One definition of legacy is something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past, according to Webster’s Dictionary.
Abraham, as we know him, left a huge mark upon his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and even we who are the children of faith today. Galatians 3 declares, “Know ye, therefore, that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.”
Abraham is known as the father of faith. We spiritually are like his sons and daughters. Even in the “hall of faith” chapter of the Bible, many men and women of giant spiritual stature are eulogized.
God takes 12 verses to tell about this father of faith. His name is presented 312 times in the Bible. From his lineage would come men like David, Elijah, Jeremiah, Paul and Peter. Even Christ would come from Abraham’s lineage.
Abraham left a legacy. He is one of the most well-known men in the Bible. Yet, he wasn’t known as the biggest guy in town or the strongest one at the gym. His personality doesn’t seem to be out there. Abraham really seems laid-back. He definitely was easygoing as he allowed Lot to pick his own land.
Abraham doesn’t get wound quickly. He wasn’t referred to like Samson and killing 1,000 men with a jawbone of a donkey. He wasn’t popular like David by slaying a giant named Goliath. He isn’t even known like Peter and preaching a fiery message at Pentecost. We don’t see him raising the dead. We don’t see him healing leprosy. That is not who he was.
We see him making his share of mistakes as well. He tried to lie a few times, to stretch the truth or tell a half-truth. He was a little fearful in that he talks his wife into being a part of his lies. They made mistakes. They messed up and were far from perfect. Abe and Sarah didn’t have a perfect romance. Their mess-ups even went into the bedroom. They’re far from a functional family and perhaps an early definition of dysfunctional.
 As men and women, we are far from perfect. Like Abraham and Sarah, we all have made our share of mistakes. But that doesn’t discount what God wants to do in our life. So, Abraham still is not counted out in God’s eyes of grace, and neither are you. God still loved him so much that later, God would refer to him as his friend. Second Chronicles 20:7 says, “Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend forever?” He is the one guy in the whole Bible whom God calls His friend.
I think God is looking for some Abrahams today. You don’t have to be a shining star to serve God. You don’t have to be able to sing or preach to make an impact on God. You don’t have to be out front to be in the front. You don’t have to be first to matter in God’s Kingdom! “Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled, which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness, and he was called the Friend of God” (James 2:22-23).
To become a friend of God starts simply with believing. God may not need you to slay a literal giant. He may not need you to pull down physical strongholds. But he does need you to start believing.
Believing in God can begin your legacy.

Crutchfield is the pastor of Life UPC and a member of the United Ministerial Alliance.