A legacy by many is defined as “an amount of money or property left to someone in a will.” Is that all there is to a legacy? It’s not just what we physically leave someone in terms of resources, but it can be many things, from the life we live, the organisation we founded, a work of art we created, or perhaps the church we left to the next generation.
In Psalm 102 the writer pens these significant words:
Psalm 102: 18
Let this be written for a future generation,
that a people not yet created may praise the Lord:
What I love about these words is that the psalmist is intentionally making a choice to leave something behind that is of significance for those who come after him. Those “not yet created.” It is a choice to not simply do what they prefer in the moment but rather an awareness that what we do today can impact those who follow.
It is a reminder to do more than simply live in the moment, but to live with an eye to the future. This is broader than our personal legacy, but can include a corporate legacy. It raises the question of what will Mosaic leave behind for the generations after us who are part of this church, and also, in this city?
Who is going to decide for our city? Who is going to set the course for our city? Choices made today set the course for our city tomorrow. The answer for tomorrow is directed by our decisions today.
How seriously do we want those who follow us to take the Word of God?
How important is mission, service, creativity and discipleship?
How important is it to champion and empower the next generation?
These are the kinds of choices today that impact those who come after us. It is the DNA that we are embedding into the culture we invite people to experience today and carry on beyond us.
Benjamin Franklin said, “If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.”
Can I invite you to be part of something worth writing about?
Listen to God today, as he invites us to write something for the future generations, that will spur them on and deepen their walk with God.
Live today with an eye to the future.
