Legacy is a term that never really came onto my radar until I was in my forties. Most people don’t think long-term these days – nothing seems to last that long. Even when we do think about it in our youth, we don’t feel the need to act upon the impulse. (E.g. most younger people don’t put money away for retirement.) The thought of legacy isn’t even so much about retirement as it is about what remains after you move on.

Even the early church did not consider legacy until the apostles started dying and getting older. After Jesus ascended into heaven, the disciples just stood there waiting for him to come back (Acts 1:9-11). As the church grew numerically and geographically, they were focussed on Jesus’ command to go and make disciples. The gospel spread by word of mouth using the Old Testament Scriptures. However, they still operated with a sense that the Lord’s return was “at hand” (Phil. 4:5; Jas. 5:8; 1 Pet. 4:7). Having a larger geographic area to connect with, the apostles started writing letters to keep the church on track (cf. Acts 15:22-23). It was as apostles like James died (Acts 12:2) and apostles like Paul were getting older and possibly going to be martyred (Phil. 1:19-26).

And so, with Paul firmly believing that he will probably die in prison, he writes to Timothy, “the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these things to faithful people who will be competent to teach others also.” (2 Tim. 2:2, LEB) Paul is concerned that the legacy of the gospel continues beyond himself and Timothy. There is a greater sense of the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20) now going beyond a single generation and extending through generations – making disciples who obey Jesus’ teachings.

Legacy is in my heart and in the heart of the elders of Freedom Centre. There is both a legacy in the church of expecting that Christ’s return is at hand (any day, any hour) but also of seeing the church go on into following generations. We desire all generations to grow in their love and knowledge of our God and Saviour. The survival of natural and spiritual species requires babies be born who grow into healthy, mature adults who can then have babies of their own that live beyond them.

Journeying with you for the glory of God,

Pastor Merril