When ex-Beatle John Lennon was murdered in 1980, there was an outpouring of emotion throughout the world for the man who penned famous phrases in song such as "All you need is love" and "Give peace a chance". Musically, he left behind a legacy of peace, love and hope for millions.
But what kind of legacy did he really leave behind? In an interview, his son Julian had this to say about his famous father: "My dad was a hypocrite. He could talk about peace and love out loud to the world, but he could never show it to those who supposedly meant the most to him, his wife (whom he left when Julian was five) and son. The only thing he taught me was how not to be a father."
As God's men and spiritual leaders in our homes, the first people who ought to see us as authentic Christians are our children. Scripture warns us that the sins of the father will be passed on to the children and grandchildren--meaning that we have an incredible opportunity and responsibility to shape the spiritual walk of our sons and daughters. Many of us bear the scars of fathers who were physically or emotionally absent. Yet through Christ, we can start a legacy of godliness, faithfulness, honor, integrity and character that points future generations to our Heavenly Father.
1 Timothy 4:12 says Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. So the question is, what kind of example are you leaving behind?
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