Will Your Legacy Say This About You?

I Chron. 21:20 - He was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years; and he departed with no one’s regret, and they buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.

•      Saving Private Ryan 

In the movie Saving Private Ryan at the end of the movie Ryan now an older man is at the gravesite of Capt. John H. Miller (who was played by Tom Hanks) and he is recalling their last conversation where Miller told Ryan, "To earn it." He was to earn what the guys had sacrificed for him. I am putting the conversation below for you to read:

Old James Ryan: My family is with me today. They wanted to come with me. To be honest with you, I...I wasn't sure how I'd feel coming back here. Every day I think about what you said to me that day on the bridge. I tried to live my life the best that I could. I hope that was enough. I hope that, at least in your eyes, I've earned what all of you have done for me.
Ryan's Wife: James?
[looking at the headstone]
Ryan's Wife: Captain John H Miller.
Old James Ryan: Tell me I have led a good life.
Ryan's Wife: What?
Old James Ryan: Tell me I'm a good man.
Ryan's Wife: You are.

Ryan was concerned about his legacy. He wanted affirmation from his wife the one who knew him better than anyone else. He wanted to hear from her he was a good man, and he had led a good life.
 
Most people when they are coming down to their last few years, months, or days think about the type of life they've lived. 

Why is it we wait until our life is about over before we start to think about our legacy?

Why can't we concentrate on our legacy when we are in our 20's, 30's, or 40's? Don't we know our life could end in one of those decades? Our scripture text is about King Jehoram who was going to die when he was 40 years of age.

The actor Paul Walker died at this very same age. The big difference was Walker had people who mourned his death. He had helped people during his life. His life was not all about himself. He was concerned about others and helped them while he could. 

As I said most people care about their legacy but it is for certain not all people are concerned about what type of legacy they will be leaving. 

•      King Jehoram 

He was one for sure that didn't care what type of legacy he was leaving behind. When he died the verse says, "…he departed with no one's regret..." They didn't care this man had died. In fact most people were probably glad he was gone.
 
How sad is that?
 
He lived 40 years and when he died no one regretted the king had died. This is such a different picture from when King David died. 

•      King Jehoram's Legacy

He killed all of his siblings after he was made king. He set up places to worship idols rather than go to Jerusalem to worship the true God. He was despised and no one regretted his death. Would you agree he didn't leave much of a legacy?

•      What Legacy Will We Leave 

We all have choices that we can make in life. The choices that we make will help build our legacy. We can make good choices and help people or we can make bad choices and help no one.
 
Jehoram made choices and only he benefitted from them. The last two years of his life he was stricken with an illness and lived in great pain according to the scriptures (vss.18-19).

If you need to make some changes in your life there is no better time than right now. Give yourself and others a great gift, give them a new you.

Think on This:

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word
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