No Earthly Inheritance

Deuteronomy 18:1-2 - “The priests, the Levites—all the tribe of Levi—shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel; they shall eat the offerings of the Lord made by fire, and His portion. Therefore they shall have no inheritance among their brethren; the Lord is their inheritance, as He said to them."

I've been camped in Deuteronomy, as I've mentioned before. Moses reminding Israel of what they have when the cross the Jordan River into the land God promised them. They can see it. Moses has been reminding them of what God has done for them and what He will continue to do when the cross over, if they cross over. It's their decision.

Coming to Christ promises us a new life. We must cross over from the old to the new, death to life. It's our decision. To receive the inheritance of the new land Israel was to possess, they had to be reminded to love the LORD their God and obey His commands.

People, this so is an example for us. It's all about whom we shall serve. Israel was asked to serve God. Our country became the promised land when the pilgrims sailed over to escape the religious captivity in England. We started out serving God. Today we are now serving other gods and aren't we reaping from it? We as individuals are asked to follow Christ and possess a new land and serve God. Without that possession we reap the consequences of our choices.

What does this have to do with the scripture above?? The Levites were the group chosen by God to be the priests for the people of Israel. They were given no earthly possessions, like the others. They lived lives dedicated to serving God. Everything they needed was provided.  

When we come to Christ, we have gone from death (in the world) to life (in Christ). Our inheritance is no longer here on earth, as inheritance goes. Our ultimate inheritance is now based on spiritual things, not earthly. Our life is hid in Christ. He is our portion, our inheritance, our all in all. What this world has to offer should fade in comparison. Our spiritual life should be viewed as greater than our earthly. We are also called priests when we come to Christ. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light (1Peter 2:9). But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth (Exodus 9:16).

So if we are considered this royal priesthood in Christ, Deuteronomy 18:6-7 should be a picture of how our lives are to be: So if a Levite comes from any of your gates, from where he dwells among all Israel, and comes with all the desire of his mind to the place which the LORD chooses, then he may serve in the name of the LORD his God as all his brethren the Levites do, who stand there before the LORD. If we come with all desire to God, we are worthy of serving Him, through the righteousness Christ has given us. We are counted as among the others who have dedicated their lives to Christ. The Levites only served God. We are to only serve God. It's not about what we have on earth, but what He has given us. 

I think of the words spoken by Jesus when He was being tempted in the wilderness. When Jesus was hungry satan said to Him to make stones into bread since He was the Son of God: "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God." No earthly food will bring us an eternal inheritance. 

At the same time in the wilderness Jesus was tempted again by the king of this world into worshiping him and if He did he would grant Him all authority on earth. Jesus again said all authority belongs to God alone and it is He we are to worship only. It is His authority which should viewed as ultimate authority, not our own or anyone else's. Nothing on earth is as great as what we may lay hold of in heaven, through Jesus Christ. 

Our enemy the devil knows his reign on earth will be coming to and end. He knows the end of the story. He longs to drag as many along down with him in through the gates of hell. So his job is to have us believe that what we experience and have in our earthly lives is what matters most. If people could fully grasp the concept of "you can't take it with you," perhaps more would be assured of eternal life in Christ. 

It's not just saying we know who He is and living as we desire thinking we are saved and going to heaven. It's knowing Him personally, living for Him, putting Him on the throne of our everyday lives, not just when we choose to go to church or at Christmas or Easter. It's knowing that the things of the world are nothing in comparison to what we will receive in heaven.

I cried out to You, O Lord : I said, “You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living. O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot. (Psalm 142:5, Psalm 16:5)