No one is going to remember you when you die. This isn’t just an opinion of mine, it’s a statement backed up by statistics. According to Ancestry.com, half of Americans know the name of only one or neither of their great-grandparents. 22% of Americans don’t even know what their grandfathers do or did for a living.
No one is going to remember you when you die.
We are a people of today, who are very enamored with ourselves. We often view ourselves as the center of the action; we are the main character in a world filled with extras. Nothing could be further from the truth. To be brutally honest, the facts above show that 70 years after your death, it’s likely your life will not be remembered. If you are looking to leave a legacy of your own greatness and accomplishments, the odds are stacked heavily against you. Even if you are one of the select few who reach a legendary status, time has a way to erase even the giants among us.
…our lives and what we do are not the focal point. God is.
This isn’t supposed to be depressing; it is meant to be just the opposite. We can be encouraged because we are not the main story of humanity — our lives and what we do are not the focal point. God is. His redemptive plan for humanity, His love and His call is, “all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:4).
Do you want to leave a legacy? Do you want to live a life that has lasting effects? Partner with Him. God is the main character. He is the hero. We are, as James says, “a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:14). In spite of that truth, God still invites us to play a part in something much bigger.
He guides us through His Spirit to be a small part in the greatest story ever told.
It is difficult for me to comprehend how God invites us, His creation, to be used in His redemptive plan for mankind. Clearly it would be easier, quicker and more efficient to not even involve us. My wife and I had our first child in July. I cannot wait until I can teach my daughter things, patiently waiting and encouraging as she learns to feed herself, put away toys, tie her shoes, etc. I will undoubtedly be able to accomplish these things much faster by myself, but I know I will love slowing down and standing back, as she learns to do and accomplish things by herself. This is a similar picture of how I think God interacts with us. He allows us to be a part of His plan. He guides us through His Spirit to be a small part in the greatest story ever told.
My name will not be remembered by future generations. The little details of my life will not matter to people who are living 50 years after my death. However, the story that I have dedicated my life to telling, the story that God Himself has invited you and me into, will never be forgotten.
I get to be an extra in the story with one line to proclaim. Let it be the name of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Wanting to make the greatest impact you can with your life? Come join us for a Discipleship Training School to learn more about our God who invites us to be a part of the greatest story ever told.
