In Psalm 23:6 David talks about the goodness and mercy of God following him all the days of his life and dwelling in the presence of God continually.

In John17:20–24 Jesus prays for the disciples and those who become disciples through them. He prays for the glory of His faithfulness and truth to be seen in them and that they will be one with Christ and the Father by the Spirit.

When we are young, we tend to ask ourselves what is coming. As we get older, we start to ask what is coming after us. Many ask, “What’s my legacy?”

We wonder what will remain of what we built or who will build on what we left. There are many ways to ask this question, but each one is asking about the years after our departure from work, ministry or even from this life. Many of us in the “October of our lives,” fear for our legacy and how enduring it will be. This is very common and understandable. But I would like us to consider something a little more relevant today.

Whatever age we are, we need to consider what I call our “short-term legacy." What remains when we leave the room? I don’t mean our phone or purse—I mean what do you leave with the people you left to remember you by, merely by spending time with them?

I was speaking at a conference in Georgia a year or so back when the Lord impressed on me in worship some of the words I shared above. What does follow us?

Is it goodness, mercy and love? Or something else?

Do other people feel the presence of Christ when near us? Can they see the work of the Holy Spirit in what we do? Are the goodness and love of God felt when we care for people? Does it follow us? Do such things run after us? Do we leave them behind for others to be blessed by?

In John 4:14 Jesus told the woman at the well that the water (of the Spirit) He gives will bubble up like a spring of living water flowing up in those He gives it to and out to others. What bubbles up in us and flows out from us?

In Luke 24:32 the disciples walking to Emmaus met Jesus after His resurrection. They had no idea who He was until He left. But when they recognized Him their hearts burned within them.

I never want to leave you with heartburn, but I do want to leave the peace, love and joy of Christ with you whenever I can. My wife will tell you I have a long way to go, but I will keep working till the goodness of God follows, wherever I go.

I pray the goodness and mercy of God will follow you always and remain in the lives of others, long after you have gone.

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Chris Jones is the Global Outreach Director at New Hope Church. He longs for the unreached people of the world to experience the life-changing love of God and for people at New Hope Church to find fullness of joy by obeying the Great Commission.