Leaving a Legacy

The year was 1937 young athletic Band-Aid just stepped onto the campus of a local junior college to play sports with the hope and dream of playing at for your school. To say he was a good athlete would be an understatement that he was not good. He was exceptional. In fact he was so good that two years later he was awarded a scholarship to the University of California at Los Angeles UCLA at UCLA. He would compete and not one, not two, not three, but for sports basketball, football, baseball and track and field now for most of his collegiate career he found success in three out of those four sports mainly in football and basketball and track baseball however was not as kind to him his batting average was a whopping 09 D7 cake that's dumped caressing when you're batting well below the Mendoza line a few baseball junkies out there and you're batting there consistently. That dog won't hunt okay the following his graduation at UCLA. He left to go play semipro football with the Honolulu Bears his first game with the team was in Pearl Harbor on December 5, 1941. If you know your history, you know that's two days before the attack on Pearl Harbor.

His life was spared by 48 hours after a brief stint with United States military. He would become a second lieutenant and a platoon leader of the 761st Tank Battalion. He actually later comes back to civilian life and he picks up a game that didn't treat him all that well while he was at UCLA baseball God's favorite sport in 1945. He would sign a contract with a professional baseball team that was butting throughout the Midwest.

But it did not have a ton of national notoriety that team was the Kansas City monarchs of the Negro American League's after one long and grueling season with the monarchs. His life would be flipped upside down, and in turn our entire country.

In the summer of 1945.

He would sign another contract, this time with the Brooklyn Dodgers after two years of grueling it out in the minor league stadiums all over the country on April 15, 1947. This young man would break the color barrier baseball but by becoming the first black player to integrate the major leagues, and thus he would change the dynamic of American culture through the game of baseball. That man Jackie Robinson would forever have his name etched in the very fabric of American history. Today he is rightly celebrated as a national hero, but life for Jackie and many others just like him was anything but easy.

The road was hard, painful. He was asked over and over again if he ever thought about quitting every day. Jackie would say every day, but with a vision for a better world ahead of him in resolving his heart to stay the course. He pressed on, hoping that one day his efforts would open the door for young black men like himself to step between the lines without men like Jackie, we don't get King Griffey, Junior, Roberto Clemente, Mookie Betts, Albert Poulos, Aaron Judge Ronald Catania and many more.

Jackie Robinson's life offers us an answer to a question that everyone of us will ask in our life. How do we leave a legacy worth passing along to the next generation resolve vision, a determination to move forward with conviction. When the road is difficult look like if God raised up a generation of men generation of fathers right here from the summit church with that same resolve that same conviction that same determination. What if God raised up a generation of Christians of believers. All of us with that kind of resolve conviction and determination. I believe the world could be flipped upside down for the kingdom of God.

Starting right here in Raleigh-Durham now. It's no secret that were living at some pretty dark and difficult times we are in desperate need of leadership in our home and our communities. The time is now eight is time to rise up, it's time to engage. It's time to first Kings chapter 2 is where were going to camp out for the next few minutes together now to set the context for you were jumping in the life of King David. He's Israel's most beloved King, the end of his life is near and he knows it is 40 year reign as King is coming to a close and he's about to see the eternal reward that awaits him is dying and as he lays on deathbed. He's no doubt had time to reflect on all the seasons that he slipped through the ups and the downs. His thoughts are clear and perhaps for the last time he calls his son Solomon to his side as he makes one final speech before he goes the way of the earth.

You could almost imagine the scene.

Maybe you've been in one just like it.

I envision it as a moment where father pulls his son and closely musters up all the strength he has left in his frail body begins to speak these words that will echo throughout history first Kings chapter 2 verse two. David says this I am about to go the way of all the earth be strong and courageous, and show yourself a man keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and keeping his statutes, his commandments's rules is testimonies. Those are solid words first son that we need them in the days and years ahead.

He would need them to continue the godly legacy that was being passed off to him that day. Legacy godly legacy, a legacy worth leaving that day will come.

How have you cultivated one worth leaving. I know that for many of you talking about legacy is just not easy.

You know like the one that's been handed off to you. You are sure that you're actually leaving one that's worth living. Now when I close I'll get back to promise because I believe today God doesn't just want to give you good advice he wants to give you good news now legacy is so attractive to talk about.

But here's the thing. It's not guaranteed it's got to be fought for in church. It's time to fight. Two things I want you to see from David to Solomon as he passed the baton often hopes of leaving a legacy of godliness number one legacy is cultivated through courage, not cowardice.

Now what you hear in David's charge to Solomon is something that sounds familiar to the ears of those that God had placed in leadership in the Old Testament look back. He says this. Be strong and courageous. David says show yourself a man well received that same command Moses and actually more famously, Joshua. That's right just after Moses goes the way of the earth. God looks at Joshua and says Moses my servant is dead now then you and all these people get ready to cross the Jordan River and the land that I am about to give them to the Israelites, be strong and courageous.

Be strong and very courageous. Courage is trust its unwavering confidence that what God has said to be true will be the road ahead for Solomon would not be easy.

He would need the courage to do what was required, what was required was to trust in the heart of God.

If think back to David's life, his kingship did not start the same way that supplements would write me. He knew that Solomon had not been tested like he was as he looked to lead his people miss groping downtown right he was in the palace probably simply pour over coffee on the front patio porch every morning and evening.

David grew up in the country to drink coffee from a drip coffee maker, heaven forbid, right David's life was shaped in the past. He was a shepherd he faced dangers in those fields. It was in those fields were God prepared him to lead with courage. He had to face danger when lions and bears would attack a sheep like that's a true story. Read the Old Testament.

Those moments formed him they shaped him. He would later show up to the battlefield with the lunch for his brothers only to find out they were be taught being taunted by LIF fearful and afraid.

David reached deep into his toolbelt he found something Israel did not courage and one of my favorite leaders Dr. Jay Strack often says that he says at some point in your life at some point in your life.

The little boy had to sit down and the man has to stand up Solomon would need that spoken over him frequently. You see, courage leads to faithful action, fear leads to cowardice.

Courage is one of the marks of a Jesus follower cowardice is not Jesus himself would exude courage in order to face and finish the task that he knew was in front of him. He got a glimpse of it in the garden of Gethsemane and it wasn't pretty.

Yet yet he went.

See following Jesus will take courage, unwavering trust, she cannot just tell you something here for just a moment.

Courage. It's not found on the keypad of your phone or on the computer or on social media. It's found in action in life and relationships with people. Paul would say it this way in first Corinthians chapter 16 verse 13 be on your Garth stand firm in the faith. Be courageous and strong. Now, you do realize that there are times where you were.

Maybe even those around you are going to lack courage. Right you know what were called to do in those moments in courage encourage means to impart courage to another to build each other up. That's what the church does you find your courage in the goodness of God in the ways of God and the promises of God. Your courage is not found in your strength.

David knew where his strength and his flesh would get him first annual chapter 30 verse six says this, but David found his strength where in the Lord his God. David needed reminders often that his courage was found in remembering the promises of God that Jonathan David's best friend would remind him of that when he's running for his life from King Saul is courage take was empty. Jonathan, the Old Testament tells us he goes to David when his courage was low to do one thing not to tell them things are to be okay, but the strength in his hand, and God church all the promises of God are yes and amen in Christ, he is who he says he is. You can trust him walk with Jesus lead with courage.

In fact, right now, here's what were going to do take just a moment and were to pray.

If you're sitting in a room somewhere with your father or or your husband were to spend some time praying over him specifically asked that God would do a couple things strengthen him as a leader in your home and to work and asked that God would cultivate a heart of courage as he follows Jesus and lead your family now.

If you're hanging out at home or maybe it is with your family or friends. Or maybe, or even by yourself. Let's let's pray the same things for yourself or for each other that God would strengthen you as a leader with courage that God would cultivate in you a heart of courage as you cling to the promises of God. The vision of legacy is achieved and virtuosity. I often tell my kids that the battle of life is at one with top 10 plays on ESPN type moments.

It's one in doing that which is required of you consistently uncommonly well that's the charge in front of Solomon look back it says this keep the charge of the Lord your God. David says walk in his ways, keep his statutes, his commands, his rules and his testimonies the vision of that charge to Solomon is twofold. I believe the first one is that David would long to see his son walk, clean and holdfast to the word of God. It's there in his final moments that he pleads with his son to come keep the commands of God close to his heart.

David wrote often in the Psalms of the necessity the life giving life directing word of God. The second vision was that by living a life of uncommon obedience to God's word. He would ensure that the legacy in kingship would be established.

Look at what he says in verse four.

If your sons pay close attention to their what they want performing in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul. You shall not like a man on the throne of Israel. Now that is ultimately fulfilled through the true king that David was pointing to. Not to an earthly throne but to an eternal Jesus. He would fulfill it. Establish it perfectly, and he would sit on it for eternity. Why the answer couldn't be found in David alone or in Solomon alone, and it can't be found in you and me either is the gospel legacy has to point to something greater.

Someone greater. David failed miserably. The dude hit rock bottom right. I mean I talk about his assault on Bathsheba or the Mafia-esque elimination of her husband. He needed a better king, but by God's grace, he repented in his repentance brought about a renewed spirit in him. He went from rock-bottom to standing on the rock of the promises of God. He would now walk in and on common way declaring that the commands of God the Word of God would be his lifeline. You could not be like the rest. The rest, neglecting the statutes of God, he would need a better way and so would Solomon is he virtuosity is defined in many athletic circles as simply doing the common things in an uncommon way. It's how you achieve success. Mastery victory seat.

Virtuosity is the separator and it's not just as Winston Churchill stated just giving your best. It's doing what's required to be the best, David pleads with Solomon to have something that others do not. There has to be something that separates him from the rest of the people.

What was that thing and on common obedience to the commands of God. Remember back on David's life on the run, fearing for his life from Saul yet. Wasn't he the king and waiting, and if so would be removed. David could claim the throne. In fact, he had two opportunities to take Saul out himself. It's almost like there was a shortcut to the throne for David but he refused to take why because you can't shortcut obedience to the commands of God. You gotta take the long road uncommon obedience. Listen, you are not going to find a life pack. The godliness you can't, there's no magic 10 day sin free diet you can: write me, you have to commit to doing the common things in an un-common way I'll say it again, there is no shortcut, no life pack for godliness. Where is virtuosity missing in your life where you not doing the common things required of you in the gospel in an uncommon way, how is your prayer life.

How your Bible reading. Are you serving the body are you encouraging others uncommon obedience has a source Jesus if you long for godly legacy to be passed on. You have to keep your eyes on Jesus, DOJ eyes on Jesus DOJ say right now E.

O.

J eyes on Jesus all the time you want to leave a godly legacy and your family get your tail out of bed and get in the word put your eyes on Jesus daily.

Not once a week. That's a common way but daily put the plow to the ground and get to work you want your kids to change the world prepare their heart, not the path that's the on common way show them what it looks like to serve by being asserted.

I mean for crying out loud doing the dishes okay show up again and again and again and again, it will never make your Instagram story, but it makes for life of God. You may be thinking. I've totally blown it between Jesus. Aren't you glad that the father is full of grace and mercy.

But he doesn't look at your record just Jesus met each day. The father offers you that record over and over and over again. God made him sing printing says.

Who knew no sin to become sin for us. Why so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. No matter how far you fall in God's grace is constant. The father is still there.

His tank never empties. He does not withhold it from you. He extends it to you daily take hold of it. To back up get in the game, from this day forward mentality today. This day a new day that limitations three verse 22 and 23 says says it like this, the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies are new every morning great is his faithfulness towards you today is a new day.

Paul would say it this way, brothers and sisters. I do not consider yet to have taken hold of it.

But one thing I do, forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. Today I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Today you want to leave a godly legacy. You gotta fight for it.

Forget what is behind press ahead. There's a prize awaiting you in his name is Jesus.

Cultivate courage as you walk here on this earth do the hard things and keep doing them over and over and over again be encouraged when you fall when you fall, get back up DOJ eyes on Jesus.

He's faithful