I was downtown recently when I heard the rumble of a train approaching. So I quickly got my android out and captured a sequence of photos. If you look carefully at the above picture and between the palm tree and the small metal station you’ll see the locomotive approaching. It was coming at a pretty good clip, too.
When you’re that close to an approaching speeding train you get an adrenalin rush and at the same time you pray that the thing stays on its track. Before I knew it the engine car was right in front of me.
It was a smorgasbord for the senses: the railroad crossing bells, loud and annoying; the roar of the iron horse, deafening; the ground, vibrating; the wind being pushed by the train, palpable; the graffiti art on some of the cars, colorful. What a great experience!
But it was gone quickly and everything looked as if no train had ever passed by.
It reminded me about the brevity of life. It’s like a mist that appears for a little and then vanishes (James 4:14). People come and go often without leaving a mark in the world they left behind.
In this great country of ours, as we transition from one president to another, we’ve been hearing a lot about legacy. So, I ask myself, “Am I leaving behind anything worthwhile and lasting?”
I know the mantra of our day is to live in the moment. I get it. Don’t be so concerned about posting on social media that you miss what’s happening right in front of you. Not a bad idea. But what if we lived in the moment just because every tick of the clock is a precious opportunity to make a memory?
Legacies are not just about leaving a chunk of change behind (even though it’d be nice if someone did that for me). A great legacy involves something lasting and life altering.
Philosopher William James once said, ‘The great use of time is to spend it on something that will outlast it.’
Legacy!
I read something by David, the great king of Israel, that grabs the enormousness of this concept,
Generation after generation stands in awe of your work; each one tells stories of your mighty acts. Psalm 145:4 (MSG)
Will you choose to be a part of a generation that will let the upcoming generation know of God’s mighty acts?
My mind races back to my dad. He taught me the importance of knowing our great God through faith in Jesus Christ. His love for the Lord became deeply ingrained in me. He also loved to laugh, did many silly things, relished moments with his family, admired sights, knew the value of work… today I find myself doing those as well. The legacy he left me was priceless!
My dad’s been in heaven now for many years and sometimes it seems like my times with him were all too brief, like a train passing by. The difference is that what he left behind helped mold me into the person I am today.
Now is my turn. I don’t want my legacy to be about accomplishments, certificates, and awards (big whoop), or just about a bunch of money (even though my girls wouldn’t mind having some of that lettuce). I want it to be about living out loud and having a precious relationship with God that will make a world of difference in their lives.
What are you doing about your legacy? Is a passionate, fun loving, love for God involved in any of it? You don’t want to be like that locomotive that made a big racket and was quickly gone without leaving a trail behind. Lasting things are heavenly things!
It’s never too late to start. Make it happen today. Make an impact that will last an eternity.
What’s your thought? Please leave me a comment.
Wow, Jorge, what a great word! It’s a great reminder of how precious our time is. Even though I stumble many times, I find my walk with God becoming closer every day, and that is what I try to reflect to my family, friends, and everyone I encounter. Living your life for God and sharing the good news of salvation through faith in Jesus should be our legacy. Then when we are called home to heaven, we can all look forward to hearing Him say to each of us:
“Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
Hey Jim, thanks for your insightful reply. Yes, Jesus’ commendation os our goal for sure.
Thank you for the refocusing. As always God uses the Holy Spirit to speak through you. In a world that focuses on doing and having, it takes conscious effort to slow down and just BE before our Lord. Yet that is where the legacy begins, at the feet of our Savior. The reminder and refocus is greatly appreciated!
Thank you Sherrie! I like that idea of just ‘BE’ before the Lord. If we could just do that all the time we would be alright.
We are so concerned about leaving our children a inheritance when we should be more concerned about leaving them a legacy of our faith in Jesus Christ and passing that on to their kids. I hope my children remember how much in love I am with Jesus Christ and them more than anything.
That’s it, Judy. That’s what we all hope.