As I’m taking a mental break from working through Romans 9, God has pressing a question into my heart about how best to live life.  What if we lived each day with our hearts focused on eternity, and purposed out each day towards the legacy we would leave behind?

Psalm 90:12 – “teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom”

Ephesians 5:15-17 – “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

What peace we would have knowing that whatever our lot in life, it is being lived for eternity.  Psalm 39:4-8 – “O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!  Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you.  Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah  Surely a man goes about as a shadow!  Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!  “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?  My hope is in you.  Deliver me from all my transgressions.”

Our lives are short, yet they are infinite in value if lived for the glory of God.  Man’s deepest need for purpose and affirmation are met in Jesus.  The world can fall around you, but if you are in the will of God, you will always have peace.  Hebrews 12:1-3 – “since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Even as He was led to the cross to die an agonizing death, there was joy in the heart of Jesus for the joy that was set before Him.  There are battles every day as a Christian.  There are temptations to shrink back from our faith.  There is sin that must be repented of and be run from.  There is a submission of selfish desires for the Kingdom of God.  In all this, however, there is joy.  The joy God means for us to carry with us is the joy of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in displaying the Glory of God, in being the mouth, the hands, the feet of God’s laborers to ransom the dead to life, and in manifesting Jesus in righteousness in our own lives.  These are the weighty things of life that will echo into eternity.  God is calling you to greatness for His glory.

So what should we do?  My exhortation is simple.  Consider what legacy you want to leave behind as a follower of Jesus in life.  What would you want said about you at your funeral by those you love?  Write it down.  As you are tempted towards the busyness of life and confront temptation that would draw you away from God, push back, knowing that in pursuing the will of God, you are always pursuing God’s best for you.  There is no greater legacy than to have our Heavenly Father say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.”   There is no greater legacy than being able to look back and see a life lived for the Glory of God.

 Grace and Peace,