You can fool people who don’t know you. You can convince them of anything. If you’re a coach, you can make it appear that you’re really in it for your players. If you’re a player, you can make it appear that you’re a great teammate and a hard worker. You can make people who don’t know you believe anything you want them to believe, good or bad.
But, the only legacy that matters is among those who really know you. You can’t fool them. People who don’t know you may think you aren’t much, but those close to you truly know. People who don’t know you might think you hung the moon, but those close to you know the truth.
Your teammates, coaches, players. They know the truth. So does your family and close friends.
Your public persona is a farce…you can make it whatever you want.
But, God and the people closest to you really know who you are. That’s the only legacy that matters.
Proverbs 10:7–“The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot.”
Let’s face it, being righteous (as God defines it in Scripture) means you’ll be misunderstood and possibly hated publicly. Our society celebrates sin and holds up wickedness (as God defines it in Scripture) as virtuous and brave when it is defended. So, if you’re living to be approved and loved by society as a whole, you won’t find God’s blessing there.
Being righteous won’t get you very far in public, but it’s the only legacy that matters. As a teammate, coach, parent, friend, or coworker, be the kind of person whose memory is a blessing.
Lord Jesus, please help me to live for the only legacy that matters…being righteous before you and before those who know me best. I’m done with creating a public persona. Amen.
