Go Beyond

On our last day in Türkiye, we visited the ancient city of Ephesus, which is truly breathtaking. It’s impossible not to be impressed by what remains. The ruins of this once-powerful and influential city are impressive. The Library of Celsus, still standing, is one of the best-preserved monuments from the ancient world. It has become the symbol of Ephesus and a reminder of the city’s wealth, architectural skill, and devotion to learning.

The massive amphitheater, which once held as many as 25,000 spectators, is still occasionally used for concerts and cultural performances today. The original builders could never have imagined that their work would still stand two millennia later and resonate with the voices and music of performers such as Elton John, Sting, Ray Charles, Luciano Pavarotti, and Diana Ross.

So many of the ruins in Ephesus tell the story of a city marked by extraordinary wealth, remarkable craftsmanship, and a commitment to providing the finest infrastructure for its citizens. Ornate columns, broad marble streets, intricate mosaic floors, several statues, luxurious homes, and impressive public buildings all remain as silent witnesses to a civilization that was nothing short of remarkable. These ruins still testify to the vision, ambition, and accomplishments of the people who once called Ephesus home.

As impressive as these buildings are, they are not Ephesus’s greatest legacy. They do not tell the city’s most important story. That story was not written in marble, but in the lives of people changed by the gospel through the work of the apostle Paul.

Paul spent more time in Ephesus than in any other city during his missionary journeys. For nearly three years, he taught daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus (Acts 19:9), which became his ministry headquarters. He engaged people with the truth of the gospel. He led many to faith in Christ and discipled them.

Paul equipped church leaders and established a thriving church that would influence the entire region. His ministry was, in fact, so effective that “all the residents of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord” (Acts 19:10). While the builders of Ephesus were constructing an amazing city, Paul was building something more enduring—the kingdom of God.

While others invested in the development of one of the most remarkable cities in Asia Minor, Paul invested in men and women who would carry the message of Christ long after he was gone. The builders of Ephesus left behind extraordinary architecture. Paul left behind transformed lives.

Over time, the harbor that had brought great wealth to Ephesus slowly filled with silt and sediment, making access to the city increasingly more difficult. Eventually, the city’s wealth disappeared, and its political influence faded. The passage of time slowly ravaged the city’s beautiful buildings, eventually turning them into archaeological treasures.

The ruins Ephesus left behind tell more than stories. They are the evidence of a once-great city and a reminder that human achievement and earthly greatness are temporary. However, the gospel that Paul preached in Ephesus remains. It continues to cross continents, transforming millions of lives.

Walking among the ruins of Ephesus forced me to ask an important question: What will I leave behind?

Every life leaves a legacy. Some leave impressive accomplishments, successful careers, or lots of possessions. Others leave behind people whose lives have been changed by their investment in what matters most. One legacy is measured by what we build. The other is measured by who we disciple.

Jesus reminded His followers, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:19–20).

The stones of Ephesus are magnificent, but they remind us that even the greatest human achievements eventually crumble. The greatest legacy of Ephesus is not found in its library or its amphitheater. It is found in the enduring influence of the gospel that Paul faithfully proclaimed there.

When the last stone has fallen, the only legacy that will remain is the one built for the kingdom of God.