unlike planning for a will, which generally starts after the accumulation of wealth and goods, leaving a living legacy can start much earlier in life when one may not have much to offer in the way of material items, but a lot to offer in terms of influence, impact, and service to God and mankind.

I started thinking about leaving a legacy with a comment relayed to me about a man who had just published a compact disk of original music, viewing it as one major aspect of the living legacy he intends to leave after he passes on. When I heard about this, my reaction was "What a noble idea!" It showed wisdom and insight on the man's part. It showed depth of character and an understanding of the true meaning and purpose of life. It could have only have come from the mind of Christ, too. Only in first coming to know God through His Son can we even begin to think about leaving anything eternal in nature.

Too many of us, saved and unsaved, do not think enough about our purpose in life.
Whether we know it or not, we all have purpose. Real purpose. God imparts gifts and callings to each of us at both birth and at rebirth. We may have natural gifts and talents of speaking, singing, writing, dancing, etc. that can impact others. However, once we accept Christ through salvation, He can live more fully through us, releasing Spiritual gifts for His purposes as well. For example, there are the motivational gifts of service, giving, exhortation, etc. found in Romans 12:5-8. As we accept the fullness of the Spirit of Christ, there are other more powerful gifts of the manifest presence of the Spirit-faith, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, etc.-listed in I Corinthians 12:1-11. There are the ministerial gifts, too, of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher stated in Ephesians 4:11. The verse after that lays out their purpose-"the perfecting of the saints, the work of the ministry, and the edifying of the Body of Christ." Such gifts can leave an everlasting impression on life. But even without these gifts, we have an overarching purpose-to worship and serve the living God (Isaiah 43:21 and I Peter 2:9).

As in the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30, we are to put our gifts to use, exercising them to please Him and build His Kingdom, as well as multiply their power and worth. Woe unto us if we refuse to acknowledge or never do anything with our gifts! Similarly, God says not to hide, or lay up for ourselves our treasures on earth for thieves to break through and steal them (Matthew 6:19-21). While this may speak directly to material treasures, I would include the gifts in this context as well; left unattended, the thief would certainly like to steal them away from their true application, if we let him! Like the woman with the alabaster box (Matthew 26:7-13), we are to allow our lives and our gifts to be broken open and poured out for the Master's glory. Unlike what the disciples thought, that can never be a waste.
I've started thinking about my living legacy. Like the man from whom I got the idea, I will leave my music as part of that legacy. But I will also leave the administration and order that I bring on my job and in the church, the impact wrought through my prayers, a word spoken, taught, or sung in due season, a service rendered, or the time spent with family, friends, and the unlovely. Most importantly, I hope to leave the example of a life lived through which God's glory might be shown. That's my living legacy, and my reasonable service.

What is your purpose in life? And what will be your legacy? You may not be a David or a Moses or a Paul, but you have some special gift or calling that only you can fulfill. And in so doing, you will ultimately join in the long list of saints from the beginning until the end, who will stand in line at His Judgment to receive that "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." (Matthew 25:21).

Start your living legacy now. In the span of all time, life is but a breath and there is much kingdom work to be done. Contrary to both popular and secular belief, we are not just born to grow up, go to school, get a job, raise a family, and then die after retirement (God willing that we should live so long). Life is greater than that. We each have a purpose. If focused, our life can make an indelible impression for all eternity and on all creation. If not, then what's the point of life anyway?