I sat with a woman a few weeks ago who commented on the rings I was wearing: âTheyâre beautiful,â she said. I momentarily gazed at the rings Iâd been playing with while we chatted and then explained that the jewelry belonged to my mother who passed away about six years ago.
âOh, how cool. What else did your mom leave you?â
She had no idea how loaded the question was. Both parents passed away by the time I was in my mid-thirties, and because cleaning out my childhood home with my own young children in tow was so strenuous, many of their belongings were donated out of convenience, and several others were thrown away because of exhaustion.
I regret that I didnât keep more. And we did not have an inheritance passed down, so in one sense, the answer to the question was pretty straightforward. After my parentâs death, I was left with two small boxes of memorabilia and momâs wedding rings.
But thatâs not how I answered the question because thatâs not what I think about when I consider what was passed down from my parents to me and my sisters. Instead, I explained that Mom and dad left us with a godly legacy, and that is something Iâm eternally grateful for.
Itâs the absolute truth. There is no physical thing they could have left me that would have more value than their faith and trust in Jesus Christ.
I think often about the legacy Iâm leaving behind, but when I do, my sinful thoughts all too quickly intrude. Rather than considering the example set by my Savior, my heart is swayed by the worldâs standards of what it means to âleave a mark,â resulting in unattainable goals and valueless pursuits.
But in His kindness, the Lord gently reminds me through His Word that itâs not most significant that I pass on a large sum of money or that I’ve proved my worth through work and achievements. Whatâs most meaningful is that I pass on to my kids a legacy of faith. And whatâs beautiful is that cultivating this legacy can begin at any time because of the precious grace and mercy of God.
So, what can we be doing now to create a legacy of faith that will be passed on to the next generation? Jesus tells us through His Word and by His example, and the answers look far different from what most of the world suggests is vital when it comes to leaving a legacy.
Love Jesus with All Your Heart
In Mark 10:29-30 Jesus exhorts believers to consider the most important aspect of the Christian life: âLove the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.â
Jesus tells us very plainly that of utmost significance is loving Jesus with all of us. Cultivating a legacy of faith means loving Jesus first and foremost â more than our spouse, more than our children, more than our comfort, and more than our very life.
And loving Him in this way means that He becomes our greatest passion; our energies are given first and foremost to nurturing our relationship with Him. Without having a passionate love for Jesus first, other acts of obedience become empty performances. Loving Jesus with all we have to offer is where we start in building a legacy of faith.
Love Others with Christ-Like Love
The verses in Mark 12 continue with Jesus telling His disciples what is the second most important aspect to the Christian life: âTo love your neighbor as yourself.â
A legacy of faith is not cultivated by merely climbing the ladder of success. You can have the most menial job according to the worldâs standards and still have the most impactful life by simply treating others with dignity and respect.
And our neighbors are not only the people we encounter on a sporadic basis. Our neighbor is the refugee family in need of physical support; itâs the friend who is sometimes hard to love, the family member who is hostile toward Christianity, and the child whom the Lord has given you to love and to nurture.
Do you seek, by the grace and strength of God, to respect these in your midst and show them the same kind of selfless love that your heavenly Father has shown you? In doing this, youâre building a legacy of faith.
Love Godâs Church
The church matters to Jesus. Much of the New Testament is written to these local bodies to ensure that they continue to meet together in spite of trials and tribulations. You canât love Jesus with your whole heart and not love His church.
You may have had a painful experience in a church setting, and if that is the case, I’m deeply sorry. These are not perfect institutions, and theyâre governed by sinners just like you and me. But donât give up on your local church. Ephesians 5 tells us that Christ loves the church so much that He gave His life for her.
This love, marked by sacrifice, gives the church beauty beyond its imperfections and honor despite its inadequacies. The church matters in cultivating a legacy of faith, so make it a priority. Choose its activities over others and immerse yourself in its community for the glory of God and the good of others.
Leaving a Legacy of Faith
None of these acts ensure that our children will walk in the same faith â that is in the hands of our loving and sovereign God. But simply striving to live for Jesus, no matter what your calling or vocation, ensures that you will leave a distinct mark in the lives of those who know you.
I remember the moment I slipped the rings off my motherâs finger and placed them on my own. It was in her last days, and because of her frailty, they no longer fit. When I took them off, I made her a promise. I didnât commit to keeping the jewelry safe â she wouldnât have cared. I promised her that I would live for Jesus and love Him in the way she taught me to love Him.
What will be your legacy? What are you striving for most in this life? The accolades and awards given to a person who lived a distinguished life are momentary and fleeting, but the person whose life pointed to Jesus will leave a legacy of faith that will last forever.
