Just a few days ago, I attended the funeral of a friend who died of cancer last week. Although funerals are always a time of sadness, the service was also a celebration of this lady's life and of her faith in God. Such times always make me think about my own "legacy:" what would I like to be remembered for when my own time comes?
In a sense, a funeral is like an ending: it brings an end to someone's life on earth. This week in my quiet time, I was reading the story of a new beginning: in Nehemiah chapter 7 verses 1 -2, we read about the new season that began when the people of Israel had finished rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. "New doors" (gates) were put in place, and different kinds of people were appointed to guard the city (gatekeepers) and to keep its focus on the Lord (singers and Levites.) A man called Hananiah was appointed - because he was a person of integrity and "he feared God more than most men do." (vs 2, NIV)
In just a few weeks' time, "new doors" will be opening for me and I will be moving to live in Spain. I have no idea how long I will live there, but as I look into the future, I know that this is the legacy that I pray for. Just like Hananiah, I want to be remembered as someone who loved and honoured God "more than most people do." This is the deepest desire of my heart.
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