Written by: Gawie de Lange
Article source: JOY! Magazine
We’ve recently walked with friends and family through the loss of loved ones. In those moments, you can’t help but pause and take stock of your own life. What are we really leaving behind? It’s easy to work hard for money, houses, and material things, but when we die, those stay behind. The true question is: What legacy continues after us?
What truly lasts
At the recent Mighty Men Conference, my good friend and I spoke about this, how to help people leave a lasting legacy. What does that look like in a world obsessed with success and possessions? As I reflected, two moments from the past month reminded me of what legacy truly means.
A son’s joyful testimony
Our eldest son, Joshua, is busy with his matric exams. In one paper, he had to write an essay answering the question, “Why are you happy most of the time?” Afterwards, he phoned me, full of excitement. “Dad,” he said, “I wrote about my life before 7 July 2024 and how that day changed everything. I met the Author of my life, that day I met Jesus. Since then, I’ve had an uncontainable joy.” He told me how friends often ask him how he stays so happy, and he gets to tell them about God’s love – that He is love. They tell him they can see the change in him.
Pointing our children to Jesus
A week later, our middle son, Liam (16), was invited to a school formal in Paarl. The young lady’s mother said she only trusted Liam with her daughter. When she picked him up, she asked, “How are you, Liam?” He smiled and said, “I’m a changed man.” She asked if his new friend had changed him. “No,” he replied, “I met my Saviour, and He changed my life. I wanted to be like my dad, but he pointed me to God.” I was overwhelmed with emotion. That’s when I realised that this is wealth. This is legacy: when your children follow Christ because you led them there. Here are three points to ponder on leaving a lasting legacy:
Legacy starts today
Legacy doesn’t begin when you die; it begins with how you live right now. Every word, decision, and act of love is shaping your story. People may forget your possessions, but they will remember your example. Live so that if your children imitate you, they’ll grow closer to Jesus. “So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psa 90:12).
Legacy is about surrender, not success
The world defines legacy by what we build. God defines it by what we surrender. When you live open-handed before Him, you show your family and friends that faith is worth more than fame. True inheritance isn’t money, it’s a life of trust in Jesus. “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36).
Legacy multiplies through love
Love is the heartbeat and essence of legacy. When people experience God’s love through you, it will bring long-lasting change. Your children learn what love looks like by watching how you treat others, even when life is hard. “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).
Where your legacy points
When all is said and done, the measure of a man is not what he owned, but Who he led others to. You can spend your life making a name for yourself or making His Name known. When you’re gone, will your legacy point to you… or to Jesus?
This article is featured in the December issue of JOY! Magazine. Read a digital version of this magazine here: joygifts.co.za
Click here to KEEP UPDATED on the latest news by subscribing to our FREE weekly newsletter.
> Please support Christian media and journalism in South Africa. Help us to spread the Word of God and take a stand for the truth by making a donation to our ministry. We appreciate your support. Click here to take hands with JOY! Magazine.
Date published: 12/12/2025
Feature image: Image for illustrative purposes only. Artwork adapted from www.freepik.com
DISCLAIMER
JOY! News is a Christian news portal that shares pre-published articles by writers around the world. Each article is sourced and linked to the origin, and each article is credited with the author’s name. Although we do publish many articles that have been written in-house by JOY! journalists, we do not exclusively create our own content. Any views or opinions presented on this website are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the company.
