On Thursday, November 11, Karen and I will join with millions of other Canadians to pause, remember and give thanks for those who have served our country in preserving our freedom in World Wars, the Korean War, and in more recent days, Afghanistan and other areas of conflict. It is also a day where I will miss my dad – a veteran of WWII, who served for four years in the Canadian Artillery and the Canadian Intelligence Corp. In my parent’s latter years, I would drive and accompany them to the cenotaph in White Rock for the Remembrance Day ceremony. Though dad, being humble as he was, would protest, mom would insist on him wearing his service medals, and would pin them to his overcoat each year.
Dad, like most vets did not speak a lot about the war. He was fortunate to have served and to have not suffered harm, but he and mom knew several who did not return and others whose lives were forever altered by injury to body and/or mind. Freedom had come at a great price!
I recall stories of my grandfather, who served in the Royal Navy on a British minesweeper in WWI, narrowly escaping death as his ship was blown out of the water, and from a great uncle who spent much of the same war in captivity as a prisoner of war. Both spoke of the devastation of war and of the loss of friends and loved ones.
As I have served as executor for my mother, who passed away almost four years ago, I have had to sort through a lot of things. These include awards of excellence, certificates and degrees, trophies, and yes, my dad’s medals. It is hard to know what to do with some of these things. While they were meaningful to my parents and a reflection of their accomplishments and service, most of these things hold no monetary value and will not be appreciated by others. Many of these I have ended up disposing of and even recycling.
What is more significant to me is the legacy that my parents and others have left to us – a godly heritage and influence and a witness to the love and faithfulness of God.
On my parents’ headstone is Matthew 5:16, which reads:
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
In my study in the Word on Thursday AM, I underlined 1 John 2:17, which reads, “The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”
What a good reminder of what life is all about – so much of what we value. pursue and hold dear is really fleeting. In the end, it is our legacy of service, not our ledger of possessions that will matter. So with us as we remember those who have served and sacrificed next week. Though it has been more than 75 years since our last World War and many of us may not personally know someone who served for the cause of our freedom, we are all beneficiaries of what they have done. Thanks dad, granddad and all those who gave years of their lives, if not their lives themselves for our freedom.
As we gather for worship this first Sunday of the month, many of our churches will be celebrating the Lord’s Supper. We will remember and give thanks for the sacrifice of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Celebrating the Lord’s Supper is more than simply remembering Christ’s death; it is a thankful celebration of the legacy of his death on the cross, by which He paid the penalty for our sin in full. We are forever thankful and indebted beneficiaries of this. Not only is this true, but our Lord is also a risen Lord. Because He has risen, we are people of great hope and our service for the Lord is not in vain (1 Cor. 15:58).
In the imagery of Colossians 2:13-15, the Apostle Paul makes reference to the familiar sight of the day, where the crime of the condemned would be written on a sign tacked to the cross on which they were crucified. Here, he pictures a “sign” tacked on to the cross of Christ, but on this was written all of your sins and mine, and the penalty for these was paid in full by Christ. Through Christ, we have fellowship with our Holy God, and in Christ, we have fellowship with one another!
We are beneficiaries of what Christ has done!
Have you given thought to the legacy of your life, and who will be the beneficiaries of the investments you have made with your life, time, gifts and resources? As I round the final lap of this ministry as superintendent, I certainly do. Though we may soon be forgotten, by God’s grace, may the legacy of our lives and faith live on for and benefit generations to come.
Gordon MacDonald once shared the following poem:
Lord, as I grow older, I think I would rather be known as …
-thoughtful, rather than gifted,
-loving, versus quick or bright,
-gentle, over being powerful,
-a listener, more than a great communicator,
-available, rather than a hard worker,
-sacrificial, instead of successful,
-reliable, not famous,
-content, more than driven,
-self-controlled, rather than exciting,
-generous, instead of rich,
-and compassionate, more than competent,
I want to be a foot-washer.
Here is a thoughtful article from Ed Stetzer that challenges us to both age gracefully and to lead appropriately through the seasons of life.
learning-to-lead-differently-as-you-age.
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