Paul Miserlian died on November 9, 2006. That’s not a misprint, he died over ten years ago. I remember that beautiful fall day, the kind of day where you try to get one last mowing in for the season because you know there won’t be many more days that are so nice. I remember the phone call that evening informing me that Paul had passed away unexpectedly while mowing his lawn that afternoon. I remember his funeral service and the long procession to the cemetery.
So why am I writing about Paul today?
This past Tuesday, I attended the Leadership One Series luncheon at Winebrenner Theological Seminary (if you’re close to Findlay, I’d encourage you to take advantage of a great learning experience, the next one is scheduled for January 24, 2017 – find more information at www.winebrenner.edu). I was at a table with my son Connor, a couple of folks from the seminary and a couple of local businessmen. At one point in the presentation, we were invited to share with the others at our table one “Wildly Important Goal” from our personal lives or work.
The young businessman across the table offered to share his own “Wildly Important Goal.” He began by sharing, “I was mentored by Paul Miserlian and he always challenged me to have a ministry regardless of what I did to earn a paycheck.” He then went on to share his goal and why that was important and how he was striving to achieve the goal. It was encouraging, refreshing and even inspiring.
The full weight of his words didn’t really sink in until later in the day when I realized that Paul has been with the Lord for a little over ten years! He’s been gone for ten years and people are still talking about how he influenced their lives and pointed them toward Jesus! That is a legacy my friends!
It made me pause and reflect: Will anybody be talking about me ten years after I’m gone? I’m well aware that I’ve done more than my fair share of dumb things over the years. It’s not uncommon for someone to relate, “Hey, Finley, remember that time when you…” followed by a tale from twenty years ago (or much less) that makes me grateful that social media didn’t exist then. I know I will be remembered for some of my stupid stunts and immature pranks, but will there be anything more than some funny stories? Am I investing in others because of Jesus and His Gospel in such a way that, years after I’m gone, others will still be talking about it?
What about you? Will anyone be talking about you and how you pointed them toward Jesus, especially a decade after you’ve left this planet?
My friend Paul left a rich legacy because he poured into others' lives for the sake of Jesus and His Gospel. What kind of legacy am I going to leave? What kind of legacy are you going to leave?
Disciples of Jesus make disciples of Jesus. In order to make disciples, you’ve got to have a life worth imitating. My friend Paul lived a life worth imitating and it’s producing fruit in the lives of others now ten years after his death. Paul wasn’t perfect by any stretch, but he had a genuine faith that he passed on to others who are now passing on the same faith to others as a result.
There’s probably someone in your circle of influence with whom you need to share your life so that they might come to see what it means to follow Jesus. Where do you have the opportunity to invest your life into the life of another so that they can become a disciple of Jesus? Are you leaving a legacy? Will others point back to you—your witness, your investment, your love and your pursuit of Jesus—as the key factor that helped them to embrace the way of Jesus too? If not, what needs to change?
What can you do today that will matter ten years after you’re gone?
Let’s live to leave a legacy!
Christ’s Peace,
Lance
Midwest Region Conference Seeks New Regional Director
All materials should be sent electronically to Pastor Scott Bons, MRC President and Search Committee Chairman at [email protected]. For questions or for more information you can also call Pastor Scott at (217) 820-3999.