Leaving a Legacy

– by Rob Eshelman

This past Sunday, I was invited by Pastor Brian to deliver the message on “Leaving a Legacy.” This was an emotional time for me since the legacy of ECOB has been embedded in my heart for so many years, and it felt like a homecoming for me after 8 months away. I was immediately connected to relationships I made over the years and felt the love that fills the halls of this building. The past accomplishments and failures serve as witness to us all that we are only human, and God reigns supreme.

As ECOB, we are all building our legacy on the example set before us in Jesus. Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 2:21, “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” Jesus is our example. Keeping his legacy always before us in writing ours is key. He lived his life as a humble human serving mankind. A humble man with a divine spirit, and a love for humanity unsurpassed by anyone. A character of perfection, and the conviction to give his life to save ours and take on to himself all our sin.

Jesus leaves with us the legacy of forgiveness, kindness, sincere humbleness, and perfect love. If we could embody even a portion of these in our own legacy, what a difference it would make to our families, churches, communities, and the world.

You see, our legacy must be written on the hearts  of those we love and strangers, too. We need to do what Jesus did, even with those we do not love so much. Show them love, too, using the Fruit of the Spirit as our mantra. And remembering Mark 12:30-31  … you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.

Some of us already got a jump on leaving a legacy, and others are just getting started, but remember  to not rush into beginning before you look at where you want to eventually end.