LEAVING A LEGACY

19 “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! 20 You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

Deuter

Deuteronomy 30:19–20 NLT

(NLT)

Today I want us as a church to take time and stop and reflect on our lives. We all need to take stock in the direction of our lives and the legacy we are building.

On days like this, it’s a good time to stop and reflect on our lives. We all need to take stock in the direction of our lives and the legacy we are building.

That is what Moses does in the last few chapters of the book of Deuteronomy. He is coming to the end of his life. And he reflects back on his years of leading the children of Israel. They are his family. They have been through a lot together. They’ve had some good times and bad times, just like your family.

And now he leaves them with one final message.

They are his family. They have been through a lot together. They’ve had some good times and bad times, just like your family. And now he leaves them with one final message.

It is a message not just for them; it is a message for every one of us. For we all are LEAVING A LEGACY. And the choices we make are determining the kind of legacy that we leave behind us.

Listen to these powerful words from Moses.

Deuteronomy 30:19–20 NLT

Deut

As I have reflected on Moses’ counsel, I see four principles that you and I can apply in building our own legacy.

As I have reflected on Moses’ counsel, I see four principles that you and I can apply in building our own legacy. First notice that…

First notice that…

MY LEGACY IS DETERMINED BY MY CHOICES.

Moses says, “I HAVE GIVEN YOU THE CHOICE.” Your legacy is not a matter of fate or simply a result of the things that happen to you.

God has given you the freedom to choose and you make choices every day that are determining your legacy.

Your circumstances don’t determine your legacy. The way you choose to respond to your circumstances determines your legacy.

Your circumstances don’t determine your legacy. The way you choose to respond to your circumstances determines your legacy. 10% of life is what happens to you. 90% of life is how you respond to what happens to you. For example, God loves you and has given you the freedom to choose to accept or reject his gift of eternal life. But He will not save you against your will.

10% of life is what happens to you. 90% of life is how you respond to what happens to you.

10% of life is what happens to you. 90% of life is how you respond to what happens to you. For example, God loves you and has given you the freedom to choose to accept or reject his gift of eternal life. But He will not save you against your will.

For example, God loves you and has given you the freedom to choose to accept or reject his gift of eternal life. But He will not save you against your will.

GOD HAS GIVEN ME THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE. BUT I AM NOT FREE NOT TO CHOOSE.

BUT I AM NOT FREE NOT TO CHOOSE.

You can choose to reject His love. You can choose to blame Him for your circumstances. You can choose to rationalize away your need of Him. You can choose to try and manage life yourself.

But one thing you cannot choose… is not to choose. To try and avoid God is to choose to reject Him. Life is one continual choice after another. And the choices you make determine both your destiny and your legacy.

MY LEGACY IS ONE OF TWO LIFE COURSES

Moses puts it this way,

“I have given you the choice…BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH, BETWEEN BLESSINGS AND CURSES.” -

Not only do we tend to minimize the impact of our choices in determining our legacy, we also like to think that our choices give us multiple options.

We live in a relativistic culture where there is no objective right and wrong. And whatever is right for you and your circumstances is the important thing. Nothing is “black and white” anymore. Everything is a “shade of grey”.

Nothing is “black and white” anymore. Everything is a “shade of grey”. But God’s Word reminds you that every decision you make leads you down one of two life courses…life or death, blessings or curses.

But God’s Word reminds you that every decision you make leads you down one of two life courses…life or death… blessings or curses.

EVERY DECISION POINTS ME EITHER TOWARD ETERNAL LIFE OR ETERNAL DEATH.

The next time you are faced with a choice, before you make a decision ask yourself, “Where will this choice lead me?” Will it lead you closer to God or farther away from Him?

Will it lead you closer to God or farther away from Him? Your legacy is the culmination of seemingly small, insignificant choices; but each one is leading you either toward eternal life or eternal death. Choose eternal life.

Your legacy is the culmination of seemingly small, insignificant choices; but each one is leading you either toward eternal life or eternal death... Choose eternal life.

MY LEGACY IS WITNESSED BY ALL TO SEE

The next phrase of verse 19 says,

Deuteronomy 30:19 NLT

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!

“I CALL ON HEAVEN AND EARTH TO WITNESS THE CHOICE YOU MAKE.”

Every choice you make is not only witnessed by God, but also by a host of others. The Bible talks about “a cloud of witnesses” that are watching our lives from the grandstands of heaven as well as of earth.

And they are not jeering you, they are cheering you. They are not against you, they are for you. They are parents, pastors, your Church family, the angels themselves. They are like your fans in the stands cheering you on to victory.

They are the fans of you in the stands and they are cheering you on to victory.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up”

Hebrews 12:1 NLT

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

This is a specific sin that the writer of Hebrews is talking about. It is the sin of “unbelief”.

This is a specific sin that the writer of Hebrews is talking about. It is the sin of “unbelief”. We know that “without faith it is impossible to please God.” This is the corollary here, “with unbelief and doubt, it is impossible to please God.” As long as you doubt His love, His goodness, His power, and His grace, you will never trust Him. And if you hold God at arm’s length, you will never realize your ordained destiny and godly legacy.

We know that “without faith it is impossible to please God.” This is the corollary here, “with unbelief and doubt, it is impossible to please God.”

As long as you doubt His love, His goodness, His power, and His grace, you will never trust Him.

And if you hold God at arm’s length, you will never realize your ordained destiny and godly legacy.

“And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”

Hebrews 12:1 NLT

AND LET US RUN WITH ENDURANCE THE RACE THAT GOD HAS SET BEFORE US.” – (NLT).

This race of life is not a sprint, it is a marathon. And throughout that long race there are many pitfalls, pot-holes, and barriers along the path. From time to time you will trip and fall along the race. But when you are running a race and you fall, do you sit there and pout and feel sorry for yourself? No, you get back up and keep running because the “cloud of witnesses” is cheering you on. God your Father is watching from the grandstands with pride. And by His Spirit, Jesus Himself is running alongside of you. When you trip and fall He doesn’t run ahead. He stops and reaches out His hand to help you up again. The key to leaving a legacy is not to never fall. It is to get up every time you fall. Get up and finish the race God has set before you.

From time to time you will trip and fall along the race. But when you are running a race and you fall, do you sit there and pout and feel sorry for yourself? No, you get back up and keep running because the “cloud of witnesses” is cheering you on. God your Father is watching from the grandstands with pride. And by His Spirit, Jesus Himself is running alongside of you. When you trip and fall He doesn’t run ahead. He stops and reaches out His hand to help you up again. The key to leaving a legacy is not to never fall. It is to get up every time you fall. Get up and finish the race God has set before you.

But when you are running a race and you fall, do you sit there and pout and feel sorry for yourself? No, you get back up and you keep running because the “cloud of witnesses” is cheering you on.

No, you get back up and you keep running because the “cloud of witnesses” is cheering you on. God your Father is watching from the grandstands with pride. And by His Spirit, Jesus Himself is running alongside of you. When you trip and fall He doesn’t run ahead. He stops and reaches out His hand to help you up again. The key to leaving a legacy is not to never fall. It is to get up every time you fall. Get up and finish the race God has set before you.

God your Father is watching from the grandstands with pride. And by His Spirit, Jesus Himself is running alongside of you. When you trip and fall He doesn’t run ahead. He stops and reaches out His hand to help you up again.

The key to leaving a legacy is not to never fall. It is to get up every time you fall. And to get up and finish the race God has set before you.

When you trip and fall He doesn’t run ahead. He stops and reaches out His hand to help you up again. The key to leaving a legacy is not to never fall. It is to get up every time you fall. Get up and finish the race God has set before you.

MY LEGACY IS AN INFLUENCE UPON FUTURE GENERATIONS

Not only are past generations watching you from heaven, future generations are watching you from earth.

Moses wants us to realize that our choices not only affect us, but they affect our descendants.

“OH, THAT YOU WOULD CHOOSE LIFE, SO THAT YOU AND YOUR DESCENDANTS MIGHT LIVE!”

You don’t make choices in a vacuum. The Bible repeatedly reminds us that our choices have long-term implications for our families and generations to come.

I could give you example after example of the devastating influence an alcoholic parent has on their children.

Those who were raised in an abusive home are ten times more likely to be abusive to their children. These facts are not just social and psychological facts, they are Biblical facts.

Look at this verse,

“I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me.”

Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

There is an immutable law of sowing and reaping in life.

You are reaping the seeds your parents and grandparents have sown. And your children and your children’s children will reap the harvest of the seeds you are sowing.

Young people, the seeds of rebellion and sin that you sow in your life today directly affect your future spouse and children.

But the good news is this law of sowing and reaping also holds true when we sow seeds of obedience and righteousness.

Notice the last half of this verse,

New Living Translation Chapter 5

10 But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.

“But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.”

Some people read this verse and focus only on God’s wrath and conclude, “Why would a loving God punish the children for the sins of their parents for the third and fourth generation?”

I look at this verse and see God’s love and grace.

The result of a life of sin extends to the third and fourth generation. But the result of a life of loving obedience extends to a thousand generations!

Now that’s a great investment! That is a 1000x return on your investment!

God says, “Invest it in a godly legacy.” And this leads to the last principle I learn from this verse.

MY LEGACY IS SECURED THROUGH A LIFELONG COMMITMENT TO GOD

Moses puts it this way,

“You can make this choice by loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life.”

Deuteronomy 30:20 NLT

You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

New Living Translation Chapter 30

20 You can make this choice by loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life.

“CHOOSE TO LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD AND TO OBEY HIM AND COMMIT YOURSELF TO HIM, FOR HE IS YOUR LIFE.”

Moses gives us a key test to help us know what kind of legacy we are building.

Moses gives us a key test to help us know what kind of legacy we are building. Circle the phrase, “for he is your life.” We talk a lot about loving God, obeying God, and committing our lives to God. But the acid test of a true Christian is, “God is my life.” Is that true for you? Is it really? Is God your life?

We talk a lot about loving God, obeying God, and committing our lives to God.

But the acid test of a true Christian is if they can say, “God is my life.”

Is that true for you? Is it really? Is God your life?

You see, if your family is your life and you lose your family…you lose your life.

If your career is your life and you lose your career…you lose your life.

If your health is your life and you lose your health…you lose your life.

But if God is your life, nothing can separate you from His love.

If God is your life, you will never lose your life.

Jesus put it this way,

“WHOEVER WANTS TO SAVE THEIR LIFE WILL LOSE IT. BUT WHOEVER LOSES THEIR LIFE FOR ME WILL FIND IT.” –JESUS Matthew 16:25

When Jesus becomes your life, you are set free from sin’s grip over your life.

Every time you make a decision to love, obey, and commit to Christ, one more chain from your sinful past is broken off of you, and one more blessing is deposited in your account.

CONCLUSION:

Look at this last verse with me,

“CHRIST HAS SET US FREE TO LIVE A FREE LIFE. SO TAKE YOUR STAND! NEVER AGAIN LET ANYONE PUT A HARNESS OF SLAVERY ON YOU.” – (THE MESSAGE).

If you are young and you have your life before you today, “Choose life, that you and your descendants might live!”

If you are at mid-life and you have some regrets about the legacy you are leaving, “Choose life, that you and your descendants might live!”

If you are at the end of life and you feel that your legacy is already set, “Choose life, that you and your descendants might live!”

Regardless of how old you are, where you’ve been, and what you’ve done,

IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO START LEAVING A GODLY LEGACY.

Why not start today?

Let’s Pray:

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