| 1 Peter 1:3-5 – “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” |
An inheritance is the acquisition of a possession, condition, or trait from past generations. Most people think of receiving an inheritance in monetary terms – houses, land, expensive possessions, and huge checks from insurance proceeds or savings accounts and investments. Many parents feel like failures if they do not leave tens of thousands of dollars to each of their children and/or grandchildren. I’ve heard of families that almost came to blows because some members felt that others got more money or valuable property in an estate, and they contested the legitimacy of the will. I watched two daughters fight over their mother’s furniture, with one of them stealing the drawers from a dresser so her sister could not have it.
My parents were not wealthy people, and when the estate was finalized after mom passed away last year, my siblings and I were able to select a few mementos and we received a small amount of insurance proceeds. However, what I inherited from my parents was far more valuable than any property, possessions, or insurance checks. They modeled for me a work ethic and the values of charity and devotion to family and friends. But more than that, they gave me their examples of trust and faith in God and living a life of honesty and prayer. As special as that is, God has an even greater inheritance for me – a life of peace and love while here on earth and hope of a future in Heaven for eternity. No probate court is needed, no lawyers or accountants are required. We don’t need safety deposit boxes to protect expensive jewelry or security systems for our mansions. The inheritance God has for us can never be taken away.
Prayer: Dear Father, it is so easy for us to get caught up in the values of this world, and to crave possessions more than caring about the inheritance of eternal life you have for us in Heaven. Help me to focus on your and your love for me. Help me to share the great news of this inheritance with others – there is more than enough of your riches to go around!
– Betty Gossell
