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Maybe it’s the fact that I had just turned 60 at the time this was written; or maybe it was because my last child would get married in just a few days; or maybe was because of the current state of the world. Whatever the reason, I was spending a lot more time thinking about the “golden years” of my life. When all is said and done here on Earth, would I have accomplished my purpose?
And just what is that purpose, anyway?
Will people remember me? If they do, what will I be remembered for?
I recently heard a song by Casting Crowns, “Only Jesus”. The lyrics drove right through to my heart, especially the chorus:
“And I-I-I, I don't want to leave a legacy
I don't care if they remember me
Only Jesus
And I-I-I, I've only got one life to live
I'll let every second point to Him
Only Jesus.” (Only Jesus by Casting Crowns)
This is, right here in the chorus of this Christian song, the answer to the second of my questions: My purpose here on Earth is to reflect Jesus! We shouldn’t even want to be remembered for anything else, just that we were living examples of Jesus!
Even more importantly, this idea is rooted in Scripture: “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16 NASB)
This raises an interesting question, however: Just how do you live a life that reflects only Jesus?
I don’t know about you, but the thought that my purpose is to reflect Jesus is a scary one. I mean, what if I’m misrepresenting Jesus? Didn’t Jesus Himself say that if we should lead anyone astray, it would be better for us to have a millstone strapped around our heads and drowned in the sea (See Matthew 18:6)?
So, then, just how do we go about fulfilling our life’s purpose? How do we ensure that when we depart this Earth, people will remember us, not for ourselves, but for the fact that we reflected Jesus?
For the answer, we need look no further than Hebrews 11, also known as the faith chapter: “By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he was attested to be righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.” (Vs. 4 NASB)
It is through faith that Abel is remembered! Though he is long gone, the world remembers Abel because of his faith in God, because of his obedience on Earth, even in the face of hostility!
And therein lies the answer: When we put our faith in Jesus, when we live our lives with our eyes fixed upon Him and not upon our circumstances and the lies of this world, this is what will be remembered!
Interestingly, Abel’s brother, Cain, is also remembered. His name is notably not listed in Hebrews 11, but everyone does know who he was. He was the first murderer… See Genesis 4:8!
This, then, leads to an important question: Do we want to be remembered for our faults, as Cain is? Or do we want to be remembered at the end of our lives as someone who shone for Jesus? The difference hinges upon faith: “…and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks” (Hebrews 11:4b NASB)!
Do you want your life to be a reflection of Jesus? Do you want to shine for Him? Then let’s each of us adopt the prayer of Jesus’ disciples: “The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’” (Luke 17;5 NASB). Let’s be like the man whose son was delivered by Jesus from demons: “Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, ‘I do believe; help my unbelief!’” (Mark 9:24 NASB)
Prayer: Lord, increase our faith! Help our unbelief, that we may live lives that reflect only You, that at the end of our lives, the legacy we leave behind will be “only Jesus”!
In His love,
Lyn
Lynona Gordon Chaffart
Author, Moderator, Associate Director, Answers2Prayer Ministries
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