Power-filled Positive Thinking—Chapter 10c Seven Reasons to Rejoice as God’s Heir
In Christ, we are heirs of the kingdom of God, heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. Does that mean I inherit the world with all its possessions since God owns the whole world? It does. But hold up for a second before you run out the door to claim that car or house you’ve been wanting hear me out through the rest of this. If you think those material items here and now are the most splendorous part of our inheritance; then, you truly are a pauper. Material possessions bring merely counterfeit pleasures that have no lasting joy and will never satisfy your heart.
Our inheritance as God’s Chosen, Redeemed, Blessed and Beloved Child in Christ is bigger and grander than anything you could ever imagine or hope for. So what is the inheritance of Christ?
Let us look at John 17 where Christ prays to God the Father shortly before He was to go to the cross to purchase our inheritance. There we will find 7 items of this inheritance which Christ shares with us.
1. Eternal life in the presence of God. Christ prayed “Father, I ask that you “give eternal life to as many as thou hast given (me).3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent…Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am” (John 17:2-3 and 24).
2. Truth of God to guide our hearts and to sanctify us. Christ’s prayer continued, “8I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me….17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17).
3. Joy of Christ fulfilling our heart’s every desire. Christ requested of the Father, that “they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves” (John 17:13).
4. Close personal relationship with Christ and other believers. “21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us” (John 17).
5. Glory of Christ bestowed upon us. Christ continued by telling God the Father, “the glory which thou gavest me I have given them” (John 17:22)
6. Redemption into Holiness in Christ. Christ’s prayer to the Father continued with, “I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one” (John17:23).
7. Love of God poured out upon us. Christ’s prayer continued by saying, God, you have “loved them, as thou hast loved me. 24 Father,… for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:23-24)
When I recognize the value of my inheritance, I would recognize that I am so rich. I would also realize that any loss of something material here on earth is really not a loss at all compared to all that I own. In fact, whatever loss that could occur here and now would be like a billionaire losing a penny. Additionally I would recognize that all the l trials that I might confront me here on this earth are trivial and unimportant compared to the glory that is mine in Christ. Why would I ever waste a moment of my time by grumbling or complaining? Much like John Newton wrote, “Suppose a man was going to New York to take possession of a large estate, and his [carriage] should break down a mile before he got to the city, which obliged him to walk the rest of the way; what a fool we should think him, if we saw him ringing his hands, and blubbering out all the remaining mile, “My [carriage] is broken! My [carriage] is broken!”–John Newton (Richard Cecil, Memoirs of the Rev. John Newton, in The Works of the Rev. John Newton, Vol. 1 (Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1985), p. 108.)
Indeed, instead of murmuring and grumbling; I find that my heart is filled with hope, joy, peace and love. Knowing that God is my Father and that He has bestowed upon me such a rich inheritance in Christ causes my heart to rejoice with gratitude at all the blessings I have here on earth every day of my life. He has so richly blessed me with His presence, His love and His joy. Far beyond anything I could ever imagine or hope for He has also blessed me with family and wonderful friends as well. I have all I need and so much more.
Let us sing along with Sovereign Grace Jesus, Thank You
©2015 Effie Darlene Barba
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