by Maria Hartman

1Peter 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Imagine if you will that a long lost uncle of yours just died. Although this is sad news, you never knew him. You are the sole heir to over $5,000,000 after taxes have been taken out. Do you want it?

Do you know that if you are a believer in Jesus Christ and are His child, money of any amount is nothing compared to what He has to give you? According to His abundant mercy…you have been given a LIVING HOPE. Do you want it? This inheritance is incorruptible (indestructible), undefiled (unstained by evil), and one that will not fade away (time will not change). Money can do all three of those things and is never the source of lasting joy. This inheritance was costly to give; Jesus died in order that you might have it; your uncle didn’t die to give it to you, he died and it was left to you. Another important fact that cannot be overlooked is that you didn’t have to know your uncle to get the money. You must know your Savior to get His inheritance.

Let’s say your uncle’s money was given to you and your brother. Well then, it drops to $2,500,000. It must now be shared, so you personally receive less. Christ’s inheritance for you and me is not so. It is shared but not divided. You get no less because I am part of the family of God and I get no less because you are part of the family. It is given fully to each one to receive. Our full inheritance will come to us later when we get to heaven. But right NOW, we also receive something because of the choice we made to receive Christ. We have a guarantee that the world cannot take away; we have a full inheritance. It is a sure thing; no lawyers will debate it; no loopholes will be found; no man will take it away. This amazing promise is for you, if you are His…kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. (1Peter 1:5). This is kept for us through faith in Jesus…by the power of God.

For Today: Many of us would love to receive a large sum of money, but most of us will never be the recipients of an earthly inheritance. All the money in the world would be temporary at best anyway, and could never satisfy our souls. Many long for something to live for, something to hope in, and something that will never fade away. Jesus Christ is THE TREASURE of a lifetime. He will bring lasting joy that will satisfy every soul. People need the Lord today….more than they need anything else or anyone else. But many will never accept the gift; many will die without being the recipients of the eternal inheritance God has so graciously provided. It is our job as His children to be diligent and faithful; spreading the word of life so that those who are willing to hear, and ready to hear can rejoice in the knowledge that because of Jesus, they have been made RICH.

Psalm 16:5a The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup.