Here in Britain, the houses of famous people are often commemorated with a small blue plaque. On a house in my town of Oxford reads one such sign: “C. S. LEWIS, Scholar and Author, lived here 1930–1963.” Many contemporary British writers, scientists, politicians, and others dream of having a blue plaque on their house one day to commemorate their lives.
Humans throughout history have tried numerous ways to ensure their posterity. Ancient rulers erected palaces, statues, triumphal arches, and other monuments to their own glory. Monarchs prayed for a son to preserve the family name. And this drive for lasting glory isn’t limited to the powerful. Deep down, all of us hope our lives and achievements will in some way live on after us. Oh, to have a legacy like that of C. S. Lewis!
Perhaps this drive for posterity is an echo of our longing for eternity (Ecclesiastes 3:11), but it has an obvious downside. We can seek our own glory rather than God’s, but by seeking to be known by future generations we can miss serving our own.
King David was famous, and always will be. But the apostle Paul put his life into perspective with these words: “After David had done the will of God in his own generation, he died” (Acts 13:36). Paul’s main point to his Jewish audience is that Jesus, who rose from the dead, is the ultimate King, not David (Acts 13:34-35,37). But don’t miss the meaning between the lines. On earth, David’s life was short. His focus was doing God’s will for his own generation.
Serve your generation deeply, with faithfulness, artistry, and excellence, directing its needs and desires toward God’s will. Any legacy you leave will then be God’s business.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: 2 Kings 2:13-25
More:
Read Hebrews 6:10 and consider how God remembers the good things we do for Him.
Next:
Are you seeking your own fame? How should our own future resurrection shape our pursuit of a legacy today?
Gary Shultz on April 24, 2015 at 7:22 am
Since we have the space, I’m going to twist this a bit. My hats off to the ladies here, they have understood this principle since Eden. Not many blue plaques go to women, but no one understands more than they what it is like to loose one self to a husband, a child or a loved one. Giving up self and life to have love emerge in another. I can not think of a more enduring example of what God has in mind for us as a loving, wife, mother or care giver. May we all learn a lesson of love and sacrifice that many a godly woman has passed on to others. I will be anxious to see what God has in store for such a heart, for eternity.
Folakemi1 on April 24, 2015 at 7:32 am
I love Our Daily Journey Devotional. In a way it has become an essential part of my everyday life. In most cases its as if God has directed the Author to write to me as most messages directly speak to me and its often timely. May God bless all the Writers in Jesus Name. NB. Admin should please note. I stopped receiving ODJ in my e-mails since yesterday. I mistakenly put the message on spam and then it stopped coming in. Please do something, though I have re-subscribed, I do miss having the message in my mail box. God bless the ODJ Team
Tom Felten on April 24, 2015 at 8:50 am
Folakemi1, thanks so much for your encouraging words. We’re grateful for you and all the members of the Our Daily Journey community! I’ll submit your request and see if we can get your email subscription working again. Peace.
tgustafs on April 24, 2015 at 7:41 am
Sheridan, what a wonderful interaction with Acts 13. I don’t believe it’s bad to want to make a name for ourselves: “A good name is more desirable than great riches” (Proverbs 22:1). But all too often in my case that desire is so that I can glorify myself instead of God. Thanks for this perspective!
Winn Collier on April 27, 2015 at 12:04 pm
I spent hours walking up and down the London street where Dickens’ little blue plaque is supposed to be. I gave up. I’m going to make another go of it in June.