Our Glorious Inheritance

[Paul said], "I want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance He has given to His people."

                                                                                                                                    Ephesians 1:18b

With so much turbulence in the stock market and national economies around the world, it is vitally important for us to understand the things we possess that can never be taken away. The lives we live on this earth are but a vapor and everything in this world will one day vanish and forever be gone. And yet, as believers in Christ, we have been graciously given an inheritance that is ours now and an additional inheritance that will be ours later.

When we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we were adopted into His family and grafted into His lineage. This simple act of faith transitioned us from being outside of God's family to actually belonging to Him and His family. The book of Galatians tells us that we "are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:26).

Further explanation is given when the author adds, "And since you are His child, God has made you His heir" (Galatians 4:7). This means that all of God's children have privileges and a spiritual inheritance that are too wonderful for our minds even to grasp. To be included in God's family is life's greatest honor and our highest privilege. There is nothing or no one that can rival it.

Since Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant, He is the One wo assigns us our portion on this earth and eternally. God said to Him [Jesus], "Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your heritage, and the ends of the earth Your possession" (Psalm 2:8). Later, the Psalmist writes, "The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance" (Psalm 16:6).

We are the beneficiaries of Jesus' sacrifice. Because of what He has done for us, we inherit: the riches of His grace, patience, kindness, wisdom, mercy, glory, and power. He graciously gives us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).

Additionally, we are given a rightful place in God's family and a territory that is ours to manage. We become co-heirs with Christ.. When we are born into His kingdom through Jesus, we inherit all His promises given to us in His Word. We then use what God has given us to bring light and life to a dark and dying world.

The Holy Spirit is the "guarantee" of our inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14). He gives us the assurance of our eternal outcome as well as the guidance we need to lay hold of the inheritance God has for us now. He gives us the confidence that God will indeed perform what He has promised.

If these gifts were not enough, we also have an inheritance that we will receive later. This is what God promises to us:

                     *We will have no more pain, death, and suffering (Revelation 21:4)

                     *We get to be with God forever (1Thessalonians 4:17 and 5:12)

                     *We will be transformed to be like Christ (1 John 3:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18)

                     *We will be rewarded and given positions of service (Mark 9:41 and 10:38;

                       1 Corinthians 3:8; Hebrews 10:35; and Matthew 25:21,23)

                     *We get to share in Christ's glory (Romans 8:17; Colossians 3:4;

                       2 Thessalonians 2:14; 2 Timothy 2:12; 1 Peter 5:1)

None of these promises can be taken away from us! God has reserved them and will continue to protect them for us. We are told that "God has reserved a priceless inheritance for His children. It is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay" (1 Peter 1:4).

While our eternal inheritance is secure, we must claim the inheritance God has for us here. We find an example of this in the Old Testament. After the Israelites had entered into the Promised Land, God had apportioned each of the twelve tribes a specific area of land and territory. Five of those tribes had claimed their inheritance, but seven of them had grown accustomed to their nomadic lifestyle and were willing to settle for less than what God had for them.

The land had been divided by Joshua based on the faithfulness of each of the tribes. The battles were over and the war had been won but there were still seven tribes who had not claimed their rightful inheritance. Joshua said to them, "How long are you going to wait before taking possession of the remaining land...[that God] has given to you?" (Joshua 18:3).

The difference between those who claimed their inheritance and those who did not was faith. If the same percentages were true today, that would mean that fifty-eight percent of believers would not understand their role as an ambassador of Christ because of a lack of faith and spiritual zeal. Passivity and decisions that are easier in the moment lead to a willingness to quit because of a lack of vision in what God is doing. Spiritual dryness becomes pervasive. While quitting may be easier in the short-term, it is definitely short-sighted when we see the glorious inheritance that God has prepared for us!

There are many contributing factors to spiritual dryness, but here are a few: unrelenting trials and temptations, sin, lack of prayer, pessimistic attitude, lack of involvement, lack of commitment, and disillusionment when God doesn't answer our prayers in the way we thought He would. If we are empty emotionally, physically, or spiritually, we will lack the zeal and fervor needed to persevere. If we do not persevere and claim our inheritance, our hearts will ultimately become extremely hardened.

Resistance is the call for perseverance. It is our obstacles that become our greatest teachers if we sincerely seek God in the midst of them. C.S. Lewis said, "God knows our situation; He will not judge us as if we had no difficulties to overcome. What matters is the sincerity and perseverance of our will to overcome them."

If you are currently in a spiritually dry place, please know that this is a normal part of every spiritual journey. We must, however, determine that we will not stay in its place. We have to push forward and take possession of our spiritual inheritance. Never, ever give up!

We are God's special treasure and He has great things in store for us! When we are in Christ and have received His Spirit, we have the power and strength to persevere to the end and receive our portion. He has given us His great and precious promises which enable us to thank Him even in the midst of adversity because we are guaranteed we will receive what He has promised and that, in Him, we have a glorious inheritance!

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward."

                                                                                                                             Colossians 3:23-24