LEAVING A LEGACY

 

Who is the man that fears the LORD?

Him shall He teach in the way He chooses. 

He himself shall dwell in prosperity,

And his descendants shall inherit the earth.  (Psalm 25:12-13)

The Christian life is often pictured as a race.  I want you to imagine it as a relay race.  You have an assigned leg to run—we all have an allotted number of days.  We carry in our hands the baton of truth.  It has been handed down to us and now the critical moment comes that determines victory or defeat—the exchange—where we hand the truth of Scripture to the next generation.  All of us are going to leave behind a legacy.  I believe that was on David’s mind as he writes Psalm 25.  From the context, it would seem to me that he writes from the perspective of a seasoned soldier—a battle-scarred veteran—concerned about the future of his kingdom.

Let us leave a legacy of TRUST (v.1-7).

David’s testimony declares how his trust was rooted in the greatness of God (v.1-3).  We can trust His power to save us.  David knows where to run when he is in trouble.  Experience has taught the king not to trust in his own strength, but in God’s.  I can say that God has never failed me.

David also trusted in the guidance of God (v.4-5).  We can trust in His precepts to steer us.  Of grandparents like myself it is often remarked, “We are set in our ways.”  That isn’t necessarily a bad thing.  It depends on what way you are set in!  If I set sail from NY harbor and set my course for London, England then the farther I travel the nearer I get to my destination!  But, if I am off course only slightly, the farther I go, the farther I get from where I need to be!  The good news is that if we yield the rudder to the hands of the Captain of our Salvation, we can set sail to new horizons!

Furthermore, David trusted in the goodness of God (v.6-7).  We can trust His provision to secure us.  David wasn’t a perfect man.  His failures are documented.  That’s why we need forgiveness.  We don’t trust in our goodness, but in God’s.

Let us leave a legacy of TRUTH (v.8-15).  Having learned these lessons—sometimes the hard way—we must pass on the baton of truth.  Having a teachable spirit is the key issue here (v.8-12).  An attitude of humility, devotion, and reverence are essential.  We should never stop learning!  Our success becomes part of the legacy we leave to our heirs (v.13).  The blessings of God can be transferred to generations to come.  Success can’t be measured in possessions and position—it is in eternal significance.  Friends have no secrets from each other (v.14-15).  They share their heart.  There is a depth of intimacy with God suggested here that we can know.

Let us leave a legacy of TRIUMPH (v.16-22).  Don’t miss the sequence.  We face the reality of the crisis, but we focus on the God who gives us confidence!  If we only give a brief nod to God, then focus on the crisis, we will be defeated by unbelief.  This is not denying reality (v.16-19); not depending on some kind of positive thinking.  Problems are not permitted to be the focus, however (v.20-22).  The focus is on the Redeemer.  He is the God who is always victorious and our triumph is in Him.

That was the legacy David would leave.  What about us?

THE LEGACY

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us….  (Hebrews 12:1)

I can’t recall for sure who said it, but an old preacher once declared, “Every time I stand up, other men stand up inside me.”  So true!  Many others have shaped my life and their legacy of faithfulness has been passed down to me—now I am trying to pass it on.  One of our members, Gene Williamson, gave me a framed piece of art called, “The Legacy,” which hangs behind my desk in my study.  It features a pastor standing in the pulpit, with his Bible open, while surrounding him are prophets and angels unseen…the cloud of witnesses surrounding and supporting him.  That’s what a legacy is all about, and it is why we celebrate Homecoming each year.

This year, as we look to the past and remember those who have gone before us—the light of their influence still lighting the way—we will hear from a number of those whose ministry has been significantly impacted by Pole Creek.  They served on staff, answered the call while here, went into denominational service, or in some fashion were shaped by the legacy of doctrinal fidelity and missionary zeal found here.

This is a time for the young to reconnect with our roots and be grateful for those who planted the tree so we could sit under its shade today.  It is a long shadow that is cast—99 years.  It is also a time for the old to recall the purpose for which we exist and look to influence the next generation, even as our forefathers did for us.

Join us, Sunday morning, September 13 for our ninety-ninth birthday!  Sunday School starts at the normal time—9:45—but, will be abbreviated.  Homecoming worship starts early at 10:45, followed by lunch.  Our theme is, “The Lord Reigns,” and we exist because He does, we have a message because He does, and we have a glorious future because He does!  Invite former members and friends to join us.  It is going to be a great day!

MAXIMUM IMPACT

 

Now Abraham was old, well advanced in age; and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.  (Genesis 24:1)

Many people walk through life, leaving footprints in the sand—the tides of time sweep in and wash away those imprints and it is as though they had never been.  Little impact was made.  Others leave such a legacy that it is as though their footprints were set in concrete.  Years roll by, but the path they traveled is still clearly marked for others to follow.  That is a life of maximum impact—and it describes well the life of Abraham.  As we come to the twenty-fourth chapter of Genesis, we see this man nearing the finish line of his earthly pilgrimage.  It has been a marathon, with many hurdles to cross, but God has blessed him and he is almost home.  Yet, he feels the need not to slow down, but to pour it on—to run through the finish line.  There are some loose ends to tie up and make sure the legacy he leaves is one of maximum impact.

Abraham will leave a LEGACY OF PREEMINENCE.  He, along with Moses and David, are the three preeminent figures of the Old Testament era.  God chose Abraham and called him out to make a difference in the world.  He would be the recipient of a covenant of grace, so that through him all the nations of the earth would be blessed.  God blessed Abraham that he might be a blessing to others.  That is the heritage of faith that this man and his wife, Sarah, left behind.  His name is associated with greatness.  

He left an example of a LIFE OF PROMINENCE.  Abraham’s servant, Eleazar, testified, “The LORD has blessed my master greatly, and he has become great…” (Gen.24:35a).  Some people have a reputation that is a charade.  Later, people dig beneath the surface and expose that the façade of greatness only hid a shriveled soul.  That could not be said of Abraham.  His renown was backed by reality.  All of us would like to be successful in life—to make our mark on the world.  Though Abraham was a flawed man, he was a faithful man.  He slipped a few times, as we all do, but he got up, dusted himself off, and moved forward.  God made a difference in him, and so made a difference through him. 

Abraham possessed a LOVE OF PERMANENCE.  He accumulated a lot of stuff.  For his time, he was exceedingly wealthy.  But, he did not give his heart to any of those things.  Abraham knew that he would leave all that behind, and eventually the thief of time would steal and destroy all that is of this world.  He did not build a mansion, but moved about in a tent, restless, yearning for something permanent—out of this world.  Here is the New Testament commentary:  “By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”  (Heb.11:9-10)

In Proverbs 10:7 we read,“The memory of the righteous is blessed, But the name of the wicked will rot.”  Which legacy will we leave—one of blessedness or barrenness?  I pray that all who read this will seek a life of maximum impact!  Such are truly the children of Abraham.