Lifting Your Legacy – Part 1
Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint…” Without a clear purpose or vision, we drift aimlessly. We cast off restraint. We live only for ourselves. The laser beam of focused purpose inspires us to clear out the clutter, live with focus, and create a lasting legacy. When you truly “get” your purpose, your purpose “gets” all of you, and does not let go. Heart-centred people leave a positive legacy, and are celebrated.
Legacy is defined as the long-lasting impact of events or actions. A legacy is anything handed down from the past. In English, it was first used in 1325 “legacie” “the office of a deputy or clergy”, and was from the Latin lēgātus, which was a high-ranking Roman military officer. The idea was that people in official positions of power would leave long-lasting impact well beyond their actual time in office.
A legacy is like an investment. It’s the decisions we make today that affect the future we leave behind. No matter our values, our legacy is how we are celebrated for generations to come.
Matthew 16:24-27 “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.”
When Jesus Comes Back, His First Priority Will Be To Evaluate Our Legacy.
The ultimate purpose of my life is to make a difference Matthew 5:13-16
Legacy: What
Psalm 112:5-6 “Good will come to those who are generous and lends freely… they will be remembered forever.”
Legacy: What
Hebrews 6:10 “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.”
Romans 14:10-12 “You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’ ” So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.”
There’s so much more to life than just this life.
FALSE YOLO You only live once.
TRUE YOLT You only live twice.
Hebrews 9:27 (NIV) “…man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.”
3 Questions God Asks To Lift Your Legacy:
1. What Did You Do With My Son
Revelation 20:11-12 (NIV) “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.”
Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and, in your name, perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you.’”
We Lift Our Legacy When We Can Say: “I Knew Him Personally.”
2. What Did You Do With What I
2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
Matthew 16:27 “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.”
Revelation 22:12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work.”
We Lift Our Legacy When We Can Say: “I Used What You Gave Me To Make An Eternal Difference.”
EROI: The Eternal Return on Investment:
Matthew 6:19-20 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
3. Were You More About Giving Or
Matthew 19:29-30 “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or
wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.”
What does this mean? This is very specifically talking about how when we put ourselves “first”, we end up last. When we put ourselves “last”, God will take care of us:
Matthew 6:33 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Haggai 1:9-10 ”You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?” says the LORD of hosts. “Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house. 10 Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit.”
When we give, we receive. When we take, we regret.
We INTENTIONALLY Lift Our Legacy When We Can Say: “I Was More Giver Than Taker”:
*1) We intentionally
2 Corinthians 9:11 “You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”
1 Corinthians 16:2 “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.”
Five Things We Can Do With Money:
1.
2. Repay debt.
3. Pay taxes.
4.
5.
2) We intentionally
1 Timothy 6:18-19 (TLB) “Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should give happily to those in need, always ready to share with others whatever God has given them. By doing this they will be storing up real treasure for themselves in heaven–it is the only safe investment for eternity!”
3) We intentionally
James 5:19-20 “Dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.”
Luke 15:10 (MSG) “Count on it—that’s the kind of party God’s angels throw every time one lost soul turns to God.”
Benjamin Franklin: “If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.”
Immortality is not so much about living forever, but living your life doing good things, and leaving your mark behind, so you are remembered forever. In the end, this is how we will be evaluated:
Was I a giver, and not just a taker?
Was I a planter, and not just a harvester?
Did I serve, and not just look to be served?
Did I sow, and not just look to get?
And in the end, did my giving, planting, thanking, and serving actually do anything that will last beyond this moment? Let’s live in this moment, but aim for an impact beyond just the moment.