My legacy: What will be left when I'm gone?

TL;DR: Passionate devotion to God, love for the church, appreciation for people of every culture, simple and generous living, and commitment to sharing the gospel worldwide will leave a positive legacy. Lasting influence grows from lives marked by faithfulness, integrity, compassion, service, and trust in God.

Reflections published in the campus newspaper

My 90-year-old father-in-law—Paul Reed—died one Saturday morning. The next Tuesday I conducted his funeral in the sanctuary of Bethany First Church of the Nazarene in Oklahoma. More on my father-in-law

Having to plan a funeral service and prepare a sermon for it made me think deeply about how I want to be remembered.

What kind of legacy do I want to leave? To be sure, I probably have a few years left. However, when the time comes and I'm gone, what will people remember about me? Or, even more than that, what kind of influence do I hope will remain in the people whose paths crossed mine?

Here are some thoughts that went through my mind as I prepared for that funeral service:

  1. I hope that part of my legacy would be a passion for living for God. The danger on a Christian university campus is that of falling into just "going through the motions." There is a great temptation to become a practical deist, giving no real thought to God or spiritual matters during the week and relegating worship to an hour on those Sunday mornings when one manages to attend a church service.
  2. I hope that part of my legacy would be a consuming love for the church as a community of faith (rather than seeing it as something to complain about because it doesn't "meet my needs"). For many people, being part of a church is an optional extra for the believer. It's not. Scripture says we have been put into the church by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13, 18, 24). Not to love the church—or worse, to turn one's back on it—is contrary to God's will.
  3. I hope there will be a love for the wonderful mosaic of cultures and peoples inhabiting our planet. The human tendency is to turn inward and become very ethnocentric. I hope part of my legacy will be helping people respect and appreciate cultural differences.
  4. I hope people whose paths cross mine choose to live a simpler lifestyle rather than continuing to buy the most expensive cars, largest houses, and most lavish clothing they can afford. I would hope that a decision to live more simply would allow them to channel more resources to ministries of evangelism and compassion. I have friends who make good salaries yet are so burdened by car payments, house payments, and loan payments (for Christmas presents, for vacations, and for furniture) that they find it difficult to set aside $50 to give to a needy friend. It shouldn't be like that!
  5. I hope my legacy would include a burden for reaching lost people around the globe, especially those in the least-evangelized societies. There are still people who will have no opportunity to hear the gospel unless new missionary efforts are launched to reach them. I hope people will catch a glimpse of how God's heart is burdened for these lost people.

Thank you, ARMM

Note written for the newsletter of the Nazarene Association of Retired Ministers and Missionaries based in Bethany, Oklahoma.

About half a century ago, Barbara and I said goodbye to fellow ministry students at our college graduation and again, four years later, at our seminary graduation. We had no idea we would wind up in our retirement living in the same metro area with many of those former classmates. ARMM has given us the opportunity to reconnect with them.

We were idealistic back then. Not all of our lofty dreams came true. We didn't accomplish all that we had hoped to accomplish for God's kingdom. Our paths took twists and turns we never anticipated. However, the ideals we cherished then remain valid today and, at ARMM, we celebrate each other's faithfulness.

We also mourn those who dropped out along the way. Some let other alluring voices drown out the call. Some allowed sin to take root, flourish, and destroy their ministries. We mourn the trail of broken ordination vows left by some of our classmates.

Still, in the middle of the sweet and the bitter—the warm camaraderie of those finishing the race together and the sad memory of others who should have been here—we join Andraé Crouch in singing, "Through it all, I've learned to trust in Jesus … I've learned to depend upon His Word."

—Howard Culbertson, hculbert@snu.edu

Afterword: How do we leave behind a positive legacy?

Leaving a legacy is not merely about grand gestures or monumental achievements; it is about the impact we have on others and the world around us. Every action, every word, and every decision shapes our legacy. Our legacy will be formed by how we treat people, the kindness we extend, and the empathy we show. It's shaped by the knowledge we share, the wisdom we impart, and the inspiration we offer.

Whether through acts of service, contributions to knowledge, or simply being a source of support and love for those around us, our legacy is woven into the fabric of the lives we touch. By seeking to live with integrity, compassion, and purpose, we can leave behind a positive legacy that will influence the world long after we're gone.

Acrostic: Legacy

L – Lasting words spoken in truth and grace,
E – Encouragement that lifts others in life’s race,
G – Godly character shaping every choice,
A – Attitudes that reflect a hopeful voice,
C – Compassion shown in quiet, selfless deeds,
Y – Your influence living on in others.

Share this page:

Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Share on WhatsApp

You might also like these pages