What Is Your Heritage?

I am not talking about what you have received but what you will leave.  Webster’s dictionary defines heritage as something handed down from one’s ancestors or the past as a characteristic, a culture or a tradition.  What kind of heritage are you leaving?  Ecclesiastes 3:22 says, “So I perceived that nothing is better than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his heritage [portion].  For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?”  This was written by the richest man who ever lived, Solomon.  He had obtained what many today are searching for.  He had great wisdom, immense wealth and was famous around the world, yet he was not satisfied in life. 

When we read through Ecclesiastes we see his attitude; all is vanity.  Riches and fame are nothing.  It all passes away.  You can collect money and possessions for all of your life but they will not be your inheritance. Solomon did not find happiness in his possessions or in his popularity.  He said a man should rejoice in his works for this is heritage.  You will never enjoy your heritage beyond this life.  All that we do must be for an eternal impact. 

So what are you doing?  Is there something that you are doing that makes an eternal impact?  A believer should be able to rejoice in their works if they have them.  Nothing excites me more than seeing that I have made a difference in someone’s life.  Truly, I rejoice when I have done something significant for the Kingdom of God.  It is not prideful to rejoice in your works for God.  It is prideful, however, to take credit for what God does though you. 

In many Christians, I see those living mundane lives that have little eternal significance.  They come to church, profess themselves as Christian but do little for the Kingdom of God.  Their lives are wrapped in the rituals of life.  They make more to spend more and busy themselves with trivial things that make no eternal impact.  My friend, the believer is called to live a life that is more than the temporal things of this life.  God has created every one of us to be all that we can be in Him.  He has destined each one of us to find our place in building His Kingdom.

Recently, I had a former co-worker who lived his life in anticipation of retirement.  I had many conversations with him about life after his work in the plant.  He would share his goals and dreams of how he planned to retire in a few years and live happily ever after.  He was buried last year, only a short time before he planned to retire.  All those dreams went down the tube, but where did that “kingdom” that he built go.  Solomon said, “Then I hated all my labor in which I toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me.”

I have ministered in many funerals and as I walk through the cemetery I look at the dates of people’s births and their deaths (ex. 1926-2003).  This is a memorial to them.  In many years, however, they may be forgotten.  The most important part is not their birthday or their departure, but rather the dash that is in the middle.  What they did in the in between years?  Right now you are living the dash.  What type of legacy will you leave?  Can you rejoice in your works now or is their nothing to rejoice about? 

One day we will stand before the glorified Christ and be judged according to our works or the lack thereof.  My ultimate goal is not to build a big church or an international ministry.  My ultimate goal is to build God’s kingdom and hear Him say, “Well done, My good and faithful servant.”  I challenge you make an impact in this life and forget the trivial mundane things of life.  Pursue the things that will last for eternity.

This week we celebrate the greatest day of the Christian faith.  Easter!  It is the day that we know that Christ was raised from the dead to ensure us eternal life.  It is more than a mere celebration for one day…it should be a celebration everyday.  Christ rose from the dead.

This Sunday we have a great day planned.  Special music, Worship, Illustrated Message and more.  You do not want to miss it.  Invite someone to church.

There are a few perks to being a pastor.  I was working late last night when Sonya got a text message from one of our church members.  It said, “Warm Chocolate cake right out of oven, can you come pick it up?”  At 8:30 last night we took a drive for the cake.  It pays to be a pastor.  The only bad part is, I have been on a DIEt.  Oh Well, I ate it.  After all I would hate to hurt feelings:)

We arrived back home about 3:15 this afternoon.  What a welcome sight!  We had a good visit with Sonya’s family and we enjoyed much rest while we were gone.  It is always good to get back home and back to work. 

We come back to a busy week at RFA.  This is Holy Week!  We are leading up to Easter next Sunday.  All week, we will be meeting together with the Rogers Ministerial Alliance from 12:15-12:45 for joint services at Oakley Chapel United Methodist Church.  I encourage you to take your lunch hour, if possible, and visit these services.  They will be serving a light lunch daily.

RFA will be conducting the service on Wednesday.  We will be providing for the lunch that day as well.  If you would like to help prepare the food, call the office on Monday and let us know.  The food will need to be at our church by 11:00am and we will take it to Oakley Chapel before the service.

We are glad to be back to Rogers.  We love Northwest Arkansas and often thank God for allowing us to serve in ministry here.  We love our church family and missed you very much while we were away.

The government takeover of healthcare, what next?  I am not going to say much here but this is only the beginning.  The cartoon below may be where we are headed.

On the second day of Spring, it was cold and snowy.  Since yesterday we have received about ten inches of snow.  It is beautiful outside but it did affect our crowd today.  Although we had a third of our people, the presence of the Lord was in our service.  If you were not able to make it today, the message is posted on our website.