“I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.” 2 Pet. 1:15

We talk a lot at CGN about living and leaving a legacy of faith for the next generations.   I’ve discovered over the years that some misconceptions exist about what that means.  There is tendency to think of legacy in terms of how the next generations will think about  me.  We all want to be thought well of, but if that is the primary or total focus of our legacy, we miss the point.

“For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Pet. 1:8

I recently visited the Western Museum of Mining and Industry with my 9-year-old grandson, Corban.  We were fascinated by some of the large steam engines housed there used in the mining industry during the early 1900's. Each engine depended upon several McCoy oil cups to keep the engines well-oiled and functioning.  Inferior copycat versions of the oil cup soon appeared, but they never measured up to the original McCoy oil cup.  Operators soon demanded the “real McCoy” to keep their machinery operating.

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness... For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness (virtue), and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, LOVE.” 2 Peter 1:3, 5-7

In a world where faith means little more than what is right in our own eyes, Peter gives us a description of the real thing—a faith that is authentic and productive faith, received through our knowledge of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.  This genuine faith expresses itself in ever increasing measure through his list of “faith additives” or qualities; virtue (goodness), knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and LOVE (agape).

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness... For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness (virtue), and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, BROTHERLY KINDNESS…” 2 Peter 1:3, 5-7

Mrs. Jones, a elderly woman obviously of meager means and not at all attractive, arrived at the pastor’s study and asked to see the pastor about making arrangements for her late brother’s funeral. Mrs. Jones was told the pastor could not be disturbed because this was his prayer and study time and it must be guarded from interruptions.  She would need to make an appointment, but because he was a very busy man, he would not have any available time for a couple of weeks. The pastor’s assistant offered to have one of the other staff contact her, if she liked.