ONE LIFE-ONE LEGACY

You only have one life, and that life is limited in the grand scheme of time. James said that we "are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes" (James 4:14). What is a year? Yes, 365 days, but consider that it is 2024 and it felt like COVID hit us last year! Contrary to popular belief, time does not fly. A minute has always been and will always be a minute. Yet, it feels that way because time does not stop for anything or anyone! As elusive as time is, it can be (must be) harnessed if one will live their one life in a way that leaves one legacy of greatness.

Here is a key that, if mastered - yes, "mastered" - will change the tone and trajectory of our 2024. I emphasize the concept of mastery because, in truth, what else is there? I am a model of the pursuit of mastery because I started last week! That sounds strange, I know, but it is a vital aspect of being great - great for the Lord. Do not get me wrong, I have not modeled mastery in the past. I have receipts to prove it, sadly. This does not negate the reality, however, that mastery should be my aim and focus. Mastery, however, requires time because of what it looks like. Jesus calls it being perfect like Him (Matthew 5:48), Paul calls it sanctification (Romans 6:15-23) and the writer of Hebrews calls is maturity (5:14; 6:1). Mastery, then, is perfection and perfection is not actual perfection but striving and becoming more and more like Jesus. Jesus was excellent at everything He was called to do, and this must be our passion. But how?

First, I need to recognize that fact that who I will be in 2024 is determined by who I make the choice to become in 2024. What I will be and become in 2024 and what I achieve in this year is totally related to the choices I make. God is sovereign in and over all things and I am responsible for how I live my life in the “all things” that God is sovereign in and over. Please notice this non-victim language! Life happens and people in our lives can create circumstances that challenge our forward movement - that I believe and would never deny. However, I am not what happens to be. I choose to become what happens to me; I choose to let interruptions, distractions and challenges dictate my progress. Yes, those factors are real but so too is the choices I make in those moment.

I should be very quick to qualify I am not speaking of severe moments or experiences of trauma. That is something of a totally different nature that may involve the need for significant intervention. I do not want to sound as if all challenges are the same. They clearly are not. The challenges I am speaking of are roadblocks, impediments, difficulties, and giving into desires that are inconsistent with our stated goals and aims.

A consistent trait of those who have been and are being great for the Lord is the absence of playing, acting like or being a victim. The quickest way to have a sordid and empty legacy is to act like you are not great because people would not let you be great. I think we can put that mentality to bed in America. We certainly can and should pout that to bed in Christ since nothing that the Lord calls us to is impossible if we believe (Mark 11:24). Being great and playing a victim are as opposite as black and white, oil and water and heaven and hell.

Being great means choosing to be responsible and accountable for your choices and eliminating the self-destructive pattern of blame. The Lord did not like it on Adam therefore, I am confident that it is unfitting for us too!