Throughout life, a typical family cherishes keepsakes, acquires possessions, and accrues wealth, compiling over time that family’s best. Eventually, children and grandchildren down the line receive a well-planned, well-preserved inheritance.
Legally speaking, assets are transferred from their original owner to any number of appointed heirs. Laws determine rights and obligations in the process, the heart of which is legacy. Each family builds its own history of exchanged stories and collected memories, infused into belongings and fortunes.
Inheritance has long been a social practice, for the Bible speaks extensively on the matter. Jacob, the father of the nation Israel, blessed his twelve sons with their respective portions. God through Moses instituted laws for allotment for each of the twelve tribes. In Jesus’ teaching as well, a prodigal son demanded his share early and squandered it in reckless living. God’s design includes this built-in measure of provision for His people and the generations after them.
Proverbs 13:22 even says, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.”
Money, property, and other resources, however, are temporary. They will be used up, worn out, and eventually handed over to another. Thus God preserves an infinitely more glorious inheritance for His children.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places … In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight … In Him we have obtained an inheritance … In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory.” – Ephesians 1:3, 7-8, 11, 13-14
Earthly treasures cannot compare with the immeasurable riches stored up for the saints of God and servants of Christ! Wealth or prestige may be lacking on earth, but nothing is lacking in heavenly reserves!
“The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.” – Psalm 16:6
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.” – 1 Peter 1:3-5
This promotes holiness and godliness in the meantime.
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” – Colossians 3:23-24
No moth, rust, or thief can destroy or steal what is safeguarded in heaven for you and I. This world does not satisfy, but we belong to the One who does.
