But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. —Matthew 6:20 (NIV) 

“This will be your legacy.” These words referred to the last major project I completed in my role as an Instructional Coach. 

Just before I retired, I had presented the finished product—a planning tool for the teachers in our district. Essentially, it provided a roadmap of our literacy curriculum so the teachers could choose the lessons best suited to meet the needs of their students. 

For two years my planning tool served the teachers well. But then the leadership of the district changed directions. When they adopted a new curriculum, my project, and therefore my legacy, became obsolete. 

Jesus shared these words about where we should focus our energies and passions:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21 NIV)

I’m thankful for the tool I created for the teachers in my district. God wants us to work hard and be effective in our work. But Jesus reminds us this isn’t where we will make the most impact. 

Eventually the work we do here for earthly purposes will fade away. Instead, He calls us to set our hearts on heavenly, or spiritual, pursuits which will have an eternal impact. Our hearts will follow where we put our energies and efforts. The more we invest in our spiritual pursuits, the more we will be grounded and centered in eternity. 

This may look different for each of us. Personally, I’ve always wanted to help people connect with God in practical ways. Writing these blog posts and teaching Bible lessons provide avenues for me to do this. I firmly believe that as people draw closer to God, they will enjoy the abundant life Jesus promises (John 10:10). 

But recently I felt the nudge to do something more. So when my pastors invited me to a three-year mission training program, I accepted without hesitation. Last May, I spent a week in Pennsylvania training with the other members of the program. Looking around at the group, I stood out like a sore thumb. I’m clearly the oldest—and not just by a few years. By decades. Three to four to be exact.

Seeing these young people’s love and zeal for the Lord encouraged my soul. I gained a vision for the impact they will have on the people in their generation. In return, I hope they saw in me how we can maintain our spiritual fervor—even into our sixties. This, I hope, will be part of my eternal legacy. 

It’s so easy to get caught up in the daily tasks of life. While these are important, let’s not let them blind us to what is even more significant—our spiritual lives. This is where our real impact, or legacy, will be felt.

Dear Jesus, thank You for the reminder of what will have an eternal impact. We know our earthly work can bring us joy and satisfaction—but these will only be temporary. Help us to focus on our spiritual pursuits which will bring us lasting happiness. We pray this in Your name. Amen.