A Reservation Of Inheritance

Just stop and think about it for a moment, being a Christian is the greatest life that one could ever wish to have.  Now do not get me wrong, I am not excluding the facts that sometimes as Christians we face many oppositions and persecutions, but living the life of a Christian is still the best there is (2 Tim. 3:12).  At this present time, faithful children of God have the assurance that our past sins are washed away.  Take what Paul wrote, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Rom. 8:1).  What a statement!  “No condemnation” means that I do not stand condemned for my past sins.  Those in the world, lost in their sins, cannot enjoy that wonderful blessing without becoming Christians themselves.  Also, think about the privilege that Christians enjoy in knowing that we can worship God “in spirit and in truth”, and that God accepts that worship (John 4:23-24; 1 Pet. 2:9).  Then, there is the fellowship that Christians are able to experience with other Christians (1 John 1:3, 7).  None of those wonderful things are given to those outside of Christ, only to Christians.  They are blessings that the faithful child of God can experience right now.  However, as great as all of that is, there is still another magnificent reason to live the life of a Christian.  This reason will not be fully experienced until this world is no more.  When writing to Christians in the first century, Peter mentioned, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Pet. 1:3-5).

            Have you ever had a reservation for something special.  Maybe it was an anniversary dinner at a restaurant.  Perhaps it was a hotel stay for a vacation.  Many times the reservation is for something that you long to do.  The Christian has a reservation in Heaven!  That is what Peter said, “reserved in heaven for you”.  That heavenly reservation is not for a one night meal or brief trip to be with friends, but rather it is a reservation of inheritance.  What does “inheritance” mean.  Many associate the term inheritance to the death of a loved one, and the subsequent action of receiving money, land, or possessions of those who have departed.  In this case though, the Christian does not receive this inheritance until after he dies himself.  You see, this is not an earthly inheritance, but rather an heavenly. 

            Paul also discussed the idea of Christians and their inheritance.  He wrote, “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” (Rom. 8:16-17).  An heir is one that receives an inheritance!  In this case, Paul mentioned that Christians have become “joint-heirs with Christ”.  “Joint-heirs” receive the same inheritance.  It is hard to imagine that Christians, who have sinned in their lives, are able to receive the same inheritance with Jesus, but we do.  What did Jesus receive after He fulfilled the will of the Father?  He was able to ascend to Heaven to be with the Father.  Jesus never had to be concerned with temptation again.  Likewise, Jesus did not have to taste of death again.  That is exactly what faithful children of God will one day receive.  John wrote, “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain:  for the former things are passed away” (Rev. 21:3-4).

            Again, living the life of a Christian is the best life to live.  Not only do we enjoy many blessings while here on this Earth, but what an inheritance awaits us in Heaven.  I hope that if the reader of this article is not a faithful child of God, that you will become one before it is too late.  You must be born again (John 3:3-5).  That is done by obeying the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  A person must be a penitent believer who confesses his faith in Christ, and has been baptized for the remission of his sins (John 8:24; Luke 13:3; Rom. 10:9; Acts 2:38).  Then he must remain faithful to the Lord (Rev. 2:10).  If he does, then his reservation will be one day enjoyed in Heaven.
~ Corey Barnette