Korczak Ziotkowski began creating the Crazy Horse Memorial but never finished it. His wife Ruth took over the project after his death. After she died, her children and grandchildren continued carving the monument out of a mountain. This family successfully passed the baton from one generation to the next.
Christians have a far bigger project. Our mission is to make more and better disciples and help expand God’s kingdom. How can we help produce loving, obedient Jesus followers generation after generation? Like the Crazy Horse Memorial, we must pass the baton to each succeeding generation because Christianity is always only one generation from extinction.
The Apostle Paul addressed this ongoing need for new people and generations to embrace the mission: “Be assured that from the first day we heard of you, we haven’t stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works. We pray that you’ll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you’ll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us” (Colossians 1:9–12 The Message).
Let me make ten suggestions to leave a spiritual legacy.
1. Share Your Hope
More than fifty years ago I heard Dick Stum share the gospel as two things to know and two things to do. I have used what I call 2+ 2 many times to communicate it.
The first thing to know is that you are a sinner. Romans 3:23 says that we are all sinners and have fallen short of God's glory, which is His infinite perfection in all He does and is. Another way to say that is that you can't stand back-to-back with Jesus and measure up to his moral and spiritual height.
That's a huge deal. Romans 6:23 says death is the penalty for not meeting that standard. You have a problem.
The second thing to know is that Jesus died on the cross in your place and for your benefit (Romans 5:8). God showered His unmerited favor upon you, and did more than you could ever reasonably expect.
God, in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ, took your place and paid your death penalty (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). He was buried and rose from the dead to prove that God is satisfied with His payment on your behalf. Justice has been served. The penalty is paid in full. The guiltless took the place of the guilty.
The first thing to do is to turn from living according to your values, priorities, and agenda. The U-turn to go God's way is what the Bible calls repentance.
To repent is to acknowledge that you have been going in the wrong direction and now want to go in the right direction. In Mark 1:15 Jesus commands us to repent and believe the good news (that He died in our place on the cross, was buried, and rose from the dead).
The 2nd thing to do is to open the door of your life to Jesus and invite Him to come in and take the driver's seat of your life. He promises that if you open the door, He will come in (Revelation 3:20). He always keeps His promises.
Those who receive Him into their lives become children of God (John 1:12). You can open the door to Him by the following prayer which has no magic words but merely expresses the attitude of a heart that is willing to go God's way:
Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross in my place and taking my sin, death, and judgment upon yourself. I open the door of my life to you. Please come into my life and take control. Thank you for forgiving my sins and making me a child of God. I want to be like you. Amen.
The gospel brings hope to us and many with whom we share it. Sharing our hope brings light into our dark world and passes the baton of hope from our generation to the next. #freediscipleshipresources #freeevangelismresources #freechristianleadershipresources
See free spiritual growth resources for Christians at https://www.christiangrowthresources.com
God has empowered me to write “His Power for Your Weakness—260 Steps Toward Spiritual Strength.” It’s a free evangelistic, devotional, and discipleship eBook. Pastors have used it in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia to lead more than 2,400 people to Christ and teach the basics of Christianity to 5,836 people. I invite you to check it out. https://www.christiangrowthresources.com/his-power-for-your-weakness
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