Inheritance

Ephesians 1:17-21 - ...that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at his right hand in heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

What a wealth of promise in these verses. That we may know Him, the Father of glory. That our wisdom is enlarged...in the most meaningful and important things. That His power transforms. Death to life in no more than believing (committing one's self to trust in, be persuaded of, placing confidence in) on Him and then continuing in this fashion. To know the God of this universe, the name above all names...can you even imagine that He wants us to have and know these things?

There are many people who have heard the Word spoken and understand the meaning of salvation. They know how it is attained. They may have even, strictly out of obligation or intimidation, went through the motions of receiving Christ. And yet they do not understand. The eyes of their understanding are still veiled.

Ephesians speak of the riches of knowing Him. The inheritance we have in Christ, the power He bestows upon us when we receive Him. Some may think these are just words. Jesus died and was raised from the dead. It was an example for us...what happened in the natural for Him was that spiritually we might also be raised from the dead at the end of our life when we receive Christ.

God and His Son are higher than any other power. We hear of people who believe in a higher power. And that higher power  can be different depending on who you talk to. There is only One who is higher and more/most powerful. All others do not come close. All other things we idolize cannot compare.

Most people receive an inheritance after someone in the family dies. Money and material goods are passed down. There might be some enthusiasm about this...looking forward to receiving these gifts. God offers an even greater inheritance. I wonder where the idea of an inheritance began?! It is not a physical, hold in your hands, live in, sit on or spend/invest type inheritance. The inheritance God has is eternal. A home, a chair of great worth can still fall apart; money might diminish or be lost; there is no absolute assurance of growth. But there is an absolute assurance in God and His inheritance.

It boils down to this: without God, by the saving grace that is through Jesus Christ alone, we have no hope. We have no glorious future. Sadly some will not realize this until it is too late.

I pray, Lord, that You would open the eyes of understanding that this inheritance of greater value would become real to the lives of those who have not yet received it, to those who have heard but have not understood.

Acts 26:18 - ...to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.