By Darl Arbogast, Minister

The tracks we make on our journey on this earth are still in the sand so look behind you!

Our legacy is what we bequeath or pass on to those who come along after we have passed away; whether it is passed on voluntarily or otherwise by osmosis. Our family legacy is who we are or the person we may become. Our family legacy starts with those before us and it filters down through us toward those coming after us. Our legacy is an inescapable concept that follows us like a shadow, it is like the first cousin to our reputation. Our reputation lives with us now and in our community we are recognized either ‘for the good or not for the good’ among our acquaintances.

All of this goes back to 1 Corinthians 12 known as the gift chapter. God has given all of us gifts the question is are we willing to use them? Our gifts should be used with zeal giving God the credit for our success, even when trials come.

A factor we may want to consider is our home, our family structure, our way of life, our education, our children’s education, even our choice of religious education or persuasion.

Outside of the home are we involved in such things as: community work, volunteer for charitable causes or in community projects, teachers’ aids etc.? Visiting nursing homes, hospitals or taking time to visit the elderly and watching out for our neighbors. What are our hobbies and how do we spend our spare time: sporting events, fishing, hunting, ball games, etc.? We can all be an asset to our community by lending a hand and being a value to society on our walk on this earth.

Social media is destroying our flesh and blood relationships and wars are popping up everywhere, food shortage and famine are on the rise in several countries and coming here. It is known that war causes famine and disease.

Our country is in a terrible curse; we have an aging population on one hand and a low birth rate on the other. While abortion is rampant, so are drugs killing our people young and old; the gap is being filled by illegal immigration.

If we were to ask those we meet on the street daily ‘What
or who is God’? What would be their answer?

Isaiah 43:10-12 NKJ – “You are My witnesses,” says the LORD, “And My servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the LORD, and besides Me there is no savior. I have declared and saved, I have proclaimed, and there was no foreign god among you; therefore you are My witnesses,” says the LORD, “that I am God”.

Matthew 7:21-23 NKJ (Jesus said) – “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”

The parable of the wicked and lazy servant Matthew 25:14-29 NKJ – (Jesus said), “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two
more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I
was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.

In all of our doings do for His glory!

The greatest honor of all is to leave a legacy of faith and a legacy of self-sacrifice on behalf of others in the name of our Lord, Jesus the Christ.

God haste the day for His righteousness upon the earth.

God bless you in your efforts as you progress.

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This article appeared in the May-June 2024 edition of The Sabbath Sentinel and can be viewed at https://biblesabbath.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/SabbathSent0524_Proof.pdf

To learn more about The Bible Sabbath Association, visit https://biblesabbath.org/