A Legacy of Good Testimony

This week, Christians in Geneva celebrated the life and legacy of a man whose life touched the lives of countless number of people across many continents.

I knew of Pastor Philip K. I never met him but his life and testimony touched me beyond words. He was the founding Pastor of one of the churches here in Geneva. He was baptised in the Holy Spirit at the age of 10 years. We learnt that he led members of his family up to the 3^rd generation to Christ. His influence was not limited to his family alone, many people from different countries testified, at the memorial and funeral services held in his honour, of how he touched their lives. He had a passion for souls, he wanted to take the gospel to the Philippines and for many years he asked God to make a way for him. God did.

Pastor Philip K. went home to be with the Lord after a victorious crusade in the Philippines on February 27^th, 2013 at the age of 68 years.

In his quiet simplicity and humility, he created opportunities for others and invested in the lives of numerous people. Many were deeply moved by his testimony, which left us pondering on whether we are majoring on what is really important as Christians. What really matters the most to God is that we seize every opportunity to make the message of the cross known to all and to fulfil His purpose in our lives.

As I pondered on this, I remembered the story of a well-loved Christian woman, a disciple, who lived in Joppa. Her name was Dorcas. She fell sick and she died (Acts 9: 36-43).

While she was alive, she had a great testimony. Her life touched the lives of people in the  town where she lived, using the skills God blessed her with. She was wholly devoted to the good and charitable works she was constantly doing. She fed and clothed the widows and the poor. To the extent that ALL the widows brought out the tunics and shirts she made with her hands for them.

Such was the impact she had on the people in her town that they sent for Peter—"Please come at once!" They had an expectation. He came. He prayed. And he presented her to them alive.

I noted some commonality in the lives of the two people I shared here - Pastor Philip K. and Dorcas. They were disciples of Christ.

Who is a disciple?

A disciple is

• a follower and a student of a mentor, teacher or other figure (Wikipedia).
• One who embraces and assists in spreading the teaching of another, in this instance, Jesus (Freeonlinedictionary.com)
• One who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another - Jesus. (Merriam-Webster)

Disciples work with their hands and walk with their feet for the good of others and for the glory and honour of God's name.

These two personalities embraced the gospel of Christ, but they did not hold it to themselves alone, they assisted in spreading the message of the cross as far as God gave them influence.

They lived out their faith by touching lives, investing in lives and impacting lives in their sphere of influence.

It starts with us bearing fruits that are consistent with genuine repentance and having a conduct that is worthy of a changed heart - Luke 3:8.

As Christians, we must bear fruits that will make Christianity attractive to everyone we come in contact with.

If you have the pulpit, use it very well to bring souls to God and to build lives in the faith. But quite honestly and in the words of my sista, Bidemi, in her book Sistapower— "gone are the days when you need a pulpit within the four walls of a church to impact lives…"

Each of us in every place God has put us and has given us influence can impact lives and touch them for good. We have been called to show forth the excellency of the word of truth where we are and by the way we live our lives.

Paul charged Titus to be an example by doing good works of every kind. In everything we do, like him, we are also charged to reflect the integrity, sincerity and seriousness of our faith - Titus 2:7.

It is not about us seeking to do good for own vain glory, it is for the life of God to overflow through us to touch and impart the lives of others. That is why living a life that makes a difference to the lives of other people is dependent on how much of the life of God is in us.

It is not about leaving our imprint on the lives of others but we seek to let the image of God be engraved on their hearts.

Every moment of each day, we all are writing a legacy — with our words and with our actions — so why don't we make it a legacy that will endure?

What are we teaching others by the way we live our lives? What story is our life telling others by the way we handle and face life's challenges? What we are doing now that will impact lives beyond now?

Pastor Philip K. touched lives in all the places where God gave him influence. Dorcas touched the lives of the widows and the poor around her. They both left a lasting legacy. Is your life touching and impacting the lives of those God brings along your way for good?

Ultimately, what we do now will continue to bear testimonies about us even after we leave this world. I want mine to be a lasting legacy of a good testimony—a life lived to touch lives for good and for the glory of God. 

Be assured that God can use you to do amazing things of eternal significance for His own glory where you are right now.

In what tangible ways can we impact and invest in lives of people right now where we are? Share with us in the comment box below and encourage others.