Heirs

                                                                                                                                 

Aloha Dearest Family,

                Many people I know play the lottery with the hope that one day they’ll win the big jack-pot and become instantly wealthy. And some talk about learning that they have inherited a small fortune from a distant relative and they tell me of what they would do with all that money. My wife and I sometimes watch a TV show called “Strange Inheritance”, where they tell stories of ordinary people who find out that they have inherited strange and unique items. Like the story of the man who inherited his father’s painting studio and then discovering a secret door that revealed a hidden original Norman Rockwell painting. Or the man who inherited his father’s huge warehouse of WWII weapons. Or the man who inherited collection of 80,000 autographs that his father and aunt had collected since they were children. The question is what do you do with such items? How do you enjoy them? And how long will they last?

                The Bible says that when we confessed Jesus Christ as our Lord and believed in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, we were saved (Romans 10:9). At that time we became sons and daughters of God and became heirs of God. Heirs is  defined as “those who receive their allotted possession by right of son-ship”. Because we are sons and daughters of God, we have an allotted share in God’s inheritance. (Wow!!) When we believed, we were marked with a seal, the gift of the holy spirit. This deposit is our guarantee of our inheritance. (see Ephesians 1:13 and 14)

                “Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”(Galatians 4:7)

If your father is poor, an inheritance probably doesn’t mean too much. But if your father is wealthy, you might expect a large inheritance. What about God Almighty, the Creator of the heavens and the earth? What do you think His inheritance might entail? It’s hard to imagine; our minds are too small. God’s Word does not tell us all of the details of this wonderful inheritance but I Peter does state some pretty cool things about it.

                “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you,” (I Peter 1:3 and 4)  

                Though we don’t know the exact details about this inheritance, we do know that it is incorruptible, undefiled, and does not fade away. Any inheritance you may inherit on earth is subject to rust and decay over time. But God’s inheritance lasts forever. Furthermore it is reserved in heaven for us. Now you may ask, when will we see this inheritance?  The next verse tells us. “(We) who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” We will be given our inheritance in the last time, the time when Christ comes back for us and all things are revealed. And now you may ask yourself, if we don’t receive our inheritance until Christ comes back, then why tell us about it now? The believers at this time were facing tremendous persecution and Peter was encouraging them not to give up by reminding them what awaits them at the finish line (ie..crowns and rewards and our inheritance). This would keep them going through the tough times. And this will keep us going as well when we feel like quitting.

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Galatians 6:9) 

                The New Testament portrays Jesus, not only as the only-begotten son, but also as the “firstborn”; that is, he holds the “birth-right.” In Eastern culture the one who holds the birth-right is heir to all the Father has. Jesus Christ was appointed heir of all things (Hebrews 1:2). This was his birth-right. Furthermore, the eldest son received a double portion of the father’s inheritance ( Deuteronomy 21:17). So Jesus being the first-born son should receive a double portion of God’s inheritance (and boy, he sure does deserve it). But an astonishing verse from Romans reveals an amazing truth.

                “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;…” (Romans 8:17) 

We are joint-heirs with Jesus Christ! This means we share in his inheritance. This is simply amazing!! After all of the crazy stuff we do and all of the times we have fallen short of God’s goodness, He still wants us to share in Christ’s inheritance. Why? We get rewarded not because we have walked so perfectly, but because Jesus Christ did. And we bask in the rewards that he has won for us. What a GREAT deal. Christ took our place in death and now we take his place in this life. What a privilege!!  

                                                                                                Love Always, Ray

          "The Lord knows the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be forever.” (Psalm 37:18)