Parents: Leave A Legacy

This blog may seem strange to some because it may sound like it is written by someone much older than I am. But I want to simply share this thought from my heart to all of you parents… “Leave A Legacy”! You don’t begin leaving a legacy for your children and grandchildren to follow when you are older. In order to live a life that speaks of integrity, truth, dignity, and most importantly a life that is lived passionately for Jesus Christ you must start it now! Don’t wait to give God the glory He deserves in your life now.
The Apostle Paul knew he was near his death when he wrote this to his spiritual son, Timothy: “As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.” (2 Timothy 4:6-7) As parents we are leaders who are leaving an example for our children to follow, we are leaving a legacy. This can be a good legacy or a bad one. The choice is up to us what we will leave for our children to follow. But one thing is for sure, the example that we give will be followed. As much as children say they don’t want to be like their parents, it is still all they know. It is what they have been taught. It is the legacy that they have been given.
I just want my legacy to be one of truth and integrity. I want my children to grow up knowing that daddy did his best to love God and be the man God made him to be. My grandfather is a man like Paul. He has lived a life that has been “poured out” in service to Christ. He was a pastor for 40 years, he has been serving God faithfully for over 50 years, he has led thousands of people to Christ, and he is presently serving as Senior Chaplain of Orange County Jail in Orlando. He is 80 years old and serving Christ full time, not because he needs to but because that is his legacy, that is who God has made him to be.
My Spiritual Father is Pastor Scott Becker and he has left a legacy already and is still building it for his natural and spiritual children to follow. He has been more faithful to the Lord than I believe most men, even pastors, would be during and after burying his late wife, Gail. I am honored to be one of his spiritual sons and to have had the opportunity to serve under his guidance as an elder in this amazing Church.
If you haven't realized it by now, I consider myself to be extremely blessed. God has put men in my life to be fathers. They have left a legacy and it is my deepest desire as a parent to leave a legacy that will glorify God and will give my children something worth following. As a pastor the burden is even heightened because I want to leave that legacy for every child who calls Abundant Life their church.
As parents, I believe we are called to not just have some good moments with our kids but to live out a life like Paul. Our children need to see us live a life that is “poured out as an offering to God” and they need to see us “fight the good fight” and “finish the race” and when we are old and near our death my prayer is that we can look back on our lives and say “I have remained faithful!”