That is my sermon title for this week, but I am still working through what it means to us, so I figured this was as good a place as any to think out loud. A Legacy is something that is passed on to the next generation. It can be a positive legacy such as a loving parent passing on the values of love and patience to their children, or it can be a negative legacy such as the legacy left by physical abuse or addiction. The fact of the matter is, we all leave behind a legacy. The only choice that we have is whether it is positive or negative, and even then, what we hope will result in a positive legacy may be interpreted by others as being negative.
As an example some of the beliefs that I hold tightly to as a follower of Christ will be interpreted by others as being narrow minded and maybe even prejudicial, although I doubt that anyone who knows me well would interpret them that way. In spite of others perceptions, I desire for my children to carry on a legacy of Godliness as defined by scripture and demonstrated by the life of Jesus who is our only real example for matters of life and faith.
The Interesting thing about this legacy concept is that you have to leave in order for it to become a legacy. Jesus did not stay with his disciples he left. It was his leaving that allowed them to realize that it was up to them to carry the gospel forward, and be his witnesses in this world. They could no longer run back to Jesus when they faced hardship, or ran into resistance. It was truly up to them. Leaving is hard to do, and sometimes unpopular, but it is necessary at times. I hope when I leave this world, that I will have left behind a legacy that my children, will want to embrace. They will hopefully be sad that I am gone, but at the same time see it as their time to step up and lead.
Most importantly, I hope that wherever I am no longer, that people will say that my legacy was like that of my Savior, since it is his legacy that I seek every day to pass on, and hope that others will become his legacy bearers as well!