Legacy
Twice a year at Journey Pastoral Coaching, we leave our usual individual call format to convene small group conversations on subjects of significance for ministers. At the beginning of this year, we reflected on the life and death of third-century martyr Perpetua, asking ourselves what her sacrifice, and the sacrifice of tens of thousands of Christians in the Roman Empire, have to say to us today. Just what is it to be a living martyr for Jesus?
In August of this year, we continued with this thread, turning to the subject of legacy: what legacy is God writing through our lives?
In our conversation, we asked Journey members to discuss the following five questions:
1. What legacy do you want to leave?
2. What legacy are you actually leaving?
3. If you died today, what legacy would your three best friends say you left?
4. What are you doing every day to leave the legacy you want to leave?
5. Identify one positive change you would make in your life to leave the legacy you want to leave.
LEGACY DEFINED
According to the American Heritage Dictionary, legacy is defined as “Something handed down from an ancestor or a predecessor or from the past: synonym: heritage.”
Legacy Project founder, Susan Bosack, writes, “Legacy is about life and living. It’s about learning from the past, living in the present, and building for the future.”
Legacy is what our ancestors and mentors (living and dead) have left to us and what we will pass on to those who come behind us – now and for generations to come. Yes, legacy can be in material things, such as finances, real estate, or even a family heirloom. But those who came before us can also leave us a legacy of spiritual treasure in love, wisdom, service, and purpose in life, or they can give us a legacy of spiritual debris in hate, foolishness, selfishness, and meaninglessness, The legacy we leave to others, like the legacy left to us, can be valuable and meaningful or painful and difficult to bear.
LEGACY LITE
Legacy Emptied. Legacy is a much-used, little-understood word in America today. Our culture has almost emptied it of any substantive meaning, making it little more than a label for books, songs, TV shows, and movies. Even a car, cologne line and fingernail products are marketed under the brand “Legacy.” You really have to wonder about a culture that links legacy to manicures. We have overused the word to the point that we are emptying it of its meaning.
Legacy Perverted. However, even more concerning is that while American culture has emptied legacy of its meaning, the church often perverts it. Yes, we also slap “legacy” on everything from conferences to discipleship programs to church branding, diminishing its meaning, but of far more consequence is our twisting of the term. When we use the word “legacy,” more often than not, we use it to praise a “who” rather than affirm a “what.” It is more an easy-to-apply label we affix to someone whom we admire than a description of what we admire, what constitutes a truly godly legacy. We focus on the star of legacy rather than the substance of legacy. When we talk about legacy, we effectively tell people their legacy-mission is to pass themselves down to the next generation. But the Bible instructs us to pass down something much more substantive, transforming, and eternal:
“We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and His might, and the wonders that He has done.” Psalm 78.4
“You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” II Timothy 2.1-3
The Psalmist and the Apostle Paul do not admonish their readers to pass down the Psalmist or Paul to faithful men for future generations. Instead, they instruct them to pass down the ways and works of God. It is God, not the messenger, who is the legacy.
GRANDDAD
In his book, A Resilient Life, Gordon MacDonald recounts a touching story about the last time he was able to be with his grandfather:
“My grandfather was among the godliest men I have ever known. In his aging years, he had sunk into deep dementia and was unable to recognize anyone around him, including those with whom he spent his entire life and who faithfully came to see him.
The day of my last visit was unbearably hot and humid. But when I walked into my grandfather’s un-air-conditioned room, he was quietly seated by his bed, dressed in a woolen suit and tie. He was looking out the window with a serene expression on his face. In his lap lay a large, opened Bible.
“Granddad!” I greeted him.
“And who are you?” he asked.
“I am your grandson, Gordon. What are you doing here in your suit and tie? It’s too hot to be dressed like that.”
“Oh,” he said, “you always want to be prepared in case the people here would like to read the Bible and have a season of prayer.”
That was my grandfather. There was little, if anything, left of his life. But to these things he would always be true: his love for God, his reverence for the Bible, and his readiness to serve others.
And, I would add, that’s legacy: a man who had faithfully delivered the substance of Jesus to a grandson.
LEGACY IN SCRIPTURE
Legacy is not a word we find in the Bible, and yet the theme is there consistently from cover.
In Genesis, Adam and Eve leave a legacy of sin and rebellion to all generations. Joseph leaves a legacy of selflessness and trust in a Sovereign God. One leaves a legacy of pain and brokenness; the other, a legacy of joy and wholeness.
As Israel crosses the Jordan into the Promised Land, God commands Joshua to take twelve stones out of the river bed and set them up on the bank as memorial stones. Why?
“When your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.” Joshua 4:6-7
Who God is and what God has done, this is the legacy delivered to all of Israel throughout all generations.
In The Revelation, to the church of Philadelphia, Jesus says,
“Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on earth.”
Because they had honored the legacy entrusted to them – God’s word about patient endurance – God would give them protection in trials to come, trials that would doubtless produce more patient endurance. Legacy
From Genesis to Revelation, legacy is about markers and signposts, showing those who follow us what has been shown to us: just who God is and who we are, how we are to serve Him, walk with Him, and worship Him. From Adam to Philadelphia, legacy is about the essence of II Timothy 2.1-3:
“…Strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.”
And yes, it may even be learning to “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”
THE HOW OF LEGACY
In Moses’ landmark sermon to Israel, he tells Israel how to leave a legacy in Israel for generations:
“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” Deuteronomy 6.5-7
In effect, Moses says, legacy is written in these ways:
1. Legacy is sown in our relationship with God – love the Lord with all your heart, soul, might;
2. Legacy is cultivated as we set God’s commands in our heart – not only doing them but loving them;
3. Legacy is reproduced as teach, talk, walk, rest, and rise in them; as we:
- Teach the commands to our children (biological and spiritual);
- Talk about them to our children – tell how to live God’s commands;
- Walk them with our children – modeling and mentoring;
- Rest in them – revealing the grace and peace that come with loving God’s commands
- Rise in them to live a life of daring faith and deep obedience to God.
PERPETUA: WITNESS-MARTYR
Perpetua was born to a wealthy family in the city of Carthage (present-day Tunis, Tunisia) in the Roman Empire. During Perpetua’s childhood and youth, Carthage was known for its vibrant Christian community. The influential Christian theologian Tertullian was a part of the church of Carthage during this time. In 201 AD, though the emperor outlawed conversion to Christianity, Perpetua, her slave Felicity, and three others converted to Jesus Christ. Discovered on their way to a catechism class, they were arrested. A sixth convert heard of their arrest and voluntarily surrendered. The six were tried, imprisoned, and condemned to public execution in the arena. Perpetua was about twenty years of age at the time of her arrest. She was also a nursing mother.
Given the opportunity to renounce Jesus Christ and return to their lives, Perpetua and her five brothers and sisters in the faith refused. Even when her father presented her baby to her, pleading with her to renounce Christ, she refused.
While in prison awaiting death, Perpetua kept a diary, recording her prayers, dreams, and prophetic visions. The evening before she was to be executed, she passed her diary on to another believer, who continued to write. This author recorded the details of their life in prison, including the birth of a baby to Perpetua’s slave (and friend), Felicity, as well as the bravery and peace of these five followers of Jesus when it came their turn to face wild heifers, beasts, and finally, the sword.
We asked Journey members what legacy Perpetua left to her child, the church, and the Roman Empire.
Together, we remarked on the legacy of a woman whose life belonged to Jesus, a woman whose faith meant more to her than life, a woman who followed in the footsteps of Jesus and his example.
We were reminded that the legacy of her love, faith, and sacrifice, along with that of tens of thousands of other Christians, witnessed Christ with such power to the Roman Empire that they did what no earthly kingdom could do: they brought Rome to its knees. Romans converted to Jesus Christ in colossal numbers. They saw how Christians selflessly and peacefully died for their Christ – and they longed to know Him. They saw how Christians served one another in loving community for their Jesus – and they longed to know that kind of community.
As to the church of Carthage, for the next 400 years, Perpetua’s diary was read aloud in their churches for all believers to hear. They responded not with worship for Perpetua, but with worship for the Lord she served – He was the legacy she had delivered to them. They responded by living out the legacy she had sown in them by her life and death. Who can help but believe that Perpetua’s son was among them.
Perpetua left a legacy. She “perpetuated” The Way of Jesus.
For her infant child. Her family. Her friends. All of the Roman Empire. Hers is a legacy that has affected the church to this day. Or should. To disconnect from her legacy is to disconnect from a crimson thread that goes all the way back to the Cross the Savior died on to save you and me. Her legacy points every day to Jesus’ command to take up our crosses and follow Him.
Legacy.
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