Infinite Inheritance
By Terry James
Have you ever thought of suddenly, through some twist of destiny, finding yourself the possessor of a fortune? What would you do if you had the financial means to spend large amounts of money in any way you wanted?
Then, when the day-dream fades you are back to business as usual, and it sure isn’t big business in terms of dollars to spend. Lightning in the sense of being struck by sudden riches just isn’t in your future. The coming back to reality moves you back into the realm of things as they are –having to deal with the vicissitudes of life – the pains, problems, the debt, and all the rest.
The return to earth might evoke several responses. You might be bitter, trying to live an upright life while seeing those who are living hedonistic lifestyles having wealth, multiple luxuriant dwellings in exotic parts of the world, etc. The thought might be that just isn’t fair and that’s the end of this particular day-dream. Or, the conviction might burn a bit into your spirit, scolding mildly that you should be content with the fact that you have enough to get through the day just ahead –while many are much less fortunate than yourself. Or you might have the sort of temperament that simply laughs at the foolishness of such trips into fantasy, then once again put your shoulder to the wheel, or whatsoever task that you confront.
Even in America, the most materially blessed nation of human history, life, particularly during these seemingly insane times, can present a bleak future. That is, it can be considered a bleak future to believers who know and acknowledge the evil times in which we find ourselves.
We, of all people on this self-destructing planet, however, should recognize this time of evil is essential to the fulfillment of God’s Prophetic Word. But the majority of believers –each and everyone a child of God– either haven’t a clue of what the reprobate thinking and actions of this wicked generation means for the future, or else go about not even aware that such a condition exists.
The pulpits are all too often silent on the wickedness. Those in the pews are immersed for the most part in society-saturated cares that obfuscate the evil of their circumstance. Thus spiritual Discernment is either inhibited or completely obliterated.
Every child of God should be fully cognizant of the future that awaits them. For if they could but appropriate such understanding – I mean truly grasp with all that is within their ability to comprehend that future– their (our) self-centeredness in immersing ourselves in the cares of our troubled lives would absolutely fade under Heaven’s Enlightenment.
That Is because we have within us the Holy Spirit, the Third Member of the Godhead Who the Lord Jesus Sent to indwell us, upon His Ascension. The Holy Spirit Inspired Paul the great apostle, to write the following.
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Rom 8: 14-18)
If we could only understand the above Message as deeply as Desires our Heavenly Father, Whom we have a right to call Abba (equivalent of the most intimate term Daddy in the Hebrew)we would be totally sold out to accomplishing our Daddy’s Holy Will while representing Him here on earth.
Do you understand the meaning of these words from the Heart of our Father, given the Apostle Paul to give to us? If you believe in Jesus Christ –God’s Grace Gift to anyone who will accept that unfathomable Sacrifice on Calvary’s cross– you are forever in Abba’s Family. Not only that, you are as closely related to your Heavenly “Daddy” as is our Savior –our Big Brother (who in some Eternal Sense, is also the Bridegroom to the Church.
One great preacher of the past explains a bit further.
[Sermon excerpt]
Yet, further, to illustrate the full meaning of the joint heirship-suppose, after the via had been proved and acknowledged to be right, it shall be found in winding up the affairs of the testator, that nothing is left to distribute-suppose, after all this boast and talk about being heirs, the property should be nil, or there should even be found a debt against the estate-what then? Why, my brethren, if we get nothing, Christ gets nothing; if there should for us, there is no heaven for Christ. If there should be no thrones for us, there would be no throne for him; if the promise should utterly fail of fulfillment to the least of the joint heritors, it must also fail of accomplishment to our Lord Jesus Christ himself. Be the property much or little, we are co-heirs; if there be infinite treasures, Christ hath them, and we have them; but if there be no treasure whatever, and faith should end in disappointment, and hope in despair, the calamity which impoverishes us must also impoverish our great co-heir. When we are poor, and in eternity have no shelter; when we in the next world shall find no heaven and no bliss,-then, wandering as outcast orphans, we shall see our Elder Brother an outcast orphan too; if we be portionless and penniless, the Firstborn among many brethren must be portionless and penniless also, for with him we stand or we fall…
Poor prodigal sinner, may our Father bring thee home, for there is an inheritance even for thee. “Believe on the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved.”
***[Ang: Source: “Joint heirs with Christ,” Delivered on Sunday Morning, July the 28th, 1861 by the Rev. C. H. SPURGEON, At the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, England]***
Our Inheritance is Infinite. All that belongs to Jesus belongs to us. And we could Inherit it all at any second, as we live in these times during which all the signals of the Second Coming of our Lord are in view. Now that is indeed a reason to Praise Him! And it is why we should get our minds and spiritual hearts upon the Work before us at this critical time so near His Appearing. Let us put aside frivolous things in our ever-increasing effort to bring many to so Great Salvation!
—Terry
Image Credit: © Carloscastilla