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A Gospel Legacy

A Gospel Legacy

A Living Legacy

At ninety-something, Mrs. Sarah surely knows her days in this world are numbered. Each week I watch the frail figure with snowy white hair as she slowly, painfully, wobbles her way to her seat on the second row. Though she can no longer stand for the singing of hymns and the praying of the Lord’s prayer, she sits faithfully, a living legacy of love of the church and love of God’s word. 

When I first met Mrs. Sarah in a Bible study I was leading, her knowledge of Scripture and her clear love of the words on the well-worn pages of her Bible utterly humbled me. She told us a story of when Bible reading became more than a duty: After World War II, she was forced to return to school to finish her teaching certificate to help support her family. Doing so meant living three hours away from her husband and two small children. She told us, “I cried myself to sleep every night with the Psalms.” Without ever meaning to or thinking about it, Mrs. Sarah has lived a gospel legacy, a legacy of the “good news about Jesus Christ.” She did so not by writing books or leading corporations or earning world records but by simple, daily acts of faithfulness

Mrs. Sarah inspires me to ask, “How do we live the gospel legacy we want to leave?” I’ll offer ten gospel habits, some I believe essential, others non-essential, but no less significant. I’m sure you can think of many more. Please share ways you’ve seen others live a gospel legacy or ways God has called you to live the legacy you want to leave. 

1. Oxygenate with Scripture.

I borrow this concept from Dane Ortlund, who writes, “Scripture is not an ancillary benefit for a life otherwise well ordered, in need of a little extra boost. Scripture is shaping and fueling and oxygenating. It is vital. Jesus prayed, ‘Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” 1 (John 17:17). Scripture will not only prepare us for suffering but it will be our very near nourishment for all the days of our life. As we breathe in this air, we will exude the “aroma of heaven.” 2

2. Be still and listen to the triune God: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (Psalm 46:10).

As we age, we may find ourselves surrounded by silence, the silence of an empty home or apartment, the silence left by friends and family gone to be with the Lord, the silence of days no longer filled with work deadlines and lunch dates. Instead of filling that silence with the clanging gongs of 24-hour news or the numbing noise of social media, let’s sit in the silence and invite the Holy Spirit to speak to our hearts. As we do, we will hear our Father singing his love over us (Zephaniah 3:17), we will hear the Son praying for us to draw near to God (Hebrews 7:25) and the Spirit groaning with and for us (Romans 8:26-27). A stillness of soul speaks volumes to those who live in a world whose days are “filled with busy rushing” (Psalm 39:6).

3. Pray.

If physical limitations prevent you from teaching VBS or preparing meals for the sick, pray. If doctor’s appointments, for yourself or for a loved one, prevent you from attending Bible study or your grandchild’s play, pray. If you are grieving the loss of many of your peers to dementia or death, pray. As you pray, believe that God hears your prayers and works mightily through them, because he does (James 5:16). If you are able, let some of the people you are praying for know how you are praying. 

4. Engage in church.

In Christ, we were re-created to be contributing members of his body, the church (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). Because Mrs. Sarah made the effort to attend Bible study, I received the much-needed reminder that no matter how much I thought I had learned in seminary, I had far more to learn from one who spent a lifetime oxygenating with Scripture and prayer. While physical limitations may hinder our efforts to be present in the body, we must seek to engage intentionally, through prayer, through cards and emails, through invitations to be visited if we are the “shut-ins.” We must remember how much we have to offer, because whether we are the big toe or the pinky finger of the body, we are still very much an essential part. 

5. Ask forgiveness and extend forgiveness.

C. S. Lewis points out that often what we ask for and extend is to be “excused.” He defines real forgiveness as “looking steadily at the sin, the sin that is left over without any excuse…and seeing it in all its horror, dirt, meanness, and malice, and nevertheless being wholly reconciled to the man who has done it.” 3 That is what God has given us in Jesus Christ, real forgiveness. As we mentioned last month, forgiving and extending forgiveness are crucial end-of-life tasks, but they are made far easier when we make a habit of forgiveness throughout our lifetime. What could be better than to be known as a confessing person, a forgiving person (1 John 1:9; Ephesians 4:32)? What could better prepare us for meeting Christ than the reminder that we are forgiven of our sins because of his sacrifice for us?

6. Thank God and thank someone.

Take five minutes to write or say aloud a list of things you thank God for today, including difficult things (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Then take five minutes to write a note to someone or call them, thanking them for something. Write your daughter and tell her you thank God for how he has made her a beautiful mother. Write your caregiver and tell her thank you for the ways she has cared for you. As Christians, we know that all of the good in our lives is due to the grace of God; this grace leads to gratitude (2 Corinthians 4:15). 

7. Write or record a story of God’s goodness and rescue in your life.

Scripture is one overarching story of redemption: God redeemed a sinful people by sending his own Son, Jesus, to die for our sins and to reconcile us to him. God has written individual and corporate stories of redemption into our lives. Write or record one or several of them. Share them with someone today, and put them in a safe place to be read or heard by others later. 

8. Make a list or write stories of how you’ve seen God change your character over the years.

Were you once given to lying or lusting, cheating or gossiping, manipulating or boasting? Were you once a slave to idols that left you feeding off ashes — family, finances, work, ministry, approval, achievement? Even in places you do not yet have complete freedom, name the struggle with sin and marvel at the sanctifying work God has done. Consider sharing this story of sanctification with another for the purpose of giving hope that God can bring freedom from sin in their lives. 

9. Visit the sick or grieving.

Care for a caregiver. Invite a lonely neighbor or friend to church or to dinner. Think about people in your midst who are the “least and the lost” and show them kindness (Matthew 25:31-46). Send them a meal if you can’t make one. Write a card of encouragement. Remind them that they are not alone, that God sees them and cares for them. 

10. Get your affairs in order.

As an act of loving your neighbor as yourself, commit to not leaving a mess for your children or family or church members. Pray for the courage and discipline to do the will and the advance directive; organize the passwords; corral the financial, medical, and daily details of your life; streamline your “stuff.” In so doing, you instruct your loved ones in preparing for glory, you show that you are fully prepared to move from this world to the next, your true and forever home. 

Dear Friends, a gentle reminder that these gospel habits do not happen by sheer willpower and self-discipline alone. They happen as we prayerfully “work out [our] own salvation with fear and trembling,” fully confident that “it is God who works in [us], both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12-13). 

Before leaving, I urge you to share here or to share with another ways you’ve observed a gospel legacy well-lived that made you desire such a legacy. I urge you to pray that God would work in you to help you adopt new habits that will allow you to live the legacy you want to leave.

Note to all readers: In my Numbering Your Days column, I write monthly on a topic related to aging, caregiving, legacy, and end-of-life. Separately, I send out a free monthly newsletter sharing writing, speaking, and other resources related to aging, caregiving, legacy, and end-of-life. This month’s free newsletter goes out on August 1. If you would like to receive it, along with information about the Numbering Your Days Network I will begin soon, be sure to subscribe by clicking this link: http://eepurl.com/b__teX.

 

1. Dane C. Ortlund, Deeper: Real Change for Real Sinners (Wheaton: Crossway, 2021), 144.

 

2. Ortlund, 157.

 

3. C. S. Lewis, “On Forgiveness,” in The Weight of Glory and Other Essays (United States: HarperCollins, 2009), 134-136.

A Prayer about Respecting the Aged

A Prayer about Respecting the Aged

Stand up in the presence of the elderly, and show respect for the aged. Fear your God. I am the LORD. 

Leviticus 19:32

Eternal Lord,

We live in a culture that prefers agelessness, 

a culture that strives to remain eternally young. 

We live in an aging culture, 

where we see some who age graciously, 

and others who do not. 

In this season of the silver tsunami, 

may we obey your command 

to respect the aged. 

Forgive us for any harsh words 

spoken to aging parents 

out of frustration and fear—

words uttered out of 

concern about their driving when they shouldn’t,

impatience about their refusal to follow doctor’s orders, 

annoyance about their rejection of our offers of help. 

Replace our fears about their frailty 

with tender concern and honoring respect.

Help us to take the time to listen to their stories, 

asking them to tell us about the seasons of sorrow 

and seasons of joy they’ve endured and enjoyed. 

Help us to honor the wisdom of the aged (Job 12:12) 

and seek out their counsel 

on marriage and finances and work and children. 

Lord, slow us down 

so that we might truly respect the aged 

as you have called us to do.

In Jesus’ respect-full name. Amen.

Read Leviticus 19:32; Timothy 5:1-3; Job 12:12; 1 Timothy 5:8; Proverbs 23:22. 



Living like We’re Dying: How Christians Can Prepare for Death

Living like We’re Dying: How Christians Can Prepare for Death

Hi Friends,

Coming to you today with a tough subject — how to prepare for death. And yet, one I believe many people want to know more about but are afraid to ask. If that’s you, I hope this gives some encouragement and guidance(And I’d love to know…what are the questions you have about “Living like we’re dying”?)

Beyond the country song…

We’ve all heard the familiar encouragement to “Live like we’re dying,” perhaps even singing out the lyrics to Tim McGraw’s poignant country song. It’s all well and good to sing along to a country song, but to actually live as if we’re dying is much much harder, as the late Pastor Tim Keller discovered. He had already written a book on death and was writing a book on the resurrection when he was faced with the diagnosis of incurable pancreatic cancer. Asked about his terminal diagnosis, he said, “Basically, we all function as if we’re going to live forever…. We are in deep, deep denial about it. And the only way you know that is when you finally actually do get the kind of diagnosis that you may die within months or weeks that I did and you suddenly realize, ‘I didn’t really believe I was going to die. I really didn’t.’”1

As Pastor Keller faced the certainty of his imminent death, he discovered an unexpected spiritual blessing. When we realize our mortality, we recognize the power in the hope of resurrection. Furthermore, when we realize our mortality, we recognize the need to prepare for it. In preparing for our own inevitable death, we not only benefit spiritually but also find emotional comfort. Preparing for death also benefits our loved ones by giving them clarity and guidance in the midst of their grief. While the process of preparing for our own deaths is far more complex than a simple list can convey, we have to start somewhere. We can begin by focusing on four key areas: contemplating the hope of heaven, establishing our practical legacy, cultivating and sharing our spiritual legacy, and being intentional about our emotional legacy.

1. Prepare spiritually by contemplating the hope of heaven.

Many of us fear death, and that shouldn’t surprise us. Scripture tells us we’ve all been “held in slavery by [our] fear of death” (Hebrews 2:15). But Jesus came and died to “break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil…” (Hebrews 2:14). Therefore, we have hope. Jesus has defeated our last enemy, death, giving us the hope of heaven.

Sadly, too many of us are misinformed about heaven. Our imaginations have been stuffed with cartoons of St. Peter standing at the “pearly gates” with a clipboard; we have been sent greeting cards of people floating around on clouds with angel wings. It is little wonder that some people fear being bored in heaven and don’t really want to go there. 

We don’t know many details about heaven, but we do know enough to make us long to be there. First, we will be welcomed with great joy by our Savior, Jesus. We will be so overcome by the glory of the Triune God we will fall down in worship (Rev. 7:10-12). We will recognize loved ones there (see Matt. 17:1-3; Luke 16:19-31), and our surroundings will be “Paradise” (see Luke 23:43). In heaven, we will find the perfect rest we crave, rest for our bodies and rest for our souls. One day, the intermediate state of heaven will give way to the grand finale, the ending that is our truest beginning, life in the new heavens and new earth. In the new heavens and new earth, “Death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain.” (Rev. 21:5). It was the anticipated joy of heaven that led Pastor Tim Keller to say to his family the evening before his death, “I’m ready to see Jesus. I can’t wait to see Jesus. Send me home.”2

2. Prepare by establishing a practical legacy.

While some refer to it as “setting our affairs in order,” I prefer to call it a “practical legacy.” It involves organizing our end-of-life wishes, financial information, digital legacy, and essential documents, all of which serve as a practical gift to those who will handle the final details of our lives even as they grieve.

At the minimum, we should gather what I call the “first four”: our will, advance directive, durable power of attorney, and passwords. After gathering these four things, we can focus on getting other important documents and financial information together. Ideally, we will gather these things into one safe and secure place. Communicating with our loved ones about what we’ve gathered and where to find it is an important part of this process. When you gather these essentials now, you save your loved ones the heartache of having to ask you to do it when you are all in the turmoil of a significant health crisis.

For more information about gathering your practical legacy and/or for assistance in doing this, join the waiting list for our next Organizing Your Life and Legacy workshop here.

3. Prepare by cultivating and sharing your spiritual legacy.

In Psalm 78, Asaph called the Israelites to remember and tell the wonders God had done in the wilderness so future generations would grow in faith and hope and love. In short, he encouraged them to pass on their spiritual legacy. As we share our stories, lessons, wisdom, and experience, we have the opportunity to show God’s merciful and mighty redemptive work in our lives.

To share parts of her story, my mother used a booklet called the Obitkit, in which she answered simple questions about her life. Surprisingly, even the simplest of questions revealed new insights into my mother’s story. Asked about her best subject in school, my mother responded, “Almost every subject, except PE, which kept me from getting valedictorian.” While I had always known my mother was smart, I had never realized her lack of athletic prowess prevented her from getting valedictorian. As you think about sharing your spiritual legacy, remember that even seemingly simple stories can give new insights into how God has shaped you. 

In addition to passing on stories, we can share skills, family history, and blessings. Consider your specific skills or expertise that will benefit others— how to make that famous Texas sheet cake, how to drive on ice, how to pack for a long vacation. Share family history, knowing that the next generation may not seem interested now but will likely become interested after you’re gone. Preserve your family’s heritage by passing on photographs and stories. In addition, write or speak blessings to others. Like Isaac blessing Jacob, affirm the unique qualities and gifts of family members, leaving them with words that honor their God-given identity.

4. Prepare by being intentional about your emotional legacy.

In his book The Four Things That Matter Most, Dr. Ira Byock, a palliative care physician, provides recommendations for fostering meaningful relationships at the end of life: “Please forgive me. I forgive you. Thank you. I love you.”3 In the final chapter of the book, Byock adds a fifth task, saying goodbye. By attending to these tasks before we approach the end of life, we can create an emotional legacy that brings comfort, peace, and hope to our loved ones. 

Following the example of Jesus, who bid farewell to his disciples before his death in the Upper Room Discourse (John 13-17), we can express our love to family and friends and be intentional about saying good-bye. We can reassure our loved ones with our confidence that we are going to the place prepared for us by Christ. As forgiven individuals, we can ask for forgiveness from others and extend our own forgiveness, understanding that forgiveness does not minimize harm but releases our desire to make others pay. As people who have much to be grateful for, we can express gratitude to our loved ones through letters, calls, texts, or hugs.

Live like you’re dying

Martin Luther, 16th century pastor and theologian, spoke frequently about preparing for death. Though he didn’t use the words “Live like you’re dying,” he advised people to prepare to die while they were still healthy. Doing so, he said, would allow them to focus on their Savior when the end approached. While advances in medicine and practices around dying make death seem more remote from us, death remains non-negotiable. We will die; the only question is when. When we begin preparing for death now, we will find peace and hope in the gospel and we will leave a lasting legacy that comforts, guides, and inspires future generations. 

Friends, I hope this article has encouraged you in hard places. I’d love to know about your struggles and successes in “living like you’re dying”…what hard things have you done or have you seen others do to prepare for death?

1 Tyler Huckabee, “Tim Keller on Facing Death (and Resurrection),” RELEVANT, March 2, 2021, https://relevantmagazine.com/magazine/tim-keller-on-facing-death-and-resurrection/.

2 Tim Keller, Quoted by his son, Michael Keller on Twitter, May 19, 2023. 

3 Ira Byock, The Four Things That Matter Most – 10th Anniversary Edition: A Book About Living (New York: Free Press, 2004), 7.

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth is a life and legacy coach who offers gospel-centered wisdom and equipping to help you live, prepare, and share your life and legacy.

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A Prayer about Aging Beautifully

A Prayer about Aging Beautifully

And there was a prophetess, Anna…advanced in years….She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. Luke 2:36-38

God of the Ages,

Our world’s narrative teaches us to war against aging, 

fighting it with wrinkle creams and hair dye and trendy diets. 

As we stand in the grocery line, 

we might conclude that there’s nothing worse than getting old. 

Scripture tells a different story about aging—

showing us how to age beautifully:

Scripture tells stories of women like Anna, 

widowed after only seven years of marriage, 

who now at either 80-something or 100-something 

spends her life worshiping, fasting, and praying. 

You gifted her to speak for you as a prophetess. 

You gifted her the instant recognition 

of the infant Jesus as the Redeemer 

whom all Israel had awaited. 

When she sees Jesus, 

she thanks you and begins to tell everyone about you. 

Lord, spare us our culture’s dread of aging; 

shape us into old people like Anna, 

maybe a little wrinkled and dried up in body, 

but energized and liberated 

with the joy of sharing the good news about you.

In Jesus’ ageless name. Amen.  

Read Luke 2:36-38. 

A Prayer about Not Wearing Purple When We’re Old

A Prayer about Not Wearing Purple When We’re Old

I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7

Holy God,

With all due respect to the delightful poet Jenny Joseph, 

who wrote the humorous poem, “Warning” 

about how she would become a rebel when she was old 

and “wear purple with a red hat that doesn’t go,” 

help us to resist the temptation 

that often faces us as we age. 

We are told by our culture 

that we should relax and take it easy. 

While there’s nothing wrong with 

relaxing or enjoying life or even slowing down a bit, 

what we must resist is, to quote 87-year-old J.I. Packer, 

“practicing self-indulgence up to the limit….

[filling [our lives] with novelties and hobbies, 

anything and everything that will hold [our] interest.”

Indeed, our spiritual gifts and calling to minister the gospel 

do not “wither with age.” 

You have called us to live each day to the full, 

going where you call us to go 

(even if it’s to a hospital bed to pray), 

doing what you give us to do. 

Until the end, we are called to present our aging bodies 

as “a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to you….” 

Until the end, we must “not be conformed to this world, 

but be transformed by the renewing of our minds…” (Romans 12:1-2). 

Help us, Lord, to fight the good fight and to finish the race well.

In Jesus’ ancient name. Amen. 

Read Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; 2 Timothy 4:6-8. 

*Quotes are again from J. I. Packer’s book Finishing Our Course with Joy: Guidance from God for Engaging with Our Aging

A Prayer about the Destruction of Death

A Prayer about the Destruction of Death

The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 1 Corinthians 15:27

Heavenly Father,

Death is indeed our enemy. 

You created humans to live forever, 

glorifying and enjoying you. 

When sin entered the world, 

death came right alongside it, 

and ever since, 

the devil has used the power of death 

to hold your people in bondage to fear (Hebrews 2:14-15).

But because of the resurrection of Jesus 

which we celebrated a few short weeks ago, 

death has lost its sting for followers of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:55). 

We of all people should be able to discuss death, 

to prepare to die well by planning for the end of our lives, 

knowing it is coming, 

and knowing it will be a sad day for our loved ones left behind 

even as it is a day of unspeakable joy for us. 

Help us, Lord, 

to face this formidable enemy with courage, 

preparing for it practically, 

leaving a legacy that guides our loved ones 

in their grief, 

because of the hope we have in Jesus.

In Jesus’ death-defeating name. Amen.

Read 1 Corinthians 15:12-58.