Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, Inc. died yesterday, October 5, 2011. Many of the products he oversaw his company produce have been smashing successes. He was a visionary who shaped the world of consumer electronics perhaps more than any other single individual.

He dedicated his professional life to making the best products to be enjoyed by as many people as possible, bringing beauty and thoughtfulness of design to the forefront with each one. Some of those products revolutionized current product categories and others were bold, new innovations that defined brand new categories as the first of their kind. His public persona was charismatic and many have lauded him for his unique and effective presentation style. His private life, however, he kept out of the public eye as much as possible, seeking privacy for himself and his family.

In 2005, he gave a commencement speech at Stanford University. In it, he revealed more about himself than he ever did on any other occasion. It's worth watching in its entirety, but I’d like to pull one quote he gave—words he lived by—which we can gain instruction from as individuals striving to be ambassadors for God's coming Kingdom.

"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything—all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure—these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart."

Steve points you to following your heart. I would point you to following Jesus Christ.

Steve Jobs has left a legacy of the bold pursuit of excellence in consumer electronics.

Let's each of us leave a legacy of boldly serving God every single day.