Mother Teresa. Ted Bundy. Polar opposites, yet they have something in common: they each left a legacy, the thoughts and images the mention of their names bring to one's mind.
Mother Teresa...a woman remembered for her life of service to some of the world's most desperate and needy people.
Ted Bundy...a serial killer who, in his last interview, blamed his exposure to pornography as a young child for his madness.
One is an example of an extremely wonderful legacy; the other, an extremely horrifying legacy.
In this world, we are known and remembered for our deeds. Although our deeds have no merit towards salvation or eternity, they do define how we are remembered on earth. As Christians, I wonder how many of us will leave a legacy of hypocrisy. Hypocrites are those who behave differently than they believe. We all have moments of hypocrisy, moments in time we wish we could erase. But I wonder how many of us live lifestyles of hypocrisy.
I want to leave a good name for myself and my family. I want to leave a legacy of honesty and loyalty. I want to be remembered for loving God and serving others. I often fail, miserably. But my hope and prayer is to always do better the next time...to love more, to serve more, and inevitably, to finish well. When I am dead, I hope the mention of my name honors my family. I hope the legacy I leave is that of Yes, Lord.
I wonder if we think often enough about the legacies we want to leave behind...and if we act accordingly.
A good name is better than a good ointment, and the day of one's death is better than the day of one's birth. Ecclesiastes 7:1
A good name is to be more desired than great riches, favor is better than silver and gold. Proverbs 22:1
The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot. Proverbs 10:7
“Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.”- Abraham Lincoln
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post. Indeed a good name and a good reputation is what we all want in life.
ReplyDeleteLet's pray we can leave both of them.