What will be your legacy?

The following story recounted by Stan Toler is an amazing study in contrasts of how your integrity or lack of it can influence countless people.

In a publication called The Cross and the Flag, the power of integrity's legacy was chronicled in the lives of two men. One was Max Jukes, who lived in New York State. He was an unbeliever. Jukes had 1,029 known descendants, of whom 300 died prematurely. Of those who survived, 100 were sent to prison for an average of 13 years each; 190 were prostitutes; and 100 were alcoholics. Over the years, the Jukes family cost the state $1.2 million and made no contribution to society. The second man, Jonathan Edwards, lived in New England at about the same time as Max Jukes. He believed in God and became a prominent Christian minister. Edwards had 729 known descendants. Three hundred became preachers; 65 were college professors; 13 were college or university presidents; 60 became authors; three were elected to congress; and one became a vice president of the United States.
Integrity cannot be faked; the future will bring it to light. The most vital issue for any person to settle is this one: "What is my level of integrity?"
The answer to that single question will shape a person’s legacy for generations to come. . . Stan Toler