Introduction: I am not sure how and when the Dave Matthews Band became so popular in our youth group but up until a few weeks ago I have quietly gone along for the ride. For those of you who don’t know the DMB is fronted by Dave Matthews whose music is a blend of rock, jazz, world music and folk. He is wildly popular with my youngest daughter Amy and it has been her desire to see DMB in concert as the 100 things you have to do before you die (as described on the Travel Channel). Realizing that DMB would be in Memphis in May I was able to get us all -excluding Kathy-tickets. We arrived five hours early and stayed on our feet through the two plus hour concert. The girls had a great time and while not exactly a Sunday School fellowship it was a great concert.

I have been intrigued by the progression of lyrics by Dave Matthews himself. They seem to follow a pattern that a lot of youth and adults follow in their life. From an early song called "What Would You Say" there is an optimism about life and the need to size the moments while they are in front of you, "Rip away the tear, drink a hope for happy years and you may find a lifetime's passed you by. Knock, knock on the door! Who's it for? Nobody in here. Look in the mirror my friend…I don't understand at best…I cannot speak for all the rest…But you may find a lifetime's passed you by….

On a later CD he writes more cynically about life’s meaning, "I can't believe that we would lie in our graves…Wondering if we had spent our living days well. I can't believe that we would lie in our graves dreaming of things that we might have been"… He basically says that when you die you die so what does it matter. Now however he is not so sure. In a new song called "Dreams of Our Fathers" he writes, "I don’t want to wake up lost in the dreams of our fathers. It’s such a waste child to live and die for the dreams of our fathers. Though I must confess yes my views are a wonder about this. This love I possess love it must be the dreams of our fathers. … What he realizes is that something of value has been passed on to him from the generation before him. He seems to be saying that maybe there is reason for the dreams of those who have gone before.

Three songs, three views of life-certainty, cynicism and then caution. Either you have or will as a youth experience the same things. You feel you have got a handle on the meaning of life and see things as pretty certain. Then things happen that you are confused by and you think maybe it is not so clear and sure and what’s the use. Then, and this is where I hope you are going to be soon, you begin to believe that maybe the values, the dreams of your fathers just might be of value and worth. In other words maybe I was right to begin with.

Maybe you realize that a person can live life so foolishly that one day you wake up and discover that it has passed you by. You understand that people die every moment and will live for eternity separated from Christ questioning the things that they might have done with their life. Then you really grasp the truth that the values and dreams passed on to you are yours to pass on to others. How do you come to such a realization? How do you avoid ending your life dreaming of things that might have been? You avoid this by choosing to live a useful and significant life now.

The writer of Psalm 78 was concerned that those who were living then and those who would come after would understand the value of their legacy with God. His desire was that each generation keep it’s relationship with God alive and fresh in order to pass that on to the next generation. That sense of "leaving something behind" was essential to the vitality of the nation in the future. In fact he make clear that this was not really an option but something that God had commanded them to do so that, "so the next generation might know them, even the children not yet born, that they in turn might teach their children. So each generation can set its hope anew on God, remembering his glorious miracles and obeying his commands." (Psalm 78:6-7)

The circumstances might be different for each of us but down deep we all struggle with the desire to "leave something behind" - something that will outlive us, something of value for those behind us. There is nothing wrong with striving for success. But if our sense of worth is wrapped up in what we do and not in who we are in Christ, we can miss the opportunity to model the character of Christ in our work, in our community and in our families.

Attaining success is no guarantee of attaining significance - the realization that comes when success does not deliver lasting satisfaction. Significance is more important than success. A life of significance is attained by living a legacy worth leaving in the lives of people God places within our sphere of influence. The only legacy worth living is a godly legacy.

Social research indicates that we live our lives on one of three levels. Some live on the survival level with a concern for the basics of life. Most of us live on the success level. We have the basics so we strive to achieve things that will bring us satisfaction. But living on this level does not give our lives the meaning we seek. We often ask ourselves, "Why do I still feel unfulfilled and empty?" It is because success, in itself, never ultimately satisfies. These first two levels give us the hope of meaning and satisfaction but always disappoint us over time.

The third level, significance, is knowing that life matters and that I have got to answer three questions if we are going to find significance: Why am I here? Where am I going? Will my life have a lasting impact? In response, the Bible insists that God does have a purpose for our lives. We are here for a reason. Our life can count for something of lasting value. All three questions find their answer in God's prescription for significance.

1. First, we have a destiny to fulfill - we are here for a reason. (Psa.139: 16-18) Psalm 139 dispels the notion that life happens by chance, that it is unplanned, a matter of fate and circumstance. We are not here by mistake or chance but by decree and deliberate intention. God knit us together in our mother's womb. He knew us before we ever came to be. He determined the days of our existence. Listen to what Psa. 139 says, "Psalm 139:16-18"
2. Also, it's worth noting that Jeremiah speaks of God's "plans" for us. (Jeremiah 29:11) It is significant that the word plans is plural. So many of us live in fear of the consequences of bad decisions we have made in our journey. We wonder about that promotion or relocation we accepted. We question the profession we've chosen or the decision we made about downsizing our organization. A million questionable decisions flood the mind. Did we make a mistake? Did we violate our principles? Did we bring dishonor upon God? Did we choose God's better instead of His best?

The good news is that God is not finished with us yet. He is a God of second, third and fourth chances. The roads we choose in any given instance simply provide a new set of opportunities to live a legacy worth leaving. We may suffer some consequences, but we shouldn't be discouraged. God is merciful and full of grace.

II. Second, we have a contribution to make - God has equipped us for His purposes. (I Corinthians 12:6-7) Paul writes, "1 Cor. 12:6-7" God has given each of us one or more spiritual gifts to use for His glory, avenues to express those gifts and degrees of effectiveness in the exercise of our gifts - right where we are. There are other pieces to this package including talents, aptitude, skills, temperament, leadership style, maturity and availability. Together, this package can be used to positively influence others for Christ in our jobs, our communities, our families and our church.

III. Third, we have a ministry to complete - our objective is Christ-likeness. (Ephesians 4:14-15) In the movie City Slickers, the crusty character played by Jack Palance suggests that the solution to the complexity of our lives is focusing on "one thing." Rick Warren, the senior pastor of Saddleback Community Church in Mission Viejo, Calif., offers this bit of wisdom: "Live for an audience of One." So, what should be our primary focus in life? Ephesians 4:13-15 gives the answer - Christ-likeness. Paul said "Ephes. 4:14-15"

In other words, whatever we do, wherever we serve, we are to be about the business of producing Christ-likeness - in ourselves and in others within our sphere of influence.

3. Finally, we have a legacy to leave - God wants us to invest in others. Notice again the words of the Psalmist, "Psa.78: 5-7"
4. Have you ever wondered why, as a young man, Solomon valued wisdom so highly that when given an opportunity he made it his only request? Where did he learn the value of wisdom? Who instructed him about its importance? His father, King David, instilled the importance of wisdom in Solomon's mind while he was still a boy. Later in his life, when given a choice, he chose wisdom.

Each of us will leave some legacy, but what kind of legacy will we leave? When we are gone, what will our employees remember about us? What will our families say about us? How will our communities describe us?

We each have something of value to pass on to someone of value. We have been given something of value by God to give to someone He values. When we meet the Lord face to face, will He honor us for wisely investing our talents in the lives of others, or will He chastise us as He did the servant who buried his talent in the ground? (Matthew 25:14-30)

Conclusion: "So the next generation might know them—even the children not yet born—that they in turn might teach their children. So each generation can set its hope anew on God, remembering his glorious miracles and obeying his commands." (Psalm 78:6-7) At the end of the day - or, more appropriately, at the end of a life - there are four possible legacies we can leave: no legacy whatsoever, a bad legacy, a perishable legacy, a lasting godly legacy in the lives of others.

The objective, obviously, is to achieve the fourth one - we should live in such a way as to leave a lasting godly legacy in the lives of others. But the tyranny of the urgent, the rapid pace of progress and the expanding obligations and commitments that result make increasing demands on our time. Merely eliminating conflicting priorities or simplifying our lives does not insure that we will stay on the path of living and leaving a godly legacy. These paths may be desirable but are not always practical or realistic. The road to living and leaving a godly legacy is found through the disciplines of a godly life. But that is not and never has been easy. We will each be pressed as to our ability to endure against all odds.

The 2000 movie, The Patriot starred Mel Gibson as Benjamin Martin, a reluctant Revolutionary War hero. Martin has an 18-year-old son named Gabriel who is eager to join the conflict. Gabriel’s sentiments for his country are revealed by one pastime: throughout the first half of the movie, Gabriel diligently repairs an American flag he found in the dirt. Tragically, Gabriel becomes a casualty of the war, and suffering deep loss, his father Benjamin Martin appears ready to quit the cause. While Martin is grieving at the side of his dead son, Colonel Harry Burwell, a Continental officer, attempts to persuade Martin not to quit. He recognizes Martin has great influence with the soldiers and his departure would demoralize the troops.

As the scene opens, the colonel says, "Stay the course, Martin. Stay the course." Grief-stricken, Martin responds, "I’ve run the course." Resigned to the outcome, the colonel informs the troops and they ride on, leaving Martin behind. As Martin loads his son’s personal effects on his horse, though, he finds the American flag Gabriel had successfully restored.

As the dejected soldiers ride away, certain they have seen the last of Benjamin Martin, Martin appears in the distance, carrying the flag. With determination in his posture, he rides upright in his saddle, face like flint, the Stars and Stripes whipping in the wind. Martin has been a symbol of perseverance for the men, and there is a triumphant shout of both relief and excitement from the once-weary troops as they see the patriot crest the hill.

Whether your leadership is found at home, school, work or church, you must never underestimate the power of your influence to demoralize or to rally others. You will not carry a flag but a cross. It will be the cross that will be your standard and the measure of you success and your significance. People are watching. Soldiers look to officers. Children look to parents. We must stay the course if we would live a significant life and leave a lasting legacy. How will we do that? Perhaps with the same kind of resolve that John Wesley had when he wrote these words: (Quote John Wesley.)

Sunday, May 20, 2001

10:50 Service

Dr. Bruce Tippit

First Baptist Church, Jonesboro, AR.

btippit@fbcjonesboro.org

CCLI # 956885