ODJ: ultimate posterity

April 24, 2015 

READ: Acts 13:34-37 

This is not a reference to David, for after David had done the will of God in his own generation, he died and was buried with his ancestors, and his body decayed (v.36).

In Britain, the houses of famous people are often commemorated with a small blue plaque. On a house in the town of Oxford one such sign reads: “C. S. LEWIS, Scholar and Author, lived here 1930–1963.” Many contemporary British writers, scientists, politicians and others dream of having a blue plaque on their house one day to commemorate their lives.

Humans throughout history have tried numerous ways to ensure their posterity. Ancient rulers erected palaces, statues, triumphal arches and other monuments to their own glory. Monarchs prayed for a son to preserve the family name. And this drive for lasting glory isn’t limited to the powerful. Deep down, all of us hope our lives and achievements will in some way live on after us. Oh, to have a legacy like that of C. S. Lewis!

Perhaps this drive for posterity is an echo of our longing for eternity (Ecclesiastes 3:11), but it has an obvious downside. We can seek our own glory rather than God’s, but by seeking to be known by future generations we can miss serving our own.

King David was famous, and always will be. But the apostle Paul put his life into perspective with these words: “After David had done the will of God in his own generation, he died” (Acts 13:36). Paul’s main point to his Jewish audience is that Jesus, who rose from the dead, is the ultimate King, not David (vv.34-35,37). But don’t miss the meaning between the lines. On earth, David’s life was short. His focus was doing God’s will for his own generation.

Serve your generation deeply, with faithfulness, creativity and excellence, directing its needs and desires towards God’s will. Any legacy you leave will then be God’s business.

—Sheridan Voysey

365-day-plan: 2 Kings 2:13-25