“Their graves are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they called lands by their own names. Man in his pomp will not remain; he is like the beasts that perish.”- Psalm 49:11-12
Verse 11-12 of Psalm 49 grants us insight into the inner thoughts of those who confront their own mortality. Their belief revolves around the idea that their houses and dwelling places will last for generations. They even name their lands after themselves, all in the pursuit of leaving behind a lasting legacy.
You may not think you are living for your own legacy, but do you ever care what other people think about you? Don’t you find yourself even caring about what people think of you who you will never actually see again in your life? We may not feel we have much to leave behind, but most of the time we are working hard to establish a good reputation for ourselves.
So is living for our own legacy really that destructive? The answer lies in how this way of life turns our hearts inward. When we become consumed with self and focused solely on our own name, our every decision revolves around personal gain. We live at the center of our universe, giving little room for selfless actions. This self-centered approach also hinders our walk with God, making us hesitant to endure suffering for His sake. The fear of how we will be remembered by others becomes a barrier to engaging in suffering on behalf of Christ. The more we make life about ourselves, the less it can be about Jesus.
The Cross Of Christ
What does the cross say to us when we’re living for our own legacy? The cross proclaims that we were created for the glory of God. We are crafted to worship Him, and Jesus’ sacrifice underscores the undeniable truth that God is worthy of all praise. Living solely for our own legacy is a surefire way to ruin our lives.
#5 – Just Keep Walking
“This is the path of those who have foolish confidence; yet after them people approve of their boasts.”- Psalm 49:13
Psalm 49 continues to reveal a common path in our lives, a way of thinking and living that is all too familiar. It’s like a subtle current that slowly pulls us further away from the life we truly desire. This path becomes our default, leading us to a mundane existence, and it’s often hard to even recognize.
Many of us are familiar with the idea of drifting, especially those living by the beach. It’s like the gentle pull of the ocean that moves us further from our starting point without us realizing it. The way of the world is no different – it creates ruts in our lives and convinces us that it’s normal.
The Cross Of Christ
What does the cross say when we’re caught in the way of the world, slowly drifting away from God? The cross calls us to repent. Every one of us needs to change, and it should be a fundamental value in our lives, marriages, and churches. Repentance involves changing our direction, steering it toward God. If we didn’t need a radical life altering change—what we called in article 1 a radical reorientation–then Jesus would have never needed to die for our sins! The alternative is simple: “Just keep walking” if we want to ruin our lives. A life shaped by the cross transforms our motto from “Just keep walking,” to “Just keep turning.” The wisdom of the cross leads to a lifetime of joyful repentance.
In this third installment of our series, we’ve explored two more destructive paths presented in Psalm 49. The cross reminds us that our purpose is to bring glory to God and that true life requires radical reorientation toward Him, breaking free from the mindless drift of the world. We desperately need the wisdom of the cross.
