Three Wooden Crosses
Albert Einstein once claimed, “If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music, live my daydreams in music, and see my life in terms of music.” Einstein’s quote resonates with me.
If God had not called me into ministry and I could do anything I wanted, I would probably be a musician. As a boy growing up, it’s what I dreamed about, thought about, and worked diligently to develop. Strip away much of what most know about me, and there is a musician within.
There’s a line in one of my favorite Randy Travis songs. The song’s title is “Three Wooden Crosses,” and the line is, “It’s not what you take when you leave this world behind you – it’s what you leave behind you when you go.” I admire the songwriter’s creativity and the poignant and direct story the lyrics weave. To whet your appetite, the lead sentence alone hooked me the first time I heard it. “A farmer and a teacher, a hooker and a preacher, riding on a midnight bus, bound for Mexico.”
When you encountered this article’s title, I suspect your mind defaulted to Golgotha and the crucifixion. The three wooden crosses of Randy Travis’ song refer to the common practice of placing wooden crosses along roadways where fatalities occurred – those places where an earthly life reached its conclusion. In a way, the two are connected. When Jesus left this world behind, He left behind His followers and gave them one commission and one commandment. He made provisions for their well-being and ensured they had everything they needed to not only live an abundant life but also to accomplish the kingdom objectives He laid out.
Through legacy planning with a kingdom focus, we can follow Jesus’ example. Paul lays out an indisputable fact of this life in 1 Timothy 6:7. There the Bible records, “For we have brought nothing into the world, and it is certain we cannot take anything out of it either.” As stewards of God’s blessing, in addition to leaving a legacy and provision for our families, we all have an opportunity to make plans that include resources that continue to fund God’s kingdom agenda.
The Foundation offers churches assistance in establishing a legacy culture of generosity. Through conducting House In Order Seminars where basic estate planning principles are shared, the Foundation has assisted hundreds of families in creating legacy documents which include millions of dollars of resources that will fund kingdom ministries for years to come. If you would like information on how your church can schedule a consult or seminar, please contact the Foundation offices.
Bart McDonald | SBTF Executive Director