How big is your Inheritance?

Ephesians 1:11-12

I grew-up in a 900 square foot house, the son of L.S. and Lily Rice, and they had little of the world’s goods; they both came from families with very little in the way of material things, yet they were looking for an inheritance.  The inheritance was not based on some rich relative but on a promise from Jesus Christ.  My dad understood that the blood Jesus shed on the cross, covered sin, and that his sins were forgiven by an act of faith (not his faith, but faith that God gave him) he received a free gift of faith and entered into a personal relationship with God, the Father.  My dad searched the Scriptures about his promised inheritance, and I also have done likewise, and the following is what I’ve been able to ascertain.

Because of that act of faith, I, like many before me, entered into Christ and He entered into me, and I was adopted into the family of God.  The same Jesus, who redeemed me, became my Savior, Lord and brother.  He has gone to the right hand of our Father, and He is busy preparing a place for me, the apostle Peter says the following; “to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”  (1 Peter 1:4-5) 

That means all who have entered into Christ have much to look forward to but do we have to wait until we leave this world to benefit from being a part of this marvelous family of God?  Surely not, but often it may seem that way, because Peter also told us in 1 Peter 1:6-7, that you may have various trials, and they may shake your faith, but in the end you will pass the test.  We are now living in a time of testing, so prepare your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ, the apostle Peter gave us that counsel.

We have become sons/daughters of the light; we are no longer part of darkness!  As children of the light, our life should be dispelling darkness, because darkness is the absence of light, light can be measured and it only takes a spark to disperse darkness.  I have come to understand that my light is measured by my abiding in Christ, by renewing my mind, by keeping my eyes on Christ. To my shame, my light is not as bright as it should be, and it is not always a guide to the lost, and in fact it often seems to have an electrical short that flickers on and off.  I have searched for the reason, and each time it is because I remove my dependence on the Holy Spirit; He is the power grid, He is the only source of light.  If you believe in your abilities, then you have some source of light other than the Spirit of God, that light will not penetrate the darkness it will only lead others into darkness.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice