I turned 50 years old earlier this year and found myself, not only in this year, but now even moreso, thinking about what I will leave behind for others. Most notably for my children, but even more broadly I found myself thinking about the idea of legacy, that which will be found as a trace of my existence here on the earth.
That was a strange set of thoughts for me. Yes, I’ve worked for the future, but I’ve typically thought more in terms of the present. But now, things are changing. I’m getting older and I’m starting to consider those things that are the most important and what I want to make sure that I pass along to my children and to other people.
This thought came back to me as I read the first chapter of the book of James this morning. He draws a contrast between two different kinds of people: Those who love the world and work to both enjoy it and leave their legacy from it, and those who wish to persevere in their love of Christ and live, looking toward the crown of life that we have been promised.
Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
James 1:9-12
James says that if you are a believer and find yourself in humble circumstances, you should not be ashamed. Instead, you have a very high position. What does that mean?
He is saying that, even if you can’t see the evidence today of the fact that you hold a high position, even if it looks like you are a simple servant – which, in fact, you are – you will receive a crown of life, the crown that has been promised to you.
A crown of life? Yes, when we say that our faith in Jesus saves us, we mean that we have been saved from destruction. As sinners worthy of death, God’s wrath will come to destroy all that is not cleansed and protected under the blood of Christ. But when we are in Christ, he saves us and God will not destroy us for our sins, but instead he will give us this crown, a royal crown because we belong to a royal family, in fact THE royal family, living with the Lord forever.
The contrast, on the other hand, is with those who love the world that they are living within. Those that love its riches. Those that enjoy all that the world today lifts up as the height of blessing. The best of the best. James is saying that they will be humilitated. In fact, in the light of eternity and in the light of God’s eyes, they are humiliated already. They just don’t yet realize it. They will pass away like nothing more than a flower that is under the sun. Everything that has been worked for. Everything that has been passed to their children in terms of riches. It will all soon fade away. Nothing more will exist, nothing will be left.
And so I pray that will not be my story. I pray for the help of God that I will maintain the course and leave a legacy, not of a worthless item that has, in foolishness withered and gone away in a few short years or decades, but instead has chosen the right path that will allow life forever, not only for myself but also for my children and all of those that will come after me. There is one path, one person, one God who will provide for this. Only in Jesus Christ can we not fade away but instead obtain the crown of life that will allow us to live on forever.