Life V: Legacy

One of the saddest periods in Israel’s history is found in the Book of Judges found in the Old Testament of the Holy Bible, which tells us that "a generation grew up that knew neither the Lord nor what He had done for Israel." (Judges 2:10).  Because of this, they were unable to resist the influences of the nations around them.  It shows us this repeatedly.  In just ONE generation, Israel forgot they were God’s chosen people and gave their hearts to other gods.  Why?  Because their forefathers didn't pass down the stories and Commandments of God.  They didn't pass down a love for God.  This is one of the primary roles of the family of faith.  The church is made up of many generations.  Some of us who have lived longer have great stories of faith; of hope in tragedy; of grace in suffering; of glimpses of glory.  We've learned to love and trust God by experience.  But love and trust for God that we learned by experience is meant to be passed down from generation to generation.  Psalm 78:5-6 says: "He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children."  The lesson is clear...  If we don’t transmit our knowledge of God to the next generation, it will be lost.  Those that follow may not have any means of regaining it, and they probably won’t even be aware of the need to do so. 

This is the fourth sequel to my to my article entitled: "Life: how to look at it..."   In my article: "Life: how to look at it...", I looked at the possible "meaning of life" or in what way to look at our lives.  In my first sequel of that article entitled: "Life II: 'The Butterfly Effect'," I touched on how much our lives matter and much influence we as individuals really have.  In the second sequel of that article entitled: "Life III: 'It happens!'," I discussed chance events and how those chance events can show us that life doesn't always turn out exactly as you planned (long or short term).  In my third sequel, I addressed a part of life's progression that every human being eventually deals with, which was: the road not taken.  After all, we all have a "road not taken," since choices and chances are part of life.  I pointed out that life is a road.  And not just ONE road, but one of MANY roads.  As a result of those many roads, part of life is choices; choices we make freely; choices we make that affect the course of our lives.  This brings me to the fourth sequel (this article).  Only this time, the philosophical standpoint I will be addressing will not be the road NOT taken but the road TAKEN.  As we know, on our life's journey, once one has taken a certain road, there's no turning back.  Although one might change paths later on, they still can't change the past.  It shows that "choice" is very important, and is a thing to be considered.  You have to pick "what the best road" will be in your life and forgetting about the other path (i.e. the road not taken).  There are times in life when we have to make choices and we can never go back to that time and change our choices.  So, we make the best choice we can according to how we feel and what we think is right for us, and then make the best of that choice.  And just as life's journey has a beginning of which we cannot choose, it also has an ending of which we CAN choose.  But what I'm speaking of is not death.  The choosing of how we end life's journey happens long before death.  How, where, and when we die is not our choice, nor is it known to us.  But want we DO know is that anything we possess and even earn, we can't take with us when we pass away.  1 Timothy 6:7 says: "For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it."  So, when we pass away, everything we have and everyone we know are left behind.  We all begin life with a clean slate, and all roads lead to a final rendezvous; the difference is what we do en route.  Paths chosen, actions taken, and a host of decisions made lead ultimately to a unique mark you make on the world.  It's non-negotiable: You will leave a "legacy."  Every human on this Earth will leave behind a idiosyncratic legacy. The question is: what legacy will you leave?  Do you hope to be remembered in a positive way?  Most of us do.  So, then, we must ask ourselves: are we living our lives to reflect the legacy we want to leave behind?  Most humans find the idea of "leaving a legacy behind" intriguing.  It is a natural human thought to want to feel as though we have an identity and that our place on this Earth truly matters.   As you age, the clock and the calendar force us to make a move.  Time does not permit dallying with options.  Our goals must be clear, responsibilities fulfilled, intentions and actions honorable.  We only live once, but once is enough if we do it right by living a life with class and dignity.  It is an emotional question for many and a reminder of our own mortality.  However, the answer is simpler than most believe.  If you were to evaluate the last 10 years of your life and its various stages, what is the story you would tell others about your legacy?  If others told the story, would the same narrative hold true?  Based on the narrative, what would the next 10 years look like?  Do others know the real you and what you represent?   Let's look further into what a "legacy" actually is...

Legacy is from the Greek "κληρονομιά," or "klironomia," translating further into the Latin "hereditas," meaning "heritage" or "inheritance."  Makes sense, doesn't it?  When we think of "leaving a legacy," what do we generally think of?  One of the things we think of is: inheritance, right?  After all, "inheritance" is a synonym for the word: "legacy."  The legal definition of it is: a gift of property by will or testament to denote the disposition of either personal or real property in the event of death.  It could be a Specific Legacy (such as a piece of real estate or a described object of personal property) or a General Legacy (such as a sum of money or a number of objects identified generically).  In either case, it is a bequest or endowment to someone after you pass away.  For a child, it is their inheritance once their parent(s) pass away.  Now, the Holy Bible is no stranger to the word: "inheritance."  We see the word: "inheritance"  220 times the the NIV of the Holy Bible (201 times in the Old Testament and 19 times in the New Testament).  King Solomon said in Proverbs 13:22: "A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous."  What this basically means is that the servant of God who is not anxious about riches, takes the best method of providing for his children.  And not only his children but his children's children.  So, he not only has a sufficiency for the present support of himself and his family, but also to prosper and succeed as to leave an inheritance after him; and which is continued to and enjoyed, not only by his immediate offspring, but theirs also.  There's a certain joy people have when they become grandparents.  Even if you're not a grandparent, King Solomon makes it perfectly clear in Proverbs 17:6.  Another way to look at legacy is our children themselves.  My parents can say that they left behind a legacy by the name of: Ronald Cromes, Jr.  That would be me!  But there's more to legacies than our children, right?  After all, some people not only do not become grandparents but they do not become parents, either.  That doesn't mean you can't leave behind a legacy.  So, what other definition is there?  Well, another definition of "legacy" is: something that someone has achieved that continues to exist after they stop working (retire) or die.  So, it is the principle that an action or a thing which exists as a result of something that happened in the past can later be used in a different way.  

Egypt left a lasting legacy.  Art and architecture were copied and antiquities paraded around the world, and monumental ruins have inspired the imaginations of tourists and writers for centuries.  The achievements of the ancient Egyptians include a mathematical system, surveying and construction technique which facilitated the building of monumental pyramids, temples, obelisks.  An effective system of medicine, new forms of literature and agricultural production techniques.

Greece left a lasting legacy.  They are the founders for the alphabets, the Olympics, theater, the trail by jury, and geometry.  Their construction to modern sports, mathematics, writing, language, and the stage has had a lasting effect all over the world.  They also made a contribution to Medicine.  Hippocrates, who down through the centuries has been considered to be the "Father of Medicine," founded the first medical school and encouraged students to interpret the symptoms carefully.  In fact, that is where the "Hippocratic Oath" comes from.  Also, to Architecture, with their development of columns and construction with marble.  

The Roman Empire left a last legacy.  They made the "Leap Year" on the Julian calendar.  They used the Latin language (which is the basis of modern Italian, French, Romanian, Castellano or Spanish, Portuguese, and and Catalan, plus 50% of the words in English).  Today the Latin Script, the script of the Latin alphabet spread by the Roman Empire to most of Europe, and derived from the ancient Greek alphabet, is the most far-spread and commonly used script in the world.  They contributed to architecture such as building arches, domes, highways, aqueducts, and indoor plumbing.  They created the legal system (Latin terminology is still used today) and Christianity spread, since Emperor Theodosius I (379-395 A.D.), the official state church of the Roman Empire was Christianity.  Constantine the great (306–337 A.D.) was the first Emperor to stop Christian persecutions and to legalize Christianity along with all the other cults in the Roman Empire in 313 A.D.  Constantine—as the first Christian Emperor—is a significant figure in the history of Christianity.  The Church of the Holy Sepulcher, built on his orders at the purported site of Jesus' tomb in Jerusalem, became the holiest place in all of Christendom.  The titles "Czar" and "Kaiser" both come from "Caesar." 

As you may see in the Holy Bible, a lot of people had more legacies than just their children or the inheritance they left for them.  Adam & Eve were the first humans and the ancestors of the human race.  Cain became the first man to be "born," the first Farmer, the first murderer, the first fugitive, and the first city-builder.  He was also the first man to fall under a curse, suffering from body tremors.  Interpretations extend Cain's curse to his descendants, where they all died in the Great Deluge as retribution for the loss of Abel's potential offspring.  Abel became the first Shepherd, the first man to be murdered, and the first martyr.  The Apostle Paul was the first bridged the gap between Jews and Gentiles by demonstrating that the way of Jesus was open to anyone, regardless of ancestry.  The Apostle Peter became the first Pope of the Catholic Church.  Moses wrote the Torah, and thus, the first five books of the Holy Bible, and is responsible for our understanding of God’s requirements and early human history.  He becomes the first Judge of Israel.  Abraham became the first Rabbi and first monotheist, father of faith, and ancestor of nations.  Saul became the first King of Israel.  David became the most beloved King of Israel.  Solomon became the wisest King in Israel's history.  Like Elijah and Elisha, Isaiah became one of the most influential prophets in the Hebrew Bible.  During his career, Isaiah advises several kings of Judah, helping them to avoid being destroyed by the mighty Assyrian Empire.  Josiah became one of the greatest kings to ever rule Israel, started his reign when he was only 8 years old.  The Book of the Law which had been neglected and hidden for years was found and Josiah read the Book of the Law publicly and made a covenant with the Lord along with his people (2 Kings 23:3) to obey the Lord with all of his heart and soul.  Consequently, there was a renewal of faith and religious practice among the Jewish people.  Esther (originally had the Persian name of  "Hadassah") was the Jewish wife of Persian king who was responsible for the delivery of  75,000 Jews and an annual feast, the Feast of Purim, in memory of their deliverance.  Gideon was called by God to deliver Israel from Midianite and Amalekite oppression and used only 300 men and surrounded the camp of Israel's enemies.  Deborah was a prophetess of the God of the Israelites, the fourth and only female Judge of pre-monarchic Israel, a counselor, and the wife of Lapidoth (of the tribe of Ephraim).  She led a successful counterattack against the forces of Jabin king of Canaan.  Getting into Minor Prophets, Hosea warned Israel about their adultery, idolatry and drunkenness.  Habakkuk gave prophecies concerning destruction of Chaldean and against greed, graft, idolatry and aggression.  Haggai gave prophecies concerning the restoration of Jerusalem's temple and the neglect of those rebuilding it.  Jonah was a prophet best known for "being swallowed up by a great fish," but his legacy was that he warns the city of Nineveh of their impending judgment for their sins, they heed his words, repent, and are spared destruction.  Joel gave prophecies regarding God's as yet future judgment and punishment of mankind, which is parallel to what is in the Book of Revelation.  Daniel did the same thing.  Aside from writing the Book of Daniel, he was a prophet who had visions including the coming of Christ and the End Times.  Micah gave prophecies concerning lack of justices, lack of justice, and oppression in the world.  Malachi gave prophecies regarding being prepared for God's Messenger, Jesus Christ and spoke against divorce, adultery, priestly neglect of duties, and robbing God by not tithing.  The Apostle John took care of Mary mother of Jesus (at Jesus' request) until her dying day, was the bishop of seven churches in Ephesus, and wrote the Gospel of John, three Epistles, and the Book of Revelation.  And Jesus?  Jesus left the biggest and greatest legacy of them all.  The entire Holy Bible is centered around Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, our Lord and Savior, the God Man, the solution to the problems caused by our own waywardness.  Jesus' story is told in the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  

So, after all is said and done, your legacy on this Earth consists solely of what you have felt or done to support your core beliefs, and how those beliefs have affected those around you.  It is not just heredity, fate, or circumstances that determine your legacy— it is you.  So, what memories will you leave behind for people to reflect on when you die?  While you’re not going to live forever, you can live on through the legacy you leave and the positive impact you make in the world.  You have a choice.  You can lift others up or bring them down.  Twenty years from now, when people think of you, what do you want them to remember?  The way you encouraged them or discouraged them?  You see, legacies go way beyond bequests of provision in your Will, 401K's, IRA's, life insurance, and charitable gift annuities.  Yes, it is wise to leave behind worldly legacies like money, property, estate, and even personal sentimental items that you hold dear to your heart for your children (or anybody of the next generation) to fall back on.  And yes, it is just "stuff;" "material things."  I find it comforting to know that I have some things that my dad (God rest his soul) owned.  I'm sure he'd be quite thrilled to know that I have it and cherish it.  But there's a more important type of legacy.  It's something bigger and something better than any worldly inheritance that could ever be bestowed upon you.  It is what is known as a Godly legacy.  Now, how do you leave behind a Godly legacy?  Well, Psalm 33:12 says: "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance."  And WHY are the nations who choose the Lord as their God blessed?  Because it says in Psalm 37:18: "The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care, and their inheritance will endure forever."  God's love endures forever (1 Chronicles 16:34 & 41; 2 Chronicles 5:13, 7:3, 7:6, 20:21; Ezra 3:11; Psalm 100:5, 106:1, 107:1, 117:2, 118:1-4 & 29, 136:1-26; and Jeremiah 33:11).  So, if we leave a Godly legacy for future generations on Earth, we will receive an inheritance in Heaven.  How do you attain an inheritance in Heaven?  Well, we know that nobody is perfect — nobody on Earth is righteous (Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:10 & 20) and that we have all "sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23).  Sin is that which is opposed to God.  It is rebellion against God's rule and results in eternal separation from Him in Hell.  The consequence of sin is death (Romans 6:23).  Because God is life (i.e. He is the only eternally existent Being and therefore contains existence within Himself) (Exodus 3:14; John 8:58, and 14:16), the result of sin is lack of life — or death.  This not only refers to physical death, but to eternal separation from God in Hell (Isaiah 59:2).  But Jesus took our sins when He died on the Cross.  Isaiah 57:5 says: "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."  2 Corinthians 5:21 says: "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."  So, Jesus traded His righteousness for our sins (i.e. everybody's sins; past, present, and future).  Jesus took our sins and gave us His righteousness, if we were to personally receive it.  And why?  Because, as John 3:16-17 says: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."  And how did God "save the world through Jesus?"  It was by "Grace."  Ephesians 2:8-9 says: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast."  Now, what exactly does it mean to be "Saved?"  Well, "Saved" by definition is: rescued and protected from the power and consequences of sin.  How are we rescued and protected from the power and consequences of sin?  By Grace!  What is Grace?  "Grace" is defined as: the free and unmerited favor or beneficence of God.  So, in other words, receiving grace means that we are given a generous gift of preferential treatment shown by God for nothing (free), even though we don't deserve it (unmerited).  Think about it...  What is a "gift?"  A gift is defined as: a thing given willingly to someone without the expectation of payment.  It is something free and something you did not earn.  If you DID earn it, wouldn't be a "gift," it would be a "reward."  A reward is defined as: a thing given in recognition of one's service, effort, or achievement.  In other words, you EARNED it.  But grace is not "the REWARD of God," it is "the GIFT of God."  Once you ask Jesus to come into your life as your Lord and Savior, you don't earn eternal life, you inherit eternal life (Matthew 19:29; Mark 10:17; Luke 10:25 and 18:18).  We attain an inheritance in Heaven.  We do get "rewards" stored in Heaven, but only AFTER we are "saved by grace" and become Christians.  So, what do we need to do to leave a Godly legacy for the generations to come?  Well, first, it must start with your devotion to God.  Your legacy begins in your heart and your response to God.  Psalm 112:1-2 says: "Praise the Lord.  Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands.  Their children will be mighty in the land;the generation of the upright will be blessed."  The Ten Commandments — which are not the "Ten Suggestions" or "Ten Opinions "— is our blueprint for life in how to build good memories with our families, co-workers, neighbors, church, communities and most of all with God.  And young people, it is not too early for you to give thought to the legacy you will leave behind.  In Ecclesiastes 12:1, it reminds us: "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth,before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, 'I find no pleasure in them'—"  Live a life that fears, loves, obeys and respects your Creator, God the Father.  If you do this, you will leave a great legacy for your family, friends, and neighbors — and great will be your reward in God’s Kingdom.

Now, what is your "reward in the Kingdom of Heaven?"  Well, we know it is a Godly inheritance.  But how do we know a Godly inheritance from a worldly inheritance?  Well, in 1 Peter 1:4, it says: "and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.  This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,".  In fact, Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-20: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."  So, we know that it is an inheritance that cannot be "taken away" or "destroyed."  Jesus said in Matthew 25:34-36, while he was comparing and contrasting the "sheep" on His right from the "goats" on His left, He said that (as far as the sheep were concerned): "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world."  What will our rewards be like in Heaven?  According to Matthew 5:12 and Luke 6:23, our rewards will be "rich and great and strong and intense and abundant" (AMP).

As I am writing this article, I, of course, must ask myself this same personal question.  What legacy will I leave behind?  What can I do to be remembered in a positive way?  Am I living a life to reflect the legacy I want to leave behind?  I thought long and hard about my life and my journey thus far.  I happily came up with things about myself that I am very proud will be part of my legacy, even though there are also things I would like to change.  I, personally, am passionate about my writing.  I want everyone close to me to read everything that I ever wrote, but that's not possible. Yet I keep pushing on and worked hard to make a name for myself in the "writing world."  I have written dozens of articles right here on Facebook.  For all I know, somebody on the other side of the world becomes intrigued at something I wrote and may learn something.  I may never know it, but in some small way, maybe I have made and will make a difference.  Although I never had children of my own, in some ways, I am "like" a "dad" to my nieces and nephews, and a friend to any students I've taught.  Shannon L. Alder once said: "Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones.  A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you."  I want to be a reminder that you should keep going when things get hard.  If I learned anything through my own hardships and challenges, it’s that I was stronger than I ever thought.  Throughout my adult life, I've endured inordinate hardships like financial struggles, career changes, job losses, moving to a new states—all challenging—all tested me in ways I never could have imagined.  And yet, I came out on the other side stronger than did before going in, and I will again when the next challenge pops up.  I want to remind people not to think about how you will find the strength; instead, just keep moving and the strength will come.  Looking at what I have taken in from others and also what I have learned from my own experiences has been a powerful exploration of who I am and what I hope to leave behind.  The Apostle Paul was shipwrecked and beaten with rods three times, stoned once, and imprisoned twice in Rome (that we know of), but he refused to quit.  In fact, he thrived on his persecution.  He even said in 2 Timothy 3:12: "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,".  In the Garden of Gethsemane, the devil wanted Jesus to give up.  Praise God He did not quit!  Refusing to quit may be one of the hardest things a person ever does and greatest acts of spiritual warfare that you will ever experience.  So, if I were to, personally, give advice to the generations after me, it would be THIS... No matter which stage in life you are in, allow God to be the center around which your life revolves.  At the outset of your life: make God, not success, your top priority.  Never give up and always persevere.  The Apostle Paul says in Romans 5:2-4: "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."  Similarly, The Apostle Peter said in 2 Peter 1:5-7 that: "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love."  Lots of great attributes, wouldn't you say?  But why would we want to bring "glory in our sufferings?"  Well, the Apostle James said in James 1:3-4 that: "because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."  I've endured a lot in my life.  However, people who know me best say that the "perseverance" of my "sufferings" has made me a more empathetic person as a result. 

Still, I have asked myself some very poignant questions like: "If I were to pass away, who would come to my funeral?"  Or, to get really deep, "Would there be enough people to even have my Wake or a funeral?"  "If there WAS a funeral, would anybody stand up and say anything about me?  "If it were, by some miracle, be anything good, what would he/she say?"  And I'm not talking about a simple eulogy; a speech that praises someone highly who has just passed away.  I mean, would somebody do what I did for my maternal grandmother and let everyone know that "there was more to someone than how you are related to them?"  Would someone do what they did for my father and let everyone know that "I was truly an asset to everyone around them?"  This may sound a bit woebegone, but I'm not 100% sure that anybody would care that I had passed on.  As crestfallen as all of this may sound, I'm not sure if my life or death will have made a speck of difference to anybody.  When MY time is done here on Earth, what will be MY legacy?  How will others remember ME?  What will those in Heaven have to say about MY legacy when I get there?  Well, get ready for a possible shocker...  It won’t matter what others think about of me or you, or what they remember about me or you, on the Judgment Day, if it didn't translate into sowing into the things that are important to Jesus Christ.  There is only ONE THING that is going to truly matter regarding your legacy when you stand before Jesus and give an account of your life...  Did you do what was pleasing to Him?  If you've never heard this, I would strongly encourage you to ponder it deeply and often.  In New Testament truth, Jesus clearly communicated that "seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness FIRST" has always been God’s very top priority regarding humanity (Matthew 6:33).  The Kingdom of God is built on the foundation of none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, who died on the Cross for all our sins.  Does all this mean we are to quit our careers and jobs and go stay in church for the rest of our lives; to stop being responsible fathers, mothers, students, teachers, etc; never have a hobby or enjoy some recreation time?  Not at all!  It means that these things are not the soul purpose for living, but as we go about doing these things, if we’re wise, we will constantly discipline ourselves to stay in touch with the Holy Spirit.  Let’s look closer at "legacy."  We have two choices in life when it comes to legacy.  We can focus our time, talents, and treasures by leaving a legacy behind or we can focus our time, talents, and treasures by sending our legacy to Heaven ahead of us, so it will keep expanding throughout eternity.  Jesus Christ didn't die for you just to save you from your sins.  That’s just the beginning!  God wants to invest in you, and keep investing in you.  God wants to see how loyal you will be in this life to what is truly important to Him, so He can entrust to you blessings in eternity none of us can conceive of right now.  And remember, the legacy that truly matters is the one that God will be impressed with, not what this world will be impressed with.  The legacy God is impressed with is founded and centered on what is most important to Jesus Christ.  So, how could you build a "Godly legacy" while you are alive?  Well, read Psalm 127 and you may get a good idea..  It basically means it's a waste of time to worry, and the Lord wants to bless you with sleep and rest, and He Himself will give you the answers you need after you seek His face.  The Servant of God does not have to spend long hours in arduous toil to the point of sacrificing necessary sleep and still derive no real benefit from his work.  This Scripture tells us not to worry or fret on anything all day and night.  For we are to give it to Jesus to handle for us.  As we read Psalm 127, however, we realize that the "workman" in view is not simply building a physical house.  He's building a home; a heritage—a godly family line that will take the heart and ways and faith of God into the next generation.  That kind of building is more demanding, exacting and, sometimes, exasperating than building a physical house.  There's so much more at stake, and we can't afford to not do well.  We want to build lives, homes, churches, and a culture that will reflect God's glory long after we are gone.  We want to leave behind a model of godliness that people will choose to embrace in the next generation.  God is building His kingdom, and we are workmen with Him; we are watchmen with Him; we are warriors with Him.  The purpose of God for our families, homes, and relationships is that, through our little part of building, we are contributing to a much larger building of the kingdom of God.  It's through this means that we leave a legacy of godliness for the next generation.  If you lose sight of that vision, you're going to get weary in well-doing.  Lift your eyes upward and say: "What's the bigger picture here?  What is God up to?"  Our children are a sacred stewardship from the Lord.  One day we will give account to God for the spiritual condition of the next generation.  That does not diminish their responsibility, but we, as adult Believers, will one day stand before God and give an account for how we built, watched over the city, and fought the battle on behalf of the next generation.  

Our most important job is to teach our children about the Lord and make it a priority.  It's made clear in Deuteronomy 6:6-9 where it says: "These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.  Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."  Now remember there are NO perfect parents!  None!  We all fail, we all have faults, but our main goal and priority should be to leave a Godly legacy for our children, grandchildren, which will effect generations to come.  I know plenty of parents who think that as long as they take their kids to church once in a while, or because they attend Christian school, or maybe they go to VBS or church camp that they have somehow fulfilled their job by getting their kids in front of people that can tell them about God.  Those are all good and helpful things to support what you are doing at home, but they were never intended to be the only source of Biblical teaching.  God intends that to be happening in the home by the parents.  Deuteronomy 4:40 states: "Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you..."  It goes on in Deuteronomy 29:29 saying that: "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law."  So, anything God has revealed to us are things that He not only wants US to know but future generations as well.  That is why is it so important for us to be examples in our child’s lives.  In Exodus 20:6, God tells Moses: "but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments."  This Scripture advises us of God's mercy and the importance of keeping the Ten Commandments.  You see, what you do now matters, and it affects generations.  Everything we need to know about passing on a Godly legacy to our children is found in Scripture.  The Holy Bible is as valid for us now as it was for all the generations of parents before us.  A Godly legacy begins when we are intentional parents and teachers who create a home that honors God.  How do we know that the Holy Bible is the best rule book to go by?  The Apostle Paul made it very clear in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 when he said that: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."  The Holy Bible is a sure guide to eternal life.  The Prophets and the Apostles did not speak from themselves, but delivered what they received of God Himself.  2 Peter 1:21 states that: "For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."  Romans 15:4 says that: "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope."  Children thrive best in an atmosphere of genuine love, supported by reasonable, consistent discipline.  Being a parent or a teacher isn't easy.  Both are hard work!  Being a Godly parent or teacher takes wisdom, courage, and patience mixed with big doses of grace and forgiveness.  When those difficult days come — AND THEY WILL — we need to remember that God gave you your children for a reason.  He chose you to parent and teach that child and He will equip you to do the job if you allow Him to.  Don’t let your frustration or distractions keep you from finding your purpose as a parent or teacher.

Let's look at the generations within the last century or so and see what they represent.  The word generate comes from the Latin generāre, meaning "to beget".  In the KJV of the Holy Bible, we see the word beget or begat quite of few times, don't we?  We see it 47 times in the Book of Genesis and 54 in the 1 Chronicles alone.  We see it 139 times throughout the entire Holy Bible altogether.  But what does beget mean?  Well, to put it simply, it means "to father or become the father of somebody."  So, my father (Ronald Cromes, Sr.) begat or begot ME.  The word generation signifies the entire body of individuals born and living at about the same time, most of whom are approximately the same age and have similar ideas, problems, and attitudes.  Within each generation is a "Generation Gap," which is a term popularized in Western countries during the 1960's referring to differences between people of younger generations and their elders, especially between children and their parents.  Although some generational differences have existed throughout history, modern generational gaps have often been attributed to rapid cultural change in the modern and postmodern period, particularly with respect to such matters as musical tastes, fashion, technology, and politics. 

• The Lost Generation:, also known as the Generation of 1914 in Europe, is a term originating with Gertrude Stein to describe those who fought in World War I (July 28, 1914 - November 11, 1918).  The members of the Lost Generation were typically born between 1883 and 1900.  The term was popularized by Ernest Hemingway, who used it as one of two contrasting epigraphs for his novel, The Sun Also Rises.  In that volume Hemingway credits the phrase to Gertrude Stein, who was then his mentor and patron.  
• The Greatest Generation:, also known as the G.I. Generation, is the generation that includes the veterans who fought in World War II (September 1, 1939 - September 2, 1945).  They were born from around 1901 through 1924, coming of age during the Great Depression (October 29, 1929 - December 8, 1941) and then went on to fight in World War II, as well as those whose productivity within the war's home front made a decisive material contribution to the war effort, for which the generation is also termed the G.I. Generation.  My grandparents were a part of this generation.  Both of my grandfathers served in World War II. 
• The Silent Generation:, also known as the "Lucky Few", were born from 1925 until 1945.  It includes most of those who fought the Korean War (June 25, 1950 - July 27, 1953) and many during the early part of the Vietnam War (November 1, 1955 - April 30, 1975).  Within this generation is what is know as: The Beat Generation, which was a group of American post-World War II writers who came to prominence in the 1950's, as well as the cultural phenomena that they both documented and inspired.  In the 1960's, elements of the expanding Beat movement were incorporated into the hippie and larger counterculture movements.  Young people in the 1950's and early 1960's belonging to a subculture associated with the Beat Generation were known as: Beatniks.  
• The Baby Boomers: are the generation that was born following World War II, generally from 1946 to 1964, a time that was marked by an increase in birth rates.  The term "baby boomer" is sometimes used in a cultural context.  Therefore, it is impossible to achieve broad consensus on a defined start and end date.  The baby boom has been described variously as a "shockwave" and as "the pig in the python."  In general, baby boomers are associated with a rejection or redefinition of traditional values; however, many commentators have disputed the extent of that rejection, noting the widespread continuity of values with older and younger generations.  One of the features of Baby Boomers was that they tended to think of themselves as a special generation, very different from those that had come before them.  This may be why they were branded the "Me Generation," due to their self-involved qualities.  Both of my parents were born in this generation.  In the 1960's, as the relatively large numbers of young people became teenagers and young adults, they, and those around them, created a very specific rhetoric around their cohort, and the change they were bringing about.
• Generation X:, commonly abbreviated to "Gen X," is the generation born after the Western Post–World War II baby boom.  Demographers, historians and commentators use birth dates ranging from 1965 to 1984.  The term has also been used in different times and places for a number of different subcultures or countercultures since the 1950's.  This is the generation in which I was born in.  Compared with previous generations, Generation X represents a more apparently heterogeneous generation, openly acknowledging and embracing social diversity in terms of such characteristics as race, class, religion, ethnicity, culture, language, gender identity, and sexual orientation.  From everything we know about them, they’re savvy, skeptical and self-reliant; they’re not into preening or pampering, and they just might not give much of a hoot what others think of them.  Autonomy and self-reliance was a natural byproduct of the Generation X childhood.  Gen Xers learned independence early in life and turned it into a valuable hallmark as they progressed in the working world.  Children in this generation who came home an empty house after school because both parents worked were known as "latchkey kids."  Latchkey children who exuded positive effects showed an early development of self-reliance, adaptation to difficult situations, and a desire to contribute to a visible need in the household.  I was a latchkey child.  Both of MY parents worked.  They HAD to.  Even in the 80's, a double-income family was becoming necessary.  Turns out Gen Xers are less likely to be married than the Baby Boomers, but more religious than Millennials.  Gen Xers are often called the MTV Generation.  They experienced the emergence of music videos, new wave music, electronic music, synthpop, glam rock, heavy metal and the spin-off glam metal, punk rock and the spin-off pop punk, alternative rock, grunge, and hip hop.  Generation X grew up in an era of emerging technology and political and institutional incompetence.  Mimeograph machines turned into high-speed copiers, faxes plodded from 30 minutes a page to seconds, and heavy adding machines were replaced with handheld calculators. Whereas computers were the size of whole buildings for the Silent Generation and whole rooms for Baby Boomers, the computer now became a desktop appliance.  Unlike their parents who challenged leaders with an intent to replace them, Gen Xers are less likely to idolize leaders and are more inclined to work toward long-term institutional and systematic change through economic, media and consumer actions.  Gen Xers have also gotten the short end of basic generational arithmetic.  Due partly to their parents’ relatively low fertility rates, there are fewer of them (65 million) than Boomers (77 million) or Millennials (an estimated 83 million assuming a roughly 20-year age span and including those who have yet to reach adulthood).  As Baby Boomers took their time to grow up in a world that beckoned them, built malls for them and seduced them into adulthood kicking and screaming, Generation X was pushed toward adulthood at an age earlier than any other recent generation.  Baby Boomers came to understand that the future was theirs for the taking, Generation X felt the future had been given to their parents older siblings and found the future disappointing and somewhat unappealing.
• "Millennials":, also known as the Millennial Generation, or "Generation Y", is the demographic cohort following Generation X.  Commentators use birth dates ranging from 1985 to the early 2000's (most commonly 2004).  Several alternative names have been proposed by various people: Generation We," "Global Generation," "Generation Next," and the "Net Generation."  Millennials are sometimes also called "Echo Boomers," referring to the generation's size relative to the Baby Boomer generation and due to the significant increase in birth rates during the 1980s and into the 1990's.  Economic prospects for the Millennials have worsened due to the late-2000's recession.  Underemployment is also a major factor.  In the U.S., the economic difficulties have led to dramatic increases in youth poverty, unemployment, and the numbers of young people living with their parents. 
• Generation Z: is one name used for the cohort of people born after the Millennial Generation.  There is no agreement on the exact dates of the generation with some sources starting it at the mid or late 1990's or from the mid-2000's to the present day.  This is the generation that is currently being born.  The dates may range from 2005 to 2024 (at latest).  Some alternate names including: "iGeneration," "Gen Tech," "Gen Wii," "Net Gen," "Digital Natives," "Gen Next," and "Post Gen."  Many members of this generation are highly connected, having had lifelong use of communication and media technology like the World Wide Web, instant messaging, text messaging, MP3 players, and mobile phones, earning them the nickname "digital natives." 

"Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers and our Country."  This 22-word prayer is what would go down in history as the "Regent's Prayer."  My parents remember saying either that or The Lord's Prayer before the Pledge of Allegiance to start out their school day.  They were among many generations who said these prayers in the classroom.  And they were, unfortunately, among the last.  Public School Prayer was thoroughly believed to promote good moral character, provide spiritual training, and help combat juvenile delinquency.  And contrary to popular belief, the prayer was not forced on ANY student.  In fact, students who did not wish to say the prayer could choose to remain silent or stand outside the classroom, and face no penalty.  Then, on June 25, 1962, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that government-endorsed prayer in public schools is unconstitutional (Engel vs. Vitale).  In 1963, the Warren Court stopped schools from allowing Bible reading in classes (Abington School District vs. Schempp & Murray vs. Curlett).  In 1980, the Supreme Court declared that posting the Ten Commandments in a school classroom violated the Constitution of the United States.  From 1963 until 1978, pregnancies increased 187%, sexually transmitted diseases among students were up 226%, and divorces increased 300%.  In the past half century, unmarried people living together (i.e. cohabitation) is up 353%, single parent families are up 140%, single parent families with children are up 160%, violent crime has increased 544%, illegal drugs have become an enormous and uncontrollable problem, and the nation has been deprived of an estimated 30 million citizens through legal abortions just since 1973.  

Did you know that The first settlers in America felt that it was important that children learned to read so they could read their Holy Bibles?  In Colonial America, home schooling and the schools run by churches were very common.  As part of the daily curriculum, students were taught to pray and read using the Holy Bible.  The first American school system, that began in Massachusetts in 1647, was established to ensure that children would grow up with the ability to read the Holy Bible.  Of the first 108 universities founded in America, 106 were distinctly Christian, including the first, Harvard University, chartered in 1636.  In the original Harvard Student Handbook, Rule Number #1 was that students seeking entrance must know Latin and Greek so that they could study the Scriptures.  Later, in 1690, the New England Primer was introduced which taught spelling, reading and the Alphabet using Bible verses, thus teaching both reading and Bible morals at the same time.  As the 20th Century began many classrooms started each day with the Pledge of Allegiance, a prayer and a reading from the Holy Bible.  Our Founding Fathers believed in freedom to practice one’s religion openly and used their religious beliefs to create the backbone of this nation.  Our nation was founded on the freedom to publicly acknowledge God’s existence.  The first crack in the moral school system occurred, in 1925 when the newly formed ACLU (an anti-Christian legal group) paid a a substitute high school teacher, John Scopes, in Dayton, Tennessee to teach Evolution.  Biblical Creation had been taught throughout the land, and through the state Butler Act, teaching Evolution was against the Tennessee state law.  While the ACLU lost the case and Scopes was fined $100 (equivalent to $1,345 in 2014), the verdict was overturned on a technicality.  However, it did set in motion a re-evaluation of teaching science.  Within four decades, the laws were reversed so that now teaching Creation is outlawed and teaching Evolution is mandatory.  That is, after putting Evolution in to school, they take God out of the them.  From the 1970's until this very day, all other philosophies (except Christianity) have been allowed to be taught in public schools.  Think about it...  Secular Humanism assumes that the supernatural does not exist and that reality must be discovered purely from man’s reasoning.  Basically, what we are telling our children is that they are nothing more than a collection of chemicals and energy that happen to be occupying space and time.  What purpose do we have on this Earth, according to this?  Nothing!  The Holy Bible teaches none of the sort.  Psalm 33:11 says: "But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations."  The Apostle Paul says in Romans 8:28: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  He goes on to say in Ephesians 1:11 that: " In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,".  You see, God has a purpose for us individually as well as an entire generation.  Teaching our children that God has a purpose for their lives shows them that their lives have meaning and that they were not created by "accident."  God desires that our daily choices are reflective of what He would have us to do.  Your choices will also impact future generations to come, whether your a parent or not.  You never know which choice may be the one that you are remembered for.  So, what are some tip to leaving a Godly legacy for the next generation?

• Live out the gospel:  We must show them through our lives, the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We must show them how God loved, sacrificed, and gave it all.  We must teach them the way to have a personal relationship with God.  That is our responsibility as parents and teachers.  “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”  (1 Timothy 4:16)
• Prayer:  Never under estimate the power of prayer!  We need it and they need it.   If you aren't praying for your children and grandchildren, who is?  Who will?  “When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also." (2 Timothy 1:5)
• Teach them diligently:  Teaching is part of being a parent.  We must be diligent about teaching them the Word of God.  Helping them to memorize scripture, helping them to develop a quiet time with God, teaching them to pray on their own.  "They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior.  Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob.." (Psalm 24:5-6)
• Take them to church:  This is not the only ingredient to leaving a Godly legacy, but it’s important to be consistent with regular church attendance.  We must show them the importance of being apart of a local church and being involved with Sunday School, learning about God, and being apart of worshiping the Lord together with other Believers.  "We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us.  And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ." (1 John 1:3)
• Be consistent:  With ANYTHING with children is consistency!  It’s a MUST!  We must do our best to be as faithful and consistent with teaching, training, and praying.  Our kids will follow in our same patterns.  "Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it." (Proverbs 22:6)
• Incorporate Family devotions:  If your not doing it now with your family, then start today.  It’s never too late to set aside a few minutes to a half hour, sitting around studying the Word of God, and praying together as a family.  "I am saying  this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord." (1 Corinthians 7:35).