As I approach age sixty, it is a sobering reality that
I have rounded the final turn, the homestretch beckons, and the finish line is
in sight. Recently, celebrating twenty
years at Pole Creek, serve to remind me that I will someday preach my final
sermon there. Who knows how long my tour
of duty will be? No matter how young you
are you have a deadline for the end of your ministry. What kind of legacy will we leave? I can think of no better aim than what Paul
described to the Ephesian elders:
From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the
church. And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, from
the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, serving
the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by
the plotting of the Jews; how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but
proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, testifying
to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord
Jesus Christ. And see, now I go bound in
the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except
that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and
tribulations await me. But none of these
things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my
race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to
testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
“And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching
the kingdom of God, will see my face no more.
Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of
all men. For I have not shunned to
declare to you the whole counsel of God.
Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the
Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He
purchased with His own blood. For I know
this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing
the flock. Also from among yourselves
men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after
themselves. Therefore watch, and remember
that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and
to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an
inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. Yes, you yourselves know that these hands
have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. I have shown you in every way, by laboring
like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord
Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” And when
he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s
neck and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that
they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship. (Acts
20:17-38)
This is the legacy I want to leave. May God help us!
Amen
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