THE LEGACY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25866, 9 June 1945, Page 2

THE LEGACY

Written for the Otago Daily Times. By the Rev. Gardner Miller It is not everyone who can leave property and money to those he leaves behind, but everyone can leave something which money cannot buy. And it must also be said that something can be left as a legacy, either of body or spirit, that can be a curse to the inheritors. It is so true that no one lives for himself alone and it is even truer that no one can die without leaving something behind. And it is the intangible things, the things that cannot be seen or handled that are the most precious. I would rather be left with a precious memory from a poor man than inherit a fortune from one whose life was a shame to the living. If ever there was a poor man, it was Jesus. And yet no one ever left such a glorious legacy as He did. He was homeless, landless, penniless, yet He lived as though He possessed everything and when He died His will was perhaps the shortest on record, but its generosity was unbounded. It simply stated that anyone could have what He left if they made a claim on it. He left no money, no property, yet what He did leave is beyond price and cannot even be priced. He left as a gift to any who would claim it, the legacy of peace. Have you ever noticed how peace is wrapped up in this wonderful Man? When He was born the Angels sang a song about Him and said His birth was the coming of peace on earth. And when He was going forth to die at the hands of cruel and bigoted men His parting words were about peace. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John xiv, 27). I think that is very significant. There has never been peace on earth for any length of time—and I am inclined to think that there never will be until men accept the legacy of Christ and have peace in their hearts. The Contrast The peace that Jesus leaves to those who will claim it—l must emphasise this, for even material wealth must be claimed, and there are many unclaimed estates—is something very distinctive. Notice what He says about it! He did not want anyone to be in two minds as to what He meant. He will not have anyone making a mistake about this legacy of His. “ I give it not as the world gives its Peace ” (Moffatt). Now what does He mean? Just this; the peace that the world gives is superficial; it is the kind of peace exemplified by the ostrich when it sticks its head in the sand and thinks that danger is now over. It is the peace that is like covering the mouth of a volcano with turf. It certainly looks nice, and as long as the underground forces are quiet there is nothing to be alarmed about. But a covering of turf is poor protection when the volcano begins to erupt. The peace that the world gives is really an illusion. And illusions are like cardboard when a fire gets out of control. The world would make you believe that the absence of awkward circumstances is peace, but Jesus wants us to understand that His peace is something that is independent of circumstances. Jesus does not promise us immunity from the risks and hazards of life but He does give us something that the risks and hazards of life cannot destroy. There is always a contrast in the life and teaching of Jesus between the world and the inner life. And we have only to read carefully the story of His life as we have it in the Gospels to see that the presentation of the inner life was His safeguard against the intrusions of the worldspirit. And anyone who has claimed this legacy of his own, and uses it, (why will Christians allow spiritual wealth to lie unclaimed?) knows quite well that it is the best protection .against hasty judgments and the upsets that are common when worldly interests take first place. In other words the legacy of peace which Jesus willed to all who would claim it is the possession of Adequate Resources.

It is that which steadies you when all the world is reeling; it is that which enables you to take the next step in faith when everything points to disaster. It is having adequate resources to meet every emergency. Have you already noticed how Jesus finished His will? Look again at verse 39; “Arise, lets us go hence” (“Rise, let us be going”). A unique ending to a will. But why? Just this, that Jesus was a realist. He knew His followers had to live in a world of trouble and tribulation. He did not take them out of the world but He gave them something that enables them to conquer it. He gave them “peace"—that is, resources to meet anything the world would do to them. That is the secret—and the power of the Christian life at its bsst. Of course we have trouble in the world, but we must not allow the trouble to come inside and trouble our hearts. To use this legacy is to be master of your circumstances. Paul knew how to use it. Read the story of the shipwreck in Acts xxvii, and you will see a man who had something inside himself that made him a leader and brought calm out of panic. Jesus Himself was going into a r’eal world of real conflict, lying, treachery, cruelty —and crucifixion. He was even going into the grave—the world’s last stronghold. But he went into it all with the ver' r thing He beoueathed to you and me—peace, which is adequate resources to meet every emergency. Peace is a living, active quality, not a passive feeling that sighs—and then dies. Take possession of your legacy.