[2020 Series] Legacy: Limited or Launched?預覽

Legacy

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the word legacy as “a gift by will, especially of money or other personal property,” and “something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past.” Have you ever asked yourself, “What is my legacy? What will people say about me once I am gone?” It is not something we think about too often. Still, we do wonder whether the work of our hands is not only making an impact on our generation, but also in the ones to come. 

Thousands of years ago, one of the most famous kings of Judah, Hezekiah, was faced with a terrifying word regarding his legacy. Most of us go through life just wondering about our legacy, but Hezekiah got to hear about it before leaving this world. The message was not encouraging. He made a big mistake with terrible consequences.

Hezekiah was an amazing king. It was said of him that he did what was right in the Lord’s eyes. The Bible tells us that there was no one like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him (2 Kings 18:5 ESV). 

Nevertheless, just like us, he was not perfect; he struggled with pride, and God got his attention. After Hezekiah recovered from a severe illness by the power of God, the king of Babylon sent envoys with letters and a present. In order to make them feel welcome, he showed them all his treasure house and everything that was stored in his storehouses (2 Kings 20:13). The Bible goes on to say that there was nothing in his house or in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them. 

As a result, God sent the prophet Isaiah with a word for king Hezekiah, “Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up till this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left...” (2 Kings 20:17 ESV). 

Hezekiah’s pride cost him and his heirs everything! He forgot that everything he had belonged to the Lord. God had prospered him; he was just an administrator. Recognizing God as our Lord, or failing to do so, will be the reason why our legacy will be limited or launched. The choice is ours!