James Truslow Adams said, “The great use of life is to spend it on something that will outlast it.� This article is long overdue and I have no excuse for that except for my own lack of spiritual discipline. Not to long ago I had a friend tragically pass away and it was a shock to everyone that knew him. For me it was the first friend that I had known to ever pass away and it was a very awkward feeling in our community of friends for a while, but tonight God revealed something to me about Ben's life. You see been was an actor, servant, leader, child of God and juggler. Ben loved to juggle, he loved it so much that he started a traveling ministry team called Spin 4. They went wherever they were invited, spreading the gospel through comedy and the talents that God had blessed them with. After Ben went home, the future of the team was up in the air and to be honest I had forgotten about the ministry and just remembered my friend. Tonight though my wife pulled out a church bulletin and pointed out to me that Spin 4 was going to be at our church. Immediately memories of my brother raced through my head, then God spoke. “What's your legacy going to be Nate?� You see Ben's ministry is still touching lives, people are being used, and more importantly people are being saved because of his willingness to make himself available for the Lord's use.

Today we are given the choice of choosing our legacy. By the world's standards it would be money, fame, prestige, and power. That wasn't Ben's legacy, no Ben was part of a bigger and more important plan. Ben's legacy was to be a player in Christ's legacy. There are several things that we can learn from God's word about leaving a legacy that is worth remembering.

One of those things is Humility, Ephesians 4:1-2 says, “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.� Paul calls us to be completely humble not just because it's the right thing to do, but because it's what must be done in order to live the life that we were created for.

Secondly make yourself available to the Lord and what he would have you to do. In order to hear what God is calling you to do, you have to first make the commitment to God that you are willing to follow through no matter what he asks. It might be giving up a dream, or taking the job that pays less, or even putting your life in danger, but the rewards far outweigh the costs. It might seem confusing at first, but Romans 12:1-2 reminds us, “Therefore I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is, his good, pleasing and perfect will.�

Finally we must focus on our real home. As the old adage goes, “Home is where the heart is� this is also where our treasure should lie. In Matthew 6:19-21 Jesus tells us, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.� Be a servant in everything like Jesus and you will feel your heart turn towards home.

None of these things are what the world entices us to act out, but they will take our eyes off of our legacy and will leave our legacy at the same time, one that will echo through eternity. So as the world challenges your faith with what type of legacy you should leave, and the enemy tells you to grab all you can, remember what the Hebrew writer said, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.�

The Lord never breaks promises to those who love him. Psalm 138:8 says, “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord endures forever-do not abandon the works of your hands.� Fair well until we meet again old friend.

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