“I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.” 2 Pet. 1:15

Attending a dear friend’s funeral this week, I was moved as family members, not clergy, handled everything in the service. The children and grandchildren of this godly servant of Christ celebrated his life and spoke of his legacy—a passion for Christ and the lost. Amid the stories of the fun and memorable times, the dominant theme that was repeated over and over by each family member was how he loved Christ and made loving Christ look great in their eyes.

How will you be remembered when you are gone? What will be said about your life at your funeral? Will Christ be exalted or will it only be about you and your accomplishments?

We talk a lot at CGN about intentionally living and leaving a legacy of faith for the next generations. Over the years I have come to realize that there is a grave misconception about what that means. We are prone to think of ‘legacy’ in terms of how the next generations will think about me. We all want our family and friends to think well of us, of course, but if our legacy only has to do with us, we will have wasted our life.

Peter provides a much more accurate context for understanding the kind of legacy we to build. Peter’s concern is not what others will remember about him. His goal was to make sure they would remember how Christ has cleansed us from our sins and given us everything we need to live a fruitful life of faith. In other words, the goal of Peter’s legacy was to make sure that after his departure, those remaining would remember who they are and what a godly life really looks like.

It is admirable to want to live a life that our children and grandchildren will fondly remember, but if it does not make Christ look great and help them remember who they are in Christ, in the final analysis it will be a legacy without any useful value.

So, what will your children and grandchildren remember after you are gone? Will know what it means to passionately love and follow Christ because of your legacy, or will they see no point to it?

The great preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, said, “It has been my one and only business to set forth the love of God to men in Jesus Christ.” After I’m gone, I want my grandchildren to say, “This was how my grandfather lived his life.” What will they say after you’re gone?