Your Legacy: Will It Make It Through The Fire?
Scripture: Matthew 6:19-21; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15
Introduction
This morning I want to talk with you about your legacy. This is the first Sunday of a new year and once again we have the unique opportunity to make changes to our lives so as not to repeat our failures of 2006. Last week I shared with you about peace, faith, love and hope. As you may recall, I told you that we are the hope for the world and it is our works within the world that brings hope to others. These "works" that we perform on a daily basis becomes our legacy – they will remain long after we have departed this world for the next. This morning I want you to think about your legacy.
Webster’s dictionary defines legacy as "money or property left to someone by a will; anything handed down as from an ancestor." In other words, a legacy is what you leave behind. It could be money and/or property and it could be the acts that you did that helped someone else; those things which others will remember about you. The latter is the focus of my message today and as is common with me, I will take the left field approach in hope that it will make this more memorable for you. Please come with me as we attend the funerals of three individuals named Larry, Paula and John.
I. Three Funerals
Larry: Larry grew up in a home with a God-fearing mother and a father that did not have time for all of that "religious non-sense". Although Larry was forced to go to Church as a child, his attitude was more like his father’s. Because of this attitude, as soon as he was old enough, he stopped going to Church and began to live his life. Larry lived his life to the fullest, for there was nothing that he would not try or experiment with until the day he died. During his life he only worked part-time jobs to support his "night life." Shortly before he died, Larry had an experience that changed him internally. He was lying in bed one night thinking of something he’d heard in Church as a child. He’d heard that Jesus loved the sinner and for some reason he could not get that out of his mind. That night while lying on his bed, Larry repented. He did not live long enough to share his experience because he died of a heart attack two days later at the age of 30. His mother decided not to have a funeral, but a grave side service only. Larry did not have any true friend and so only his family attended the services. The minister stood before the family and said a few words about living right and closed with a prayer. The mother was crying heavily over the lost of her son. There were no songs, no long lines of people to tell stories about things that Larry had done, it was just his family.
Paula: Paula was a hard worker in the Church. She sung in the choir, was an usher, assisted the trustees, helped with the announcements, everything. If there was a ministry to be involved in she was there. She would sit on the front row and was always the loudest in saying "amen" during the sermons. When something was not right within the Church, Paula would point it out and demand repentance for all those involved. Two weeks before she died, Paula grew ill from a viral infection. As she thought about her illness, she decided to write out what she wanted at her funeral (she felt it was best to be prepared just in case.) She listed everyone she wanted on the program and what should be in the obituary. On her last night, she fell asleep and did not wake up. Paula’s funeral was elaborate. All of the big named preachers around town were in attendance. There were songs and poems and all sorts of comments being made about how wonderful a Church worker she was. People were crying and shouting as the services went on for 3 hours. When the services concluded, everyone thought her funeral was one of the best they had attended in years and was befitting of someone who worked so hard in the Church.
John: John was active in the Church although he did not do half of the things that Paula did as far as working "within" the church. He was not one of those who were always up before the congregation, he preferred to be in the background. His funeral was ordinary without a lot of fanfare. None of the big named preachers in town came, it was just an ordinary service for an ordinary Christian. After his funeral, there were a lot of people who came up to his wife and shared with her how John had blessed them. Their revelation about John’s kindness brought peace to her grieving heart.
Each of these individuals lived their lives as they chose. Each had contact with people on a daily basis. All three had opportunities to impact the lives of others. All three left a legacy behind. Before we move on to what happened to these three in eternity, I want to share with you two scriptures that I want you to write down and keep in your hearts.
II. Treasures Tried By Fire
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon the earth where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Matthew 6:19-21
Jesus said that our treasures should be stored in heaven, not here on earth. If you remember one of Webster’s definitions of legacy involves leaving "money or property" behind for your heirs. This for many people is the only legacy that they will leave behind. However, this is not the legacy that Christ was referring to. What we do here on earth for others stores up for us in heaven. That is why our enemy works so hard to keep us focusing in on ourselves and our problems. Consider the verses found in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15:
"For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built upon it remains, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire."
1Corinthians 3:11-15
In these verses Paul tells us that the only true foundation is Christ and it is this foundation that everything else must be built on. Regardless of my talents and gifts, if they are not built on and utilized on a foundation of Christ, they mean nothing. Paul says that our works will be tried by fire and those that come through the fire and not burned up will remain and lead to our rewards. What he is referencing is not salvation, but the rewards we will receive in addition to our salvation. Verse 15 explains that although your works may not stand up to the fire, if you have truly accepted Christ, you will still be saved but your rewards will be lost.
(Let me say up front that the following illustration is only for the purposes of this sermon and should not be taken literally for doctrine in this format.) Let’s look forward in time to Larry, Paula and John as they arrive at the judgment seat of Christ.
III. The Judgment Seat
Larry, Paula and John all stand in line before the judgment seat of Christ. As they move through the line, they notice several things. First, each person is given a bag. Further down the line, their bag is taken from them and placed in a fire. When the bag is removed from the fire, the contents that remain are given to the person and they take it before Christ. Christ takes what they have and gives them something in return. Neither Larry, Paula nor John knew what this all meant. As they moved further down the line, Larry received his bag and noticed that it was mildly heavy. He asked the angel what was in the bag and the angel replied "Your works from earth that must go through the fire." Larry immediately dropped his head because he knew that he had wasted his life on earth and knew that Christ would reject him and send him to hell.
Paula, upon hearing what the angel said to Larry, smiled broadly as she thought about all of the things she had done in the Church. She knew her bag would be large and heavy and that she would have a lot of "works" to present to Christ. When she received her bag she noticed with dismay that her bag was the same size as Larry’s. When she questioned the angel he replied to her "It is not the size of the bag that counts, but the quality of the content within the bag. All of the bags in heaven are the same size – it’s the content that is different." Paula took her bag and proudly moved further down the line. When John received his bag he hung his head and said thank you, knowing that he did not do a lot of works within the Church. As they made their way further down the line, they came to the furnace. Larry gave his bag of earthly works to the angel. The angel placed it in the fire and everything was burned. When the angel removed what was left from the fire, only ashes remained. Larry had nothing to present to Christ. Larry hung his head as he moved forward in the line to meet his maker. Paula was next to give the angel her bag. Although she felt pity for Larry, she was glad that she had done all of those works in her Church. As she gave the angel her bag, she began to recount in her mind all of the things she had accomplished during her lifetime. When the angel removed the contents from the fire, all that was left was one small, solid gold piece. Paula was shocked. All of her works converted to one small gold piece. Finally John gave the angel his bag and waited for the ashes to be returned to him. When the angel removed the contents from the fire, John was given ten, medium size gold pieces that made it through the fire. John was surprised, but Paula was even more surprised.
As they made their way before the judgment seat of Christ, all were caught up in their own thoughts. When they got to the front of the line, Larry stepped forward as his name was called. He could not look at Jesus for he knew what his fate would be. Jesus stood and stepped down from his throne and walked up to Larry. He lifted his face and smiled at him. He said these words to Larry, "Larry, My child, although you did not received any additional rewards, you are My child and you will remain forever with Me." With that, Larry was escorted into Christ’s kingdom. Paula’s name was called next. When she stood before Jesus, she was embarrassed that she only had one small gold piece to give Him. Jesus took the piece from Paula and gave her the reward she was due. Paula asked Jesus why her reward was so small when she spent all of her adult her life working in the Church. Jesus told Paula "My child, truly you worked hard for years in the Church, but you were not doing it for Me. Those works you did for yourself and you received your rewards on earth for those works when you received the praise of men. However, before you were firmly established in your church work, you did things privately to help others. You visited the sick and fed the homeless. Those deeds you did for Me and for those you are rewarded. Enter My child into My kingdom." Paula understood and was escorted into Christ’s kingdom. Finally John’s name was called. He looked confused as he gave Jesus the ten gold pieces he received. Jesus saw his confusion as asked him what was wrong. John explained to Jesus that he did not understand how he had earned any rewards as he did not do a whole lot in the Church. He was not a minister, deacon, trustee or usher. He did not sing in the choir or teach Sunday school. Jesus smiled at John and said: "My child, you did more for me than you understood. You fed those who were hungry; you gave to the poor; your visited the sick; you comforted those who were hurting; you took people into your home when they needed it; you listened when people called you needing someone to talk to. All of these thing and more, you did in My Name out of your love for Me. Here is your reward; now enter into My kingdom." John was escorted into Christ’s kingdom.
Conclusion
All three received eternal life, yet their rewards were different. Under normal circumstances, most would have selected Paula as the one who would receive the most rewards in heaven based on everything she did within the Church, but that is not always the case. Yes church work is important, but what is more important is the reason for the work. Are you working for you, for your own glory or legacy, or are you truly working for Christ.
I want to close with this series of questions that I received in an email. This email and a conversation I had with a friend of mine this week inspired this message. Please raise your hands if you know the answers to the following questions:
1. Can you name the five wealthiest people in the world?
2. Can you name the last five Heisman trophy winners?
3. Can you name the last five winners of the Miss America contest?
4. Can you name ten Academy Award winners for best actor and actress?
5. Can you name the last’s decade’s worth of World Series winners?
If you were like me, you could not answer any of those five questions completely and that is the point. Most of us do not remember the headliners of yesterday. Although these are no second-rate achievers and are the best in their field, the applause dies; awards tarnish and achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners. Now, please raise your hands if you can answer the following questions:
1. Can you list a few teachers who aided your journey through school?
2. Can you name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time?
3. Can you name five people who have taught you something worthwhile?
4. Can you think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special?
5. Can you name five people you enjoy spending time with?
My final point is this: the people who make a difference in our lives are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money or the most awards. They are the ones that care; they care about us as individuals.
These acts of kindness that come from our love for Christ is what will be recorded and preserved when we stand before Christ. Anything that you do for your own glory and praise will not make it through the fire. It does not matter how many awards you have when you die; how much money you have in the bank or the size of your house. All of it means nothing when you stand before Christ. What will be your legacy for 2007 and beyond? How many lives will you touch this year in the name of Christ?
May God continue to bless you and your family.
