Unless you are one of my extended family members, I guarantee you don’t know Paul Williams. As I type this, I am not even 100% certain I have his name right without asking my mom. He is the only great-grandparent whose first and last name I can recall. Before you judge me, how fast could you list the names of your 8 great grandparents? If you succeed with that, how many of your 16 great-great grandparents can you name?

This isn’t a reminder to study your family tree. It is a stark reminder that you will be forgotten in three to four generations. Solomon is right, our life passes like a shadow.

For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? (Ecclesiastes 6:12)

Solomon isn’t the only biblical author to wrestle with the brevity of life. James reminds us our life is a mist that vanishes (James 4:14). Isaiah describes man as grass that withers and fades away (Isaiah 40:6-8). David shares a similar illustration in Psalm 103, along with a great promise we can embrace.

As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, (Psalm 103:15–17)

We do not live forever on this earth, and the memory of our days will quickly fade. But the steadfast love of God remains, both with us in death and with those we leave behind.

When I consider my legacy, it is of little value to focus on earthly accomplishments or the accumulation of wealth. Sure, I hope to leave an inheritance and be well thought of by my loved ones, but that isn’t my ultimate goal. My desire is for God’s steadfast love to be known by the third, fourth, and fifth generations that follow me. If we want to leave that type of legacy, we must be careful not to make earthly accomplishments our focus. Enjoy life as a gift of God in this fleeting world but put your focus on following Jesus.

What legacy will you leave? My great-great-great grandchildren won’t know my name, but by grace I pray they will know the One name that matters.

By Philip Jones

Philip and his wife Stacy have been attending Immanuel since 2015. They are blessed to be raising four kids. His passion in ministry is to help others follow Jesus through teaching, preaching, and personal discipleship.