AVIZANDUM: The Legacy

Avizandam. In Scots law, this term describes the careful consideration given by the judge before an important decision. Join me each week as we explore various topics from a spiritual perspective and take matters. Avise endum What is your legacy? What are you leaving behind you?

What reputation are you going to pass on to your sons and daughters? If you're single and thinking of getting married in the future, What would you want to leave behind? I realize financial provision is the first thing that comes to mind, and certainly parents should consider leaving a financial provision for their children if they're able to do so. But isn't there more than that? What is your legacy?

Aaron, who was the brother of Moses, was the high priest in the tabernacle. That was an exceedingly great privilege. Moses was instructed to make holy garments for Aaron, your brother, for glory and for beauty. Skilled people made these garments to consecrate him for the priesthood, we're told in Exodus 28. Once a year The high priest went into the Holy of Holies on the great day of atonement.

so you can understand the importance of the high priest. Here's the point I want to make. In Exodus 29 verse 29 we read The holy garments of Aaron shall be for his sons after him, and They shall be anointed in them and ordained in them.

So after the death of Aaron these garments made for beauty and glory were left to his sons. What a legacy. Travelling through the wilderness as Erne did, it is unlikely he accumulated material possessions.

So what then shall he leave for his sons? He would have no silver or gold, but this he had, and the holy raiment of a saintly man. Reading these verses, I thought of the legacy left behind by my father, who, while not a poor man, was certainly not rich. With six sons I can't remember receiving anything when he died. What do you have?

was passed on to my mother, and rightly so. but another heritage was passed on to myself and my brothers. The Example of a Godly Man My father was committed to the word of God. every day I saw him sitting in his arm chair in the living room reading his Bible. If I had any Biblical question or wanted to know where a particular verse was, He could direct me to it.

No, he wasn't a pastor. He was a man of God.

Now this was before the digital age, obviously. But he could answer my questions from the Word of God. Another legacy he left. was his commitment to prayer. Not only did he pray for her family, Each large day he went into his bedroom, got down on his knees and prayed.

We knew not to go into the room before we left home to worship God on the Lord's Day. What a legacy. So What legacy am I leaving to my grandchildren? What about you? I'm sure you agree.

that there is a legacy far greater than money. property, investments and so on. I want to conclude with a poem written by the attorney James MS Tate, with whom I had the privilege of working with for five years. he left a rich legacy for me and many others. The legacy?

of a godly example.

So here is his poem. Listen carefully. It's based on Exodus twenty nine. Verse twenty nine. What shall he leave his sons?

Silver nor gold nor heritage has he, nor herd nor fold. Not these can he bequeath. But this he can. The holy raiment Of a saintly man. The fair example of a life well spent Of daily tendance in the sacred tent of ever praiseful heart and reverent mind.

What nobler gift could father leave behind? that Son who drawing near the throne of grace can say, How well my father knew this place. How oft I have heard his voice in fervent prayer Happy that son. that richly dowered heir. Alexander.

You're listening to the weekly Avizandam podcast from The Verdict, featuring Pastor John Monroe. John is Senior Pastor at Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Listen to John's daily program, The Verdict, on broadcast radio or major podcast platforms. For more information about the Verdict Ministry, visit us online at calvarychurch.com/slash the verdict.