Legacy: Part One

Photo by:  Elena Prokofyeva

“Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on?  It means we’d better get on with it.  Strip down, start running—and never quit!  No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins.  Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in.  Study how he did it.  Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way:  Cross, shame, whatever.  And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.  When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through.  That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!” 

~Hebrews 12:1-3 The Message

I've been thinking a lot lately about legacy.  I've had several friends, acquaintances and family members pass away in the last few months and it has left me thinking about their legacies in this life.  I also saw the wonderful movie, "Hidden Figures," recently.  This movie challenged me to think about those who had an amazing legacy, doing something so important in our country's history, only to be recognized later.  

I also recently realized that if I live a full life, I may have already lived about half of it.  That scared me.  And motivated me.  What have I already done in my life and what do I still want to accomplish?  More importantly, what has God done through my life and what does he still want to do?  I will be spending time in prayer about this, asking "What's next?"  What does God have planned for my next steps in life?  

I love the quote above from The Message version of Hebrews.  Talking about Jesus, it says that "he never lost sight of where he was headed."  May that be the case for us.  May we not get so caught up in the everyday monotony of life that we lose sight of heaven.  May we keep in mind every day that we are living this life for God and that he isn't finished with us yet.  

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”  ~Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV

I've always loved to think about this "great cloud of witnesses" who have gone before me, paving the way and pointing me to God in big and small ways.  Today I will begin a weekly series on legacy, exploring the stories of those who have taught me about faith, perseverance and strength in the midst of life's challenges.  

Join me as we take a walk among the clouds.