What Will Your Legacy Be?

By Gobel Brockman


I honestly don't know how many funerals I've conducted over the years, but a couple have always stuck with me. One was for an elderly gentleman at the church I was pastoring at the time. This man was a loving husband and father, was active in the church, and left a positive impression on just about everyone he met. He also had an incredible sense of humor. His memorial service was amazing. Of course there was sadness for the family's loss, but it was also a time of joy for a life that touched many, many people. There were many times people broke out in laughter as stories were shared of the humorous things he had done over the years. There was also much joy in recounting the times he had touched other's lives by his example. It was truly a memorial service that honored a life well-lived.

The other funeral was for a person I did not know personally. The funeral home contacted me because the family had no "religious affiliation" and needed someone to do the service. In those times all a minister can really do is talk to the family and friends to learn as much as possible about the person. In this case, there weren't really any "funny stories" and only a few impersonal, generic niceties. I was literally told by the funeral home director, "The family has asked that the service be short, and they don't want to be preached to." There were very few tears, and I heard little from those in attendance that could be considered 'grief.' At the end of the service, almost everyone walked by the casket seemingly out of obligation, barely stopping before heading to the door.

The feeling - "spirit" if you will - of those two services were as different as different gets. One was a celebration of a life that everyone there was happy to be a part of, the other little more than a necessity. When I think of this, I think of what kind of legacy will I be leaving behind. I'm not talking about my funeral, I'm talking about how I'm living my life while I'm alive. Questions like:

     What am I doing for Jesus?
     Am I touching people's lives in a positive way?
     Am I being as forgiving of others as I hope they'll be of me?
     Does my life reflect the faith I say I believe?

There have been people in my life who have not only been a blessing to me, but who have influenced me to strive to be a better person. (Of course there have been other people who have been influential to me by showing me what not to do!) I know everyone reading this can say the same thing. My goal is to hopefully be a living example of what God can do in a person's life. In II Timothy 4 the apostle Paul told Timothy to "...be an example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love. in faith, and in purity." As Christians in a world where hope is a rare commodity, may people see "Christ in us, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27)

I promise my goal this week is not to depress you, it's simply to remind us all that RIGHT NOW is our opportunity to live a life of faith, hope, and power that will honor Christ and let others see the goodness of God through us. RIGHT NOW is our time to be light in a darkened world. Philippians 2:13 is one of my favorite verses, which says: "It is God who works in you both to will and to do His good pleasure." That verse tells me that not only does God want me to honor Him with my life, but He's constantly working in me to make it happen. May we all be willing vessels in His hands so that we can leave a legacy behind that brings glory to God and joy to our family and friends.