2/4/21 -WE ARE WHAT WE LEAVE BEHIND. Selah

Pause and think about that statement for a minute. I was on my way to the grocery store when a sign I had been driving by and have read for a decade suddenly came to life. It was dedicated to someone in the Indian community that had obviously made an impact. But I hadn’t noticed those words before. Then I was brought back to a verse in Deuteronomy 4 that had jumped off my daily calendar that I couldn’t get off my mind. They had collided and now were relevant to each other. Time to write.

God is all about legacy. Passing on important facts and experiences to the next generation meant a great deal to Him. He knew the importance of leaving to our families and communities not just heirlooms and wealth, but a spiritual legacy as well. Something that would last a lifetime. Family values, faith, integrity, loyalty and citizenship. Yes, it’s true. We are what we leave behind. So what will you leave behind? How will you be remembered? Our Heavenly Father had a different perspective on what constituted a great legacy. And we find it interwoven throughout the scriptures.

“Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.” ‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭4:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” ‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭6:6-9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, “Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from right where the priests are standing, and carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.” So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭4:1-7‬ ‭

“Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other. Keep His decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the Lord your God gives you for all time.” Deuteronomy‬ ‭4:39-40‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The best legacy we as Christians can leave to our children is our faith in Jesus Christ. We are eternal beings, He has put a forever life in our hearts. A life to be filled with all that He is. We are to endeavor to pass that on to the next generation. The breakdown of families can be easily traced back to what we have neglected to pass on as Believers to our children. Whatever is of value to you, should be of value to them. God understood the consequences of not remembering His goodness so He instructed the elders to come up with practical ways of ensuring that the next generation would not forget the Lord. As we teach them, we’re teaching ourselves. We can’t forget what we put into practice every day. Use teachable moments to show them who their Heavenly Father is and the things He’s doing and has done. God is everywhere but He’s not in everything. Teach the principles laid out in the Word. This is how we make His commands frontlets between their eyes, and visible on doorposts. Speak of them often. Repetitive learning builds a strong spiritual foundation.

Material blessings are wonderful. Our Heavenly Father knows this, but it’s temporal and fleeting. A lasting legacy is one that endures. And the only thing that fits that description is faith in God, and Jesus’ finished work. No one understands legacy better than our Father God, the legacy of His Son’s sacrifice is still paying great dividends for over two thousand plus years. The value of passing on our faith cannot be understated. We are what we leave behind. Parents, what will your children remember of you when you’re gone? Grandparents, I ask the same question of you. How will your grandchildren remember you? Fathers, Pastors, if you’re more popular at work than home, if you haven’t made time to build a legacy of faith in your home, you have literally broken down the only true protective hedge you can build around your family.

The legacy of life, eternal life through Jesus Christ is the only inheritance with benefits unmatched by anything else you could possibly bequeath to your family. I may not have a lot of worldly possessions to leave to my daughter and her children, but what I have given her cannot be taken away. It cannot be rusted out or eaten up. It has an endless supply of benefits for the here and now and the forever after. No moth can corrupt and thieves cannot break in and steal Eternal wealth and a legacy of faith, trust and confidence in a faithful God. Should I leave this world today, I can say with confidence I am what I’m leaving behind. My life and witness for Jesus Christ is my legacy. I want to be remembered as someone who was unashamed, bold, loving and generous with the blessings of God.

I want my children and grandchildren’s lives to be a continuum of what has begun in me through Christ. Nothing was more important to me than handing off my faith to Sheri. We could live without a lot of things, but Jesus wasn’t one of them. Showing our children by example, the importance of a life in Christ should be the driving force behind every decision we make as we mold and shape the lives of our children. From the scriptures we read above, we can hear the urgency in the heart of the Father. Saying and doing aren’t the same thing. We need both if our legacy is to be taken seriously. Living out our faith daily, taking the time to study God’s Word and praying as a family is one of the most effective ways to ensure that the baton is passed on. Consistency is the key. There are no vacations from this. You can’t be too busy or tired. It’s a must. We make time for everything else, make this a priority. Remember you are what you leave behind.

Every material blessing you’ll leave your children will remain here on earth. But the legacy of eternal life is just that, eternal. I urge you if you haven’t already. Please make sharing your faith, not going to church or doing church things, a priority this year. There’s no greater gift. If you lack wisdom, ask your Helper. The Holy Spirit is available to teach you how to effectively pass the faith baton. There are those who have made bringing the gospel to the world their goal while neglecting their children. Get your home in order first, then they will assist you in sharing the good news with the world.

Are you satisfied with the way things are going in your family spiritually? Are you leaving an eternal legacy, one that will be carried for generations to come? Is leaving who you are behind something worth emulating? The Bible says if we train them in His way, they will not depart. David encouraged Solomon, Solomon warned his sons, but like I said earlier talking isn’t enough, leading by example, being consistent and non-compromising is the best way to get the results you seek. The best way to lose your Christian children is by being inconsistent and by compromising. I know I’m being redundant but it’s for impact rather than not having more to say. I’ve listened to a lot of backslidden Christian kids. Those two words come up quite often. What they witness at home and what they see at church is like having Jekyll and Hyde for parents. Remember the title of this message. Some people leave behind a legacy of hurt, confusion, bitterness, strife, financial disasters, estrangement and even secrets that surface after they’re gone. The pain of unresolved issues can linger for generations.

Endeavor to leave behind the part of you worth leaving. A legacy of life. Eternal life through Jesus Christ.

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.” ‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭6:4-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you. ‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭4:2

These commands were so important to the next generation that the Lord instructed Moses to tell the people to write them everywhere. Put the commands in prominent areas- areas where they cannot be missed. The best way to do that today is by living it. Living our faith daily is an important example of what really matters most in our lives. Children enjoy memorization. If you have little ones, begin teaching them the Word of God through songs. When Sheri was growing up we had Hosanna music and scripture memorization for kids. I’m sure they have the same today. Encourage Bible reading and prayer for older children. Spend time with them as they grow. Let them see you doing what you’re asking them to do. Actions speak louder than words. Remember it’s better caught than taught. Make it fun and interesting. But please be authentic. If you want them loving Jesus, then show them how it’s done.

My daughter is much older now. But we still enjoy time spent discussing the Word. We never stop learning and growing. It’s just as relevant and important now, as it was when I was raising her for Him. Now He’s her life as He is mine. It’s a beautiful thing. Being able to pray together, worship together and fellowship together. It gets better the older she gets. We’re sisters in Christ. Oh the joy of passing on your faith! We truly are what we leave behind. I have been able to see it up close and it was worth all the sacrifices I have made. May this be your legacy.

See Psalm 104

Written by permission of the Holy Spirit

W. Tennant

February 4, 2021