Feed on
Posts
Comments

IMG_8948

Leaving.

We all leave at some point in our lives.

We leave a job. We leave a career. We leave a home. We leave a school. We leave an activity. We leave a group. We leave a grade level. We leave an identity.

It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do…eventually, we all leave.

I made a commitment to myself and God, almost two decades ago, that when I leave I want to leave well. That includes every type of leaving. Have I always hit the mark? No. But I’m still striving.

I want to leave well.

I don’t know about you, but when I leave a significant place or season in life, I don’t just want to leave well, but I want to leave a legacy. I want to pass on something to someone that is substantial, important, meaningful and timeless. I want to know that what I did mattered. Not just what I did, but that who I was really mattered.

Sometimes we know. Sometimes we can look back on the files and charts and great success stories of accomplishment and achievement and gain sense of significance.

Sometimes we don’t know. Sometimes there isn’t much in the way of concrete evidence that something really good happened while we were there.

God has uniquely called each one of us to participate in his work in various ways, seasons and places. Nothing, typically, is permanent. And we are also called to do the task that he has pre-ordained for us to do. And sometimes that task is a hidden task, out of sight from onlookers and spectators. And sometimes the task is under a spotlight for all the world to see.

I think it is safe to say that many of us want to be the builder, and we would even prefer a little bit of that spotlight. We want to leave tangible evidence of our significance behind.

And sometimes God says, “No.”

David wanted to build the temple. He had established the city of Jerusalem as the worship center and capital of Israel. He had made Israel strong, defeating enemies from every side. He had brought peace to the land, and now he longed to give the ark of God a permanent dwelling place. His heart was sincere. He wanted to leave a legacy that would not just leave the nation of Israel with his imprint, but one that would glorify God.

And God said no.

Sometimes our legacy is not the sum of all we did and the works we leave behind, but instead it is the sum of who we were and how well we loved.

Sometimes God calls us to build a temple.

Sometimes God calls us to build a people.

Either way, it is good. It is well. It is significant.

We don’t own the work. The work belongs to God. And it is the outcome of our obedience. He places us in the process as he sees fit, then he requires faithful submission to his plan. In both the hidden and under the spotlight, God is working.

The legacy that I want to leave is one in which I can say, I was obedient to the call, and my part in the grand design of God’s plan, and fulfilled my role to the best of my abilities.

What is the legacy you will leave behind?

You are going to leave at some point in this journey. What will you be remembered for long after your work days are done?

Think about that for just a little while. Perhaps it will change the trajectory of your focus and lead you into something much more meaningful.

Leave well. Leave good. Leave loved. Leave with God’s favor, and you will leave behind the best legacy of all.

One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds. They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.” Psalm 145:4-7

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

One Response to “the legacy that you will leave”

  1. Judy Hayburn says:

    Beautiful. Very encouraging.

Leave a Reply