How to leave a Godly legacy.
Scripture reading
Hebrews 11: 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed [j]by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise, 10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
12 Therefore there were born even of one man, and him as good as dead [m]at that, as many as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only son, 18 to whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” 19 [o]He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which, [p]figuratively speaking, he also received him back.
A few weeks ago we started looking at the life of Abraham and the lessons we can learn from his life. We began by looking at what his experience told us about God; God is in control, God chose you, and God keeps His promises. Then we turned our attention away from God, to how Abraham responded to God’s calling. How he responded, how he lived his 175 years is his example for us. It is his legacy of faithfulness to God through life, hardship, and old age. And how he lived gives us some instruction about how we can leave a Godly legacy. And leaving that kind of legacy is daily hard work. It is taking each day as a gift from God that can me invested in the people around us, or it can be squandered by just “killing time.”
British conductor Sir Thomas Beecham wasn't a great admirer of the music of his fellow Briton, composer Ralph Vaughan Williams. During the rehearsal of a Williams symphony, Beecham seemed to be doing little more than listlessly beating time. In fact, he was still beating time after the orchestra had stopped. "Why aren't you playing?" Beecham mildly asked the first violinist. "It's finished, Sir Thomas," came the reply. Beecham looked down at his score. "So it is!"
I thought that I would look at what the New Testament had to say about Abraham and his legacy. The New Testament was written over 2000 years after Abraham died. So, it really is a record of the legacy of Abraham particularly in the Church.
How does the New Testament view his life and summarize his contribution. And I was able to sort the New Testament Scripture passages into some categories.
Last week we started looking at five points about how the New Testament remembers Abraham.
He was be a blessing. He walked by faith. He endured trials. His walk matched his words. And finally, he was present, he lived in the moment.
Prayer
I. He was a blessing.
This one is low-hanging fruit. Paul says this about Abraham.Galatians 3:7-9 so know that those who are of faith, those are sons of Abraham.8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God [a]would justify the [b]Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.”9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with [c]Abraham, the believer.God told Abraham that he would be a blessing to all families on the earth. And he was. He was a blessing because through his family came God’s law. He was a blessing because Christ was born out of his line and brought the gospel of salvation to all the world. But you might say, “I can’t bless the world that way.” Well, you can carry that same message of salvation to everyone in your world. It’s starts with those closest to you. Bless your family. Let’s go back for a second and look again at Abraham.
Abraham had opportunities to be a blessing to his family just as you have opportunities to be a blessing to your family.
1. Abraham blessed his family.
From the start, when God called him out of Ur of the Chaldees, Abraham brought his family along. And the decisions he made on his journey would positively or negatively affect his family.
Genesis 11: 31 And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went out [l]together from Ur of the Chaldeans in order to go to the land of Canaan; and they came as far as Haran and [m]settled there. 32 And the days of Terah were 205 years; and Terah died in Haran.
There’s quite a story there. We always talk about Abraham leaving Ur of the Chaldees to go to a land that God would show him. But he wasn’t alone in leaving. His wife, father, nephew, and an unknown number of servants leave with him. Now, I’ve heard sermons criticizing Abram for this. They say, “God told him to leave his family and kin. He doesn’t obey completely.” But I disagree. And let me tell you why. Nobody criticizes Abram for taking his wife with him do they? No. But she’s family. Isn’t he supposed to leave behind family? The spirit of the command to leave family, kin, and Ur meant two things; got to a new place that I will give you, and leave the idolatry and life of Ur behind.
Let me say this. God doesn’t call on you to spiritually leave your family, until they spiritually leave God. And we get a little of an impression here that the family who went with Abram, were on the same page spiritually as he was.
We don’t know about his father Terah, but if you read the last verses of chapter 11, it almost sounds like Terah initiated moving the family out of Ur of the Chaldees. Shortly after the family leaves Abram’s father Terah dies. He was 205. Abram took his father with him. He cared for his aged father.
Also, Lot, his nephew, went with him. Lot was his brother’s son. Lot’s father had died back in Ur of the Chaldees. And we know that Lot is called a righteous man in other parts of Scripture.2 Peter 2:6-8 and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter;7 and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men8 (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds),
So, Lot was possibly one of Abram’s dependents and he may have even been raised by Abram. Abram took all of his family with him. All the family that was with him in following God’s command, left Ur with him. So, what is the example Abram leaves us? He was a blessing to everyone. But the first people that he blessed were those closest to him; his family
2. He had the opportunity to be a blessing to those around him during his life.
Now, to be perfectly truthful, this was a mixed bag for Abraham. Sometimes he stepped up to the challenge and left a lasting Godly impression on those he encountered. You might remember an early story of Abraham where Lot and his family get kidnapped by an invading army, and Abraham arms his 300 servants to go on a successful rescue mission. And after that he meets Melchizedek, the king/priest of Salem.
Hebrews 7: For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of theMost High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace.
But one can hardly forget that Abraham wasn’t always a great witness or blessing to the world. Twice he was fearful that someone would kill him to take Sarah his wife. And twice he lied saying that she was his sister and put her in danger. And Abraham, God’s chosen, ends up getting a moral lecture from two heathen kings about his behavior.
To be truthful, we all have moments that we are proud of, and others that we are ashamed of. We hope that we are remembered for the good things. But ultimately, whatever people remember about us, our real legacy comes from the Lord.
‘My legacy doesn’t matter. It isn’t important that I be remembered. It’s important that when I stand before the Lord, he says, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’ I want to finish strong.’ – James Dobson
How do you live like that? Be a blessing wherever you are.
Luke 6:27 “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who disparage you.29 Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your garment, do not withhold your [a]tunic from him either.
Acts 3:26 For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”
Be a blessing wherever God plants you. What else did Abram do that created a Godly legacy?
II. He Walked by faith.
Hebrews 11: 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed [j]by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise, 10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
III. His walk matched his words.
Hebrews 11: 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed
James 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith was working with his works, and [p]as a result of the works, faith was [q]perfected.
We covered these last week and I have nothing new to add today.
The next way that Abraham was an example to us in leaving a Godly legacy was;
IV. He endured trials.
One of the most notable moments of Abraham’s life was when God told him to offer up his son as a sacrifice. The book of Hebrews summarizes the event this way.
Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only son, 18 to whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” 19 [o]He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which, [p]figuratively speaking, he also received him back.
You know the story of Abraham offering Isaac. It tells us that Abraham took the son that God had promised would be his spiritual heir, and tied him up with cords, placed him on wood on an altar, and was about to kill him. And God sent a ram to replace Isaac. God commended Abraham because he was willing to obey. It was a severe test of faith.
Now, we don’t go through that extent of testing. God doesn’t tell us to kill our children as a test of loyalty. But God has taken people that we love, in death, and asked us to trust His wisdom regarding their death. God has allowed us to suffer the effects of sin in this world. Some of us have had to live with disease, poverty, violence and hatred. And those times have caused us to question God. And like Abraham, God asks us to endure testing.
That was probably the most severe testing in Abraham’s life. But it was not the only time that Abraham’s faith was tested. It was tested as he left Ur of the Chaldees.
It was tested immediately when he went down into Egypt and out of fear told everyone that Sarai was his sister, not his wife.
Am I going to give in to fear? Am I going to put my wife in danger?
It was tested when there was strife between Lot’s herdsmen and his herdsmen.
Am I going to demand supremacy over my nephew, or am I going to be giving and gracious?
It was tested when Lot’s family was taken hostage.
Am I willing to fight for my family?
Isn’t it funny how fear works? Abraham was afraid two times to tell people that Sarah was his wife, because he thought they might kill him to take her. And nobody was threatening him. But when his nephew Lot and his family are taken hostage by an invading army, Abraham doesn’t hesitate. He arms his 300 servants and pursues and fights the army to retrieve Lot. No fear of death then.
His faith was tested when Sarai offered her handmaiden to be the surrogate mother for a child for Abraham. Do I consult with God, or follow my wife’s whim?
It was tested with the covenant of circumcision.
Am I going to do something painful if God requires it?
It was tested when God told Abraham that He would destroy Sodom. Am I willing to risk God’s displeasure to plead for this city?
It was tested when Sarai wanted to send Hagar and Ishmael away. How can I separate from my loved ones?
And, of course it was tested when God told Abraham to offer Isaac as a burnt offering. Do I believe what God said, that this son, who He wants me to offer, will be the future of my household?
It was tested when he sought a wife for Isaac. Should I bend my standards for the woman who will carry on the family faith?
That’s a lot of testing. Has your life ever felt like that? Every child of God will be tested.
He sat by the fire of seven-fold heat,
As He watched by the precious ore.
And closer He bent with a searching gaze
As He heated it more and more.
He knew He had ore that could stand the test
And He wanted the finest gold,
To mold as a crown for the King to wear,
Set with gems of price untold.
So He laid our gold in the burning fire,
Though we fain would have said Him, "Nay."
And He watched the dross that we had not seen,
As it melted and passed away.
And the gold grew brighter, and yet more bright
And our eyes were so dim with tears,
As we saw the fire, not the Master's hand,
And questioned with anxious fear.
Yet our gold shone out with a richer glow,
As it mirrored a Form above
That bent o'er the fire, though unseen by us
With a look of infinite love.
Can we think that it pleases His loving heart
To cause a moment of pain?
Ah, no, but He saw through the present cross
The bliss of eternal gain.
So He waited there with a watchful eye,
With a love that is strong and sure,
And His gold did not suffer a bit more heat
Than was needed to make it pure!
Source Unknown.
Last point
V. Be present in the present.
https://www.healthline.com/health/being-present#definition
“Being present, also known as living mindfully, simply means you’re focused and engaged in the here and now, not distracted or mentally absent.”
We can waste a lot of life by fretting over what we’ve done in the past, or worrying about what will happen in the future.
This is what Hebrews says about Abraham.
Hebrews 11: 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise, 10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
Throughout Abraham’s life, he had many promises that God made to him. But he didn’t receive the end of all the promises.
From age 75 to 175, 100 years, he simply shepherded his flocks, cared for his family, and moved his tents from place to place. You know, that is probably one of the greatest tests that any of God’s children have; the test of time. The test of monotony.
Often when we are young Christians, this walk of faith can be exciting and challenging. We feel like we are learning and growing, sometimes falling in temptation, but coming back with repentance and tears. We come and kneel at the altar and cry out to God. And even though our failures can be more frequent when we are young, it’s like a roller coaster. It’s exciting and breathe-taking. But then we get older. The roller coaster turns into a flat straight highway through western Kansas. We’ve heard all the sermons. We know all the Bible stories. We’ve tried all the spiritual prescriptions. Now, what is left is just a decision. Will I continue to be faithful, when the excitement is over?
Though there were some exciting and challenging days for Abraham, most of it was just getting up early, feeding the animals, milking the animals, fixing the tents, cutting firewood, getting water, walking from one place to another in the heat. But he kept his faith.
Let me share with you three passages that address the monotony of life.
John 9:4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. Colossians 4:5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Ephesians 5:15-17 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
In short, take advantage of the time you have. Live well in each moment.
Today in the Word, September 16, 1993.
If you had a bank that credited your account each morning with $86,000 that carried over no balance from day to day...Allowed you to keep no cash in your account, and every evening cancelled whatever part of the amount you failed to use during the day, what would you do? Draw out every cent every day, of course, and use it to your advantage! Well, you have such a bank, and its name is TIME! Every morning it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it rules off as lost whatever of this you failed to invest to good purpose. It carries over no balances, it allows no overdrafts. Each day it opens a new account with you. If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours. There is no going back. There is no drawing against tomorrow.
Source Unknown.