Leaving a Legacy
// June 4th, 2007 // Family Life, Video
I preached at KCC again yesterday and thought I would give you the highlights and add a few additional thoughts as well.
One of my favorite characters in the Bible is Jacob. He was so terribly flawed and yet he managed to live his life in a way that produced a legacy that lasted far beyond his own reach. He understood that he needed blessing. He understood that he needed an inheritance.
He took advantage of Esau’s impetuous disdain for his birthright (Gen. 25:29-34), he lied to his father to steal his blessing (Gen. 27:18-29), and then ran from his angry brother like a coward (Gen. 27:41-46). Later Jacob wrestles with an angel for a blessing from God. This is the turning point in Jacob’s life. God renames Jacob as Israel. Jacob means “supplanter” or “deceiver”. God changed his very identity, and made him the headwaters of the river that flowed through history to produce the chosen people of God and the Messiah. How’s that for a legacy!
Interestingly, before his name is changed the angel asks, “What is your name?” Jacob replies, “I am Jacob.” This exchange reminds me of God calling out in Eden, “Adam, where are you?” He’s not looking for information, but rather a willful admission of guilt. In Jacob’s case, he was not just admitting to some mistakes but rather he was admitting that his very identity was flawed beyond repair. He needed it replaced entirely. Are we any different?
When Jacob wrestled with the angel and won the blessing, he was left with a permanent limp. He was forever marked by the struggle. His weakness was no longer hidden, but exposed. But instead of the weakness being a thing of shame, it was a mark of blessing. It was a badge of honor and a reminder of what God had done.
I often say that men and women who do not limp, have not yet wrestled with God. But we so often look at those around us and honor those that do not limp, and disregard those that do. We expect our salaried preachers to be spit polished models of perfect Christian Living who never cuss, yell at their kids, or watch Chuck Norris movies. Likewise, we put that same expectation on each other.
The result is that when God asks us, “What is your name?” we deny to God that we are flawed beyond repair. The wrestling never ends because we refuse to see who we really are. We want the blessing without the identity change. We never manage to carve out a legacy for ourselves and those that come after us. This is why children who are abused often become abusers. This is why children of alcoholic parents often become alcoholics themselves. This is why dysfunctional families beget more dysfunctional families. This is also, in part, why many churches perpetuate the same problems that keep them from growing year after year.
The good news is that all it takes is one person to wrestle with God, admit their flawed condition, and receive the new identity to impact the destiny of the generations that follow.
I closed with the following video called “I Was Here”.
[tags]Jacob, blessing, inheritance, angel, prosperity, children, fatherhood, motherhood, church life, church growth[/tags]
Great post and so true. You are going to be such a great pastor!
This is such an important message. I am so thankful that God chose to spare me and my family from the dysfunctional cycle we were in. Every now and then, I’m reminded of how far we’ve come, and I’m speechless. Those people at KCC are blessed to have Heather and you! BTW, she should guest blog for you again, I loved her posts.
You watch Chuck Norris Movies!? Heathen! J/K, when Emma was a baby, we had to keep the lights down in the afternoon, so she would open her eyes, thus sleeping at night. Judd and I watched Walker Texas Ranger almost every day. Now, when we see the reruns on, we laugh hysterically. We were sure she’d be a 4 year old blackbelt.
S… And imagine the gift you an Judd are giving your children and their children, etc. by following the path God has given you. Your grandkids will not have to start from a standstill like you had to, but will be able to pick up where you leave off. It’s an awesome thought.
I watched Walker the other day and cracked up too! His movies were so much better. I don’t know what happened. I think he got saved.
As for Heather, I’m trying to talk her into starting her own blog. She has a lot to say and I’m the only one that hears it! Go over to her posts and bug her about it… Maybe the two of us can convince her.
That’s great! I preached on Jacob twice this past weekend! Likewise, I have had some serious smackdown encounters with the Almighty and I deeply appreciate that God didn’t omit the unsavory or even scandalous characters like Jacob from the Bible. I mean really…think about it…Jacob was a lowdown deceiver and flat out liar! Imagine if he was YOUR little brother and duped you out of your inheritance and then masqueraded to be you in receiving the father’s all important blessing! Maybe it says something for Esau that he didn’t go the way of Cain…
There’s a quote from C.S. Lewis that goes something like this: “Beware the Christian leader who walks not with a limp.”
Amen.