Eternal Influence

By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain… though he died, he still speaks. Hebrews 11:4

D.L. MOODY
But there is one thing you cannot bury with a good man; his influence still lives. They buried Daniel, yet his influence is as great today as ever it was. Do you tell me that Joseph is dead? His influence still lives and will continue to live on and on. You may bury the frail tenement of clay that a good man lives in, but you cannot get rid of his influence and example. Paul was never more powerful than he is today.

ERWIN LUTZER
Yes, after we are dead, our influence will continue for good or for ill. We come into this world seeking meaning; we want to do something worthwhile, something that lasts forever. And true meaning can only be found in our love for and service to God.
Imagine the legacy of those who leave an evil impact; those who lived for self, treated others with disdain, and valued only those things that will pass away. They, too, will be remembered but only for the harm they did, the stingy life they lived, and the broken legacy they left behind.
But for those who lived for Christ, they have sought that which is most precious and endures forever. The good news is that if the glory of God is our goal, we know that the meaning we seek will be found; the impact we hope to have will be realized. And yes, though being dead, we still speak. The judgment seat of Christ is in the future because the good that believers have done keeps having repercussions in the lives of others, often in invisible ways.
I have frequently stood at the grave of D.L. Moody in Northfield, Massachusetts. On his tombstone is written his favorite verse, “He that doeth the will of God abideth forever (1 John 2:17, KJV). Although he died in 1899, he still speaks!

PRAYER
Father, I earnestly pray that the good I do today will have eternal value because it was done in your name and for your glory.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS
How Legacy would you like to be known for?

How are you living with eternity in mind right now?