Live to Leave a Legacy

I remember my dog named Cricket. He was a small black-haired dog with one white paw and crooked teeth in which one tooth jutted out beyond his mouth. He was a good little dog: friendly, loyal and loving, the epitome of man’s best friend. But, unfortunately he was also a sick dog. He experienced seizures which incapacitated him from time to time and before long his sickness caught up to him. It was one of the first times I had to deal with loss.

I don’t know when your first experiences with loss occurred but the reality of life is that we will all encounter loss at some point. Sometimes it is the loss of a job or a way of life. Other times it might be the loss of a family pet, a relative, or other loved ones who hold important places in our lives. It seems as though we experience loss in different degrees depending on the level of importance in our lives but also depending on the amount of expectancy. For instance, death can be difficult in all circumstances but when someone dies suddenly or unexpectedly the shock of that loss and the grief that follows can be much greater than when we are better prepared and are expecting someone to die.

This last week, a family I have been fairly close to most of my life experienced a sudden and unexpected loss. The father, Mark, was on a kayaking trip with his son Matt, who is fourteen years old. Toward the end of their trip they were headed down the river when Matt’s kayak got stuck in a whirlpool section of the rapids. He was able to get out of the boat but his kayak was still stuck in the circular current of the river. Mark tied a rope to his waist and went to try to retrieve the boat and upon doing so somehow got pulled under the water. Matt was able to pull his father out but could not revive him so he was forced to run about two miles to get help. By the time help arrived though it was too late.

Death is supposed to be easier for us to handle as Christians because we have the promise of life both now and forever more. I don’t know how I would respond in this situation because I haven’t had to face death in a way that hits so close to home. My heart goes out to a family that is forced to face the reality of the brevity of life in this way but I am thankful that as believers there is life beyond the grave. We who are in Christ Jesus will once again experience the resurrection of our old selves and receive new life to reign with him forever for God through Christ has conquered death.

But, in light of this reminder, I am also thankful that Mark leaves behind a legacy for his family, his friends, and all those that come after him. He leaves a legacy as a faithful follower, friend, husband, father and image of the love of Jesus Christ. It is true that we are not promised our next breath. We are never guaranteed long life for we could be here today and gone tomorrow. However, what we are promised and what we can guarantee is that we can live our lives now, each and every day to the glory of God through which we leave a legacy of love that far outweighs and outlasts are earthly existence. Rest assured that the saints who have gone before us will be there to cheer us on to the end. Run the race! Claim victory in Jesus! Live to leave a legacy to the glory of God!

God, thank you for people like Mark who live their lives to leave a legacy for your glory. May we all choose to live our lives every day that we may do the same.