And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:18-20 (KJV)

Here, Jesus gave us the principles of making disciples. When people are born-again and we teach them and help them to grow in the Lord, it creates an eternal impact, a lasting legacy.

When someone you know has passed on into eternity and they had taught you by word and example, those things they imparted to you and deposited in you become part of their legacy. It lives on. And in the same way, you are building a legacy of your own wherein others can follow you and maybe even do more than you have done. We lay a a foundation upon which others can build.

Recently, the man who was our pastor for many years, whom we considered our father in the faith, finished his race and entered eternity. He was a man of God’s Word, who lived a lifestyle of prayer, fasting, and love. He taught me how a man of God is to live. He walked in wisdom, integrity, and compassion. He was one of a rare breed of person who lived what he taught. That’s what made him so effective.

We were taught to love Jesus, to love and live God’s Word, and to love others. We were shown the value of feeding the poor, clothing the naked, and sharing Jesus through the Word, Spirit, and power. He established a food program, a clothing bus ministry, and held events where we ministered to people’s physical needs and also preached the Word to them. His passion for soul-winning inspired us, and he was led to go to other nations around the world to preach the gospel and exercise the working of miracles and healings. The scope of his vision and the extent of his ministry has been felt far and wide.

And now, he has moved on to heaven, and it looks as if his work and his vision will end… or will it? The beauty of God’s plan of discipleship is the legacy a person leaves behind that continues to go on and on. As we learn from people, whether it be pastors, parents, friends, or others, we have the opportunity to continue their legacy. As we do what they taught and lived, their impact goes on in the earth. Legacy is an eternal thing.

Every time we pray, give, share Jesus, fast, or support ministries who do the same, the legacy of those who imparted into us lives on in honor of them. And all the while we are bearing much fruit for God’s kingdom and the Lord is glorified. Consider that what we do for the kingdom of God will result in heavenly rewards for us, plus it will also be credited to those who sowed their lives into us.

As we disciple others in the same way that we’ve been discipled, we carry out the plan of God. It makes the world a better place, and more and more people enter the kingdom and make disciples themselves. What was sown in us is sown in others, multiplying the legacies that live on. So, let’s live for God with all our hearts, walking in what others have taught and shown us, and the legacy will continue for all eternity.