A Lasting Legacy

A Devotional by Margot Cioccio

Proverbs 10:7

The memory of the righteous is blessed, 

But the name of the wicked will rot.

About the time I became a Christian a man named Keith Green died in a tragic plane crash. A few years later there were memorial tribute concerts happening. (I linked you to the actual video of that tribute with Melody sharing the story and photos. It's powerfully inspiring) You would think after a few years of such activity the interest in this man's life would have died out. He had a profound impact on many people, myself included. Thirty one years laters his life still speaks and his music and writing is still challenging people to live a life sold out to the Lord.
Want to be inspired and challenged? Here is a downloadable version of Keith's book No Compromise

As a very young believer I was introduced to the Last Day's Magazine that was put by Keith and Melody Green. They feature various past issues on the ministry website. I remember being challenged by so many of the articles. I have to say that this ministry helped get me off to a strong and healthy start as a believer.  For years I have sung and listened to Keith's music. With Youtube you can see some of the videos. Its amazing that Keith's concerts were rarely video taped, he didn't like camera's. He wanted the focus to be on Jesus not him. Yet we have videos of his music and ministry because a month before the crash he was at a big outdoor festival where they recorded all the groups. That video became the memorial concert. I really hope you will take the time to watch it. Keith had an amazing heart for world missions.

If you went home to be with the Lord today - would you leave a legacy of faith that others could follow and be encourage and inspired by?

I found this article by Keith Green called What's Wrong With The Gospel? It will challenge you to look at some of the ways we have watered it down.

“If your heart takes more pleasure in reading novels, or watching TV, or going to the movies, or talking to friends, rather than just sitting alone with God and embracing Him, sharing His cares and His burdens, weeping and rejoicing with Him, then how are you going to handle forever and ever in His presence...? You’d be bored to tears in heaven, if you’re not ecstatic about God now!”
~ Green, Keith

Remembering Keith Green  is a fun sight by the Dillard's, a couple that worked closely with Keith. 

The main website for Last Day's Ministries has a lot of great resources and is still going strong 31 years after Keith's departure from this earth. 

One of my favorite Keith Green songs... The Sheep and the Goats There are many others on Youtube.

Anyway this weekend it will be 31 years since Keith went home to be with the Lord. Seemed a fitting thing to honor a life that has challenged and has inspired my own.  Thirty one years ago in October I became a believer when I was twenty one. Keith was 28 when he died on July 28th of that same year.  Here's where people are sharing their stories and memories of Keith and his impact on their lives. There are at this point 42 pages of short testimonies from lives who were touched in some way. Maybe you were one of them and have lost touch with Last Day's Ministry and do not realize it is still thriving. The memory of the righteous is a blessing. Keith's life as a believer was about knowing Jesus and following Him with his whole heart. He was a gift from the hands of a loving God, that keeps on giving long after his own race was run. Keith did not set out to leave a legacy - his heart was to be a Christian follower of Jesus. One to whom God would one day say "Well done my good and faithful servant, well done."

Prayer: Lord I pray that you will continue to breathe upon the work of Last Day's Ministries. Thank you for the many people who were inspired to go to the mission field, or to prayer or to a deeper commitment to following you, through Keith's songs and messages.  I pray that you would continue to bless his memory and that many others would be drawn to you for many many more years.  Help us all to live in closer communion with you and cause our lives to shine for your glory while we yet live and as an on going legacy long after we come home to you.