| Matthew 7:20 – “Thus, you will recognize them by their fruits.” |
One of the more sobering questions we should all ask ourselves is, “what will I be remembered for?”
Is it some great accomplishment?
Is it kindness? What kindness?
We confuse what is important now to what is valued later. One is your standing while the other is your legacy.
It happened to a young man.
At age 5, he wrote a concerto for harpsichord.
By age 10, he was a published composer, playing the likes of Bach and Handel from memory.
Two years later, he received an honorary appointment as concertmaster for the Salzburg Symphony. Within a few years, everyone was speaking about him in the Austrian town.
But he died at 35. He was penniless and died in abject poverty. No one knew him when he died, and his widow seemed unfazed about his death. Only a few friends attended his funeral, and they cancelled his graveside due to a storm. His grave virtually disappeared.
Yet he had written 48 symphonies, 47 arias, dues and quartets for orchestras and more than a dozen operas. In all he had over 600 original compositions.
Many of the richest men are forgotten. But today, people remain enthralled by the music of Johannes Chrystostomus Wolfgangus Amadeus Theophilus Mozart.
Why do we remember Mozart? By what he left after his life.
Jesus reminds us of a simple fact. “Thus, you will recognize them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:20, ESV)
As we live, seeds get planted. Many come later. It is the fruit of life that gets remembered.
So again, the question–what will you be remembered for? That’s what we live for today.
Robert G. Taylor
robertgtaylor.com
