Alfred Bernhard Nobel was a Swedish chemist, engineer, inventor, businessman, and philanthropist. He held 355 different patents, ‘dynamite’ being the most famous. The synthetic element ‘Nobelium’ was named after him. He owned ‘Bofors’, which he redirected from its previous role as primarily an iron and steel producer to a major manufacturer of cannons and other armaments. His name also survives in companies such as ‘Dynamit Nobel’  and ‘Akzo Nobel’, which are descendants of mergers with companies that Nobel established.

One day in 1888, Alfred read what was supposed to be his brother’s obituary in a French newspaper. As he read, he realized that the editor had confused the two brothers and had written an obituary for him instead. The headline proclaimed, “The merchant of death is dead,” and went on to say “Dr. Alfred Nobel, who became rich by finding ways to kill more people faster than ever before, died yesterday.”

Not surprisingly, he was deeply troubled by this glimpse of what the world’s memory of him might have been, had he actually died on that day. This stirred in him a desire to be remembered in a different and pleasanter way. On 27 November 1895, at the Swedish-Norwegian Club in Paris, Nobel signed his last will and testament and set aside the bulk of his estate to establish the Nobel Prizes, to be awarded annually, without distinction of nationality, to give to those whose work most benefitted humanity. This is, of course, the true story of Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite and the founder of the Nobel Prize.

I ask for this legacy dear God who is light..

Let memories of me not bring despair at night…

You who make all things blessed and bright…

Many to inspire, use them aright..”

Yohan Philip in his book “The Pursuit of Extraordinary”

In 1^st Kings, a book of the Bible, in chapter 19:15-16 we see God coming to the prophet Elijah and saying thus “And the Lord said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room”. God here is commissioning Elijah to anoint two kings and one prophet so that they can take up office. The prophet was “to be prophet in thy room” meaning, ‘to take Elijah’s place’. We see Elijah doing what he was commanded to do by God. But the account of what transpires would tell us that Elijah mentored Elisha to take up the office in his stead for ten years before it actually happened. The need for another person was not created by Elijah’s sudden demise or an event similar to that. But God who knew, Elijah like everyone else will have to move on, whatever the reason be, was teaching all who read, through this passage that he needed to prepare so that what he worked to build, would outlast him. This is a lesson that transcends time, to all of humanity.

God’s plan is not that the impact your life makes in this world and its people ends with you. The work God used you to start has to outlast you. God is teaching us through Elijah’s story that the building of such a legacy needs processes to be framed and successors to be groomed.

I was 18 years of age, when first given the opportunity to lead the choir for one of the services in my home church. Doing my undergraduate degree at that time, I was able to volunteer this way for three years. At home, loving my lifestyle, finding joy volunteering at church, enjoying my friendships, I had no plans to move on.

One day as I was praying, I got a thought deep inside, that I should do something to train others also to lead worship sessions. I prayed for God’s grace and help to do it right and put in committed effort into the implementation of a God given plan.

Two years later, a little before I turned 21, I wrote an entrance exam and qualified to pursue a Master’s programme in Management. Over the course of the two-year programme, the study would take me to Ernakulam and then to Germany. I had to move. Being sure it was God’s will for my life, I moved and ended up missing a lot of gatherings at my home church, for the next 2 years.

My move would have disrupted the work I had been doing during the past years. But the God inspired idea of ‘preparation’ ensured that a team had already been trained and was ready to take over from me as I stepped down. This ensured, by God’s grace, that the work would go on unhindered for as long as God wanted it to.

The work should “go on” even after we “move on”

Yohan Philip in his book “The Pursuit of Extraordinary”

An example worth considering is the work started by Jesus Christ while on assignment to save humanity from eternal damnation. After his earthly assignment was completed, He ascended to heaven, but his work on earth was not disrupted. The disciples he mentored for a period of three and a half years continued what He had started. They went all over the globe and proclaimed His message to all mankind. This resulted in a movement where people around the world accepted Jesus Christ as their Saviour. The work continues even today.

It took Jesus a period of 3 and half years to leave behind a legacy that would last for as long as He wanted it to. One key behind His working this way was that, Jesus always lived with the understanding that He would have to “move on”.  Mathew, the Gospel writer records Jesus as saying  “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many”. (Mathew 20:28)

Hebrews 9:27 in the Bible says “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment”. Our Creator here, is reminding us that death is a surety for all people and we need to prepare for this unavoidable event. I want to share two matters of great importance in this regard:

 

1. Ensure that what awaits you beyond death is not the horror of hell, but, the happiness that can be found only in heaven.The key to ensure that you escape hell’s clutches and receive heaven’s happiness is to put your faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ while you are in this life. This is a decision that can bring rewards, beyond the realm of your earthly existence.
2. Ensure that the work God used you to start and the impact your life has, persists beyond your physical existence. The key to this would be living life, whereby you leave a worthwhile legacy. A legacy can take many forms – children, grandchildren, a business, an ideal, a book, a community, a home, a song, some piece of ourselves…

Here are a few things you need to consider:

1. The inevitability of “moving on” is a matter never to be forgotten. It will happen because of many factors of which death is the most potent. This is a fact none can fight.
2. We owe much to the legacy our predecessors left. This should stir up gratitude in our hearts. But it should also instill in us a sense of responsibility towards the forthcoming generations.
3. This sense of “working to create a legacy”, gives fresh meaning to our life.  It gives us a perspective on what’s important by helping us decide on the kind of life we need to live so that our legacy will be what we desire.
4. Thinking about our legacy is also a great means that will help us resist the temptation to take short sighted decisions that are overly focused on short-term gain.
5. Considering our legacy can improve the overall quality of our long-term decisions. This is because the thought, motivates us to act in ways that benefit future generations.
6. People feel better in the face of death if they are a part of something that will live on after them. The thought of leaving behind a legacy guarantees a happier life.
7. Avoiding a negative legacy can be more motivating than simply wanting to build a positive one. Think about how you want to be remembered by other people and act on those thoughts. Before death catches up with you, make sure that you create something meaningful that will outlive yourself.

American Philosopher and Psychologist, the late William James said “The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it”.

“Legacy is not about what you have…It’s about what you give”

Yohan Philip in his book “The Pursuit of Extraordinary”

How can you keep your legacy in mind as you go about your everyday decisions?

1. Discern whether God would have you continue what he got you to start. Consider the scope, the cost and the result of continuing it. Make it a point to pray for guidance.
2. Define the vision and the processes that will get you there.
3. Discuss these with your current team. Encourage input. Engage them in owning these principles and shaping a long-term picture of the future.
4. Delegate the project to a well chosen team at the right time. Selection can be done from existing team members or others from the outside. Proper mentoring and motivation is required. Weeding out clashes in agenda is another requisite.
5. Develop strong relationships between the team, its new leader and with people who are to benefit from the work.
6. Devolve authority, resources and the like to the new leader in a positive and visible way.
7. Detach yourself steadily and surely from where you are to move on. Until you are fully so, remain available and supportive to the new leader in an advisory capacity without imposing your opinions on that person. When it is time, move on, no matter how emotionally difficult it may be. Let go. And don’t look back.

From the book “The Pursuit of Extraordinary” by Yohan Philip