Your Legacy
Text: Romans 16:1-16
I love to read history and see what choices men and women have made and how it affected the course of mankind. The Bible is clear that all of our choices affect people around us and they have an eternal impact. Each life is made up of multiple choices; therefore, each of us is leaving a legacy whether we want to or not. So, what legacy are you leaving?
In Romans 16, we see the legacy of many mentioned by Paul. These are a legacy of service to the Lord. The Bible is a history book of legacies and choices both right and wrong. Let us look at a few today.
I Sam 1; 3:10-14; 4 give us a little insight into the choices of a man named Eli. Eli was a priest in the temple and he is the one who raised Samuel. However, Eli made some really bad choices and left a legacy for all to read. Eli ended his life with nothing to show for his labor except two sons who abused their office in the priesthood, these two sons die in battle, and he fell off a chair and broke his neck because he was heavy. His choice determined what legacy he left.
Saul is another example, I Sam. 28. Saul was a man of God. God chose Saul to be the first earthly king of the Jews. He made a few wrong choices and ended up chasing his friend and next King, David. He also has God turn away from him and ignore him. Then he died miserably in battle.
Then you have the legacy of David, Acts 13:16-24. David made some bad choices but he made some good choices and repented when he disobeyed. God tells us that in all David did, he was a man after God’s own heart. What a legacy! This weighs more then all the good that David did as a king. This is God saying, “well done thy good and faithful servant.” Once again, this legacy was left because of the choices that David made.
Legacy is based on choice of service. You and I choose to serve Satan and self or God and others. When we choose self, we leave a legacy of deceit and destruction and our families go astray. When we choose to serve God, we leave a legacy of blessing and it compels our families to remain faithful to the Lord, Joshua 24, I Kings 9:1-8.
So, the question is whom will you choose to serve, Matt 6? God is clear that we cannot serve two masters. We cannot serve ourselves and then come and play church and expect people around us to be drawn into a relationship with the Father. We cannot appear to be godly and then secretly fulfill the lust of our flesh for God is not mocked. We will reap what we sow and the all knowing, eternal God is keeping the tabs.
What legacy are you and I leaving? When those around us look at our lives, will they be compelled to live a life for the Lord or self? The choice is yours and mine so let us honor God, get self out of the way, and serve Him whole-heartedly!