Blessings we receive at Salvation
It was snuff that made Walter Garret a rich man. He owned a snuff shop, which he inherited from his father, who inherited it from his father. When Garret died in 1895, he left an inheritance, consisting of the snuff shop and 6 million dollars, to his wife Henrietta.
But Garret had a bugbear about his slacker relatives and in his will stipulated clearly that none of his relatives were ever to receive a cent of his money.
Henrietta Garret proved to be a very capable steward of the inheritance and by the time she died at age 81 in 1930, her estate was worth $17 million.
The total amount she allotted to friends amounted to only $62,500. She neglected to add the all-important clause, “All the rest I leave to…”
So, over $16 million was left unallocated.
According to Philadelphia law, the rest of the estate had to go to her next of kin, which was a problem because there was no next of kin. However, within four months over 4,000 claims of kinship had been lodged. And since then, claims have been made by more than 26,000 people from 47 states and 29 foreign countries, represented by more than 3,000 lawyers—all feel entitled to the Garret snuff fortune.
In their frantic efforts, these alleged relatives have committed perjury, faked family records, legally changed their names, altered data in church records, and concocted absurd tales of illegitimacy. As a result, twelve of the claimants were fined, ten received jail sentences, two committed suicide, and three were murdered.
Let’s face it, there is nothing better to bring out the worst in people than an inheritance dispute.
The Bible, however, leaves no room for ambiguity about what inheritance awaits believers and to whom the inheritance belongs. For the past few weeks, we have seen Paul teaching the Ephesians about some of the blessings that all believers have: election, redemption and revelation. Today we will look at the blessing of our eternal inheritance.
Ephesians 1:11-12 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.
The very word “inheritance” frequently conjures up images of back-biting siblings, court-cases, and bitterness.
For the Jews, inheritance was not about who gets the stamp collection, but about who retains custody of the land of Israel. After Joshua had led the Israelites into the Promised Land of Canaan, God sliced up the property-pie and apportioned it to the tribes.
Each tribe then divided up its portion of land among their clans and families. The land was considered the family’s possession forever. It was essential that the land was kept in the family, so inheritance became a central issue.
In ancient Israel there were no wills—the eldest son received a double-portion and the other sons, equal shares. If a man died leaving no sons, there was a ‘food chain’ of heirs, and sometimes the ladies also got involved (see the case of Zelophehad’s daughters in Numbers 27).
Inheritance was a big deal. It was every Israelite’s worst nightmare to die with no heirs and have his eternal allotment lost forever.
So when Paul says we have obtained an inheritance, a secure blessing every believer possesses, he is employing very emotive language.
So, what inheritance do I have as a believer?
From what we read in the Bible, God has prepared a kingdom, a domain of authority, for believers in which to rule and to reign with him.
Matthew 25:31, 34 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne…. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Ruling the kingdom is the family business. It’s what Christians are made for. It’s all over the Bible, but many people have no idea what it entails beyond “I am going to Heaven.”
Consider these verses:
- Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
- Revelation 2:26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations…
- Revelation 5:10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.
- 2 Timothy 2:12 if we endure, we will also reign with Him
- 1 Corinthians 6:3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!
In addition to these, in the parable of the minas in Luke 19, Jesus indicates that the faithful servants are rewarded with authority over cities, and similarly, in the parable of the talents in Matthew 25, the faithful servants are rewarded with authority.
So, Christian, this is your eternal inheritance: a sphere of responsibility delegated by Christ. Your inheritance includes a share in ruling the Universe in some significant capacity!
But this reward is only for those who hope in Christ. Not everyone goes to heaven, only those who love Jesus enough to give up their sin.
Paul says, in 1 Corinthians 6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
And what if you are sexually immoral, an adulterer, homosexual, a thief, greedy, drunk, a reviler, a swindler …?
Then there is great hope for you!
Repent of your sin, put your faith in Jesus’ death on the cross for you, be forgiven by God, and wait for your heavenly inheritance.
No one deserves heaven, but God cleanses those who believe in Jesus, makes them holy, and declares them worthy in Christ to rule in his Kingdom.
For further reading on eternal rewards see: Comrades Marathon and degrees of rewards, Degrees of Reward Pt 1: A Treasury of Evidence, Degrees of Reward Pt 2: Living for Payday and The Preacher’s Payday.
