Memorial Day–A day to remember and honor the war veterans and honor our loved ones who have gone before us. All across our country are memorial stones; whether it’s for presidents or regular citizens. The only thing is, their legacy is not written on stones, but it’s in the hearts and minds of those that knew them.
When Paul (from the Bible) was at the end of his life, he wrote to Timothy (his son in the Lord).He said, “I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith;…there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness.” II Tim. 4:7,8a
He gave a charge to Timothy to live so that he would also leave an exemplary legacy. He encouraged him to:
“preach the word…for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine…and they will turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned to fables. II Tim. 4:2-4 (Sound like today?)
None of us know when the day will come and a stone of memorial will be placed over us. Yes, we will be remembered (at least for a time), but what will we be remembered for? What kind of a legacy will we leave? We need to be spreading TRUTH to our children and to anyone who will listen. Too many lies and deceptions are being spread across our dear nation and ingrained in our children through the school system, along with much of the media. Unfortunately, it’s not just children being affected.
I want to close with words from Paul and let this be a charge to each of us. This is what Paul wrote:
“I charge you, therefore, before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom.” (4:1) To:
>Stir up the gift of God in you” (1:6)
>be strong in the grace in Christ Jesus (2:1)
>endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (2:2)
>study the word (2:15)
>flee youthful lusts (2:22)
>continue in the things you have learned and are assured of (3:14)
>preach, reprove, rebuke, with all longsuffering (4:2)
>endure affliction (4:5)
>do the work of an evangelist and make full proof of your ministry (4:5)
Is this the kind of legacy you will leave?
Is this the kind of legacy you WANT to leave?
You have a chance to change this as long as it is called “Today!.”
May the Lord bless you and give you the courage to do so.