Let me ask you some questions. What involves mind if you consider Benedict Arnold? Is “traitor” your first thought? How about Mother Teresa? Do you think that of Missionaries of Charity? How about Adolf Hitler? Do you think that ‘tyrant dictator who murdered thousands and thousands’? What about Albert Einstein? Do you think that of the one who discovered the idea of relativity?
The thoughts that got here to your mind are likely the legacies of those well-known individuals. The fact is, all of us create legacies. So one query we’d like to ask ourselves is, will my legacy be well remembered or frowned upon? The larger query, though, is how our legacy will likely be viewed in heaven—as helpful or detrimental to the constructing of God’s everlasting kingdom.
One definition of the word legacy, in accordance with Merriam-Webster, is “something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor.” How does the fear of God affect our posterity? To begin, let’s return to the daddy of religion, Abraham. On the mountain, once the angel halted him from killing Isaac with the knife, the Lord said to him:
Blessing I’ll bless you, and multiplying I’ll multiply your descendants . . . and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. (Genesis 22:17 NKJV)
I’ve read these words for years and wondered why there are double references. Finally, my curiosity got one of the best of me, so I reached out to inquire of a rabbi, who replied:
In Jewish understanding when you will have a double reference like this, it’s all about multiplying . . . and since one verb tense is present tense and the opposite verb tense is future tense, it’s described as one blessing on father Abraham, but God is promising that there will likely be blessings on his descendants. In other words, in blessing you, Abraham, I’ll proceed to bless you thru your kids.
Holy fear advantages our descendants—“They will possess the gates of their enemies.” This is wonderful, and we’ll discuss it in a moment, but first there’s one other truth that ought to be highlighted from the rabbi’s explanation. Holy fear continues to bless us through our descendants, and that is true not only on this life, but eternally.
Our without end is affected by our descendants creating greater honor and influence for us each in our near future and in the subsequent life.
In eternity, many will possess greater honor and influence because of their descendants’ obedience in constructing the dominion. Abraham is a superb example; his everlasting influence will likely be enhanced by his offspring— Joseph, Samuel, David, Daniel, Isaiah, and after all Jesus, simply to name a couple of. Even now, his legacy continues. This blessing applies to all who fear God; they “will likely be long remembered,” and “have influence and honor” (Psalm 112:6, 9). Many think the whole lot starts over in heaven. However, this isn’t true.
As believers, we’ve already begun to shape everlasting history, for we’re told, “Their good deeds will likely be remembered without end” (Psalm 112:9).
Now let’s turn to God’s promise that our descendants will likely be conquerors— “Possess the gate of their enemies.” In a more relevant vernacular, it could possibly be stated that our offspring won’t be overcome by those that despise God but as an alternative will likely be successful leaders and influencers (Deuteronomy 28:13). You might imagine this is just for Abraham and his direct descendants. But we’re told, “Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the identical blessing he promised to Abraham” (Galatians 3:14). This is wonderful news!
The psalmist writes,
“How joyful are those that fear the Lord and enjoyment of obeying his commands. Their children will likely be successful all over the place; a complete generation of godly people will likely be blessed.” – Psalm 112:1–2
The word generation means “an extended time,” and it references our posterity. Zechariah prophesied, “His mercy is on those that fear Him from generation to generation” (Luke 1:50 NKJV). Not only will our immediate children achieve success, but this promise encompasses generations.
At the time of this writing Lisa and I actually have 4 sons who range in age from late twenties to mid- thirties. The fears I battled once they were young centered around their lives ending early, whether or not they would resent their dad being on the road preaching for sometimes over 200 nights a 12 months, or that they might resent God for calling me to this. One evening, just after ministering at a conference removed from home, I noticed my lack of holy fear was stopping me from relinquishing ownership of their lives to Jesus. I shouted in prayer, “Father, these 4 sons usually are not mine anymore; they now belong to Jesus. You can do whatever you desire with them, but devil, you won’t ever touch them!” Since that day, I’ve not feared for his or her lives.
Soon afterward God revealed a big truth to me through His Word. Phinehas was a grandson to Aaron the priest. He was passionate for God and the people of Israel. His strong holy fear led him to do what other believers cowered from; he boldly stood for what was right. In doing so, God said, “Now tell him that I’m making my special covenant of peace with him. In this covenant, I give him and his descendants a everlasting right to the priesthood” (Numbers 25:12). In essence, his descendants were promised a more intimate relationship with God because of his holy fear.
Now, years later, each of our 4 sons have worked at Messenger International for a minimum of nine years. Two are published authors, all of them are leaders, and most significantly, all of them walk within the holy fear of God.
When our sons went wayward for brief stents during their teenage years, Lisa and I cried out to the Lord for His promise to be established in our sons, and we continued to live in holy fear. We never lost faith, and neither do you have to. God’s promise to you who fear the Lord is that your kids “will likely be mighty on earth” (Psalm 112:2 NKJV).
Taken from “The Awe of God: The Astonishing Way a Health Fear of God Transforms Your Life” by John Bevere. Copyright 2023 by John P. Bevere. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson Publishing. www.harpercollinschristian.com
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Tim Robberts
