Grace–Heir

An heir is one who is entitled to possess. In the natural, it is expected that the children will inherit from their parents. This teaches us something about what God wants us to know about our spiritual situation.

In Romans 8:14-17 we read: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 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.” This is a spiritual inheritance. Certainly, we would enjoy having an earthly inheritance from our parents, but that would, sooner or later, be used up. Or we would have to leave it when we leave this world. The spiritual inheritance that God offers to us, is eternal.

I just want to think about what we are considering here. Maybe we are a little too quick to just read these words or say them without understanding what we are reading. The Almighty God, the Self Existent One, the Creator of all things, is saying that we are His children and heirs. Can you comprehend that? I can’t. If you told me that I was to inherit the richest man on earth, I would not be able to comprehend that, and here we are talking about the owner of all the universe.

What makes me so special that I am heir of God and co-heir with Christ? Nothing except that Jesus died for me and offered me the privilege of a new birth. I have been born into God’s family by faith in Jesus Christ and His shed blood for me. Nothing that I did or could ever do would bring me to this place. We are heirs by grace. Notice in the original verses that we “received.”

Consider what 2 Corinthians 8:9 tells about our Lord Jesus becoming poor, as He lived here, so that we might be rich, with God’s riches. Paul refers in Romans 11:33 to the depth of the riches of Christ. He also refers to the uncertain riches of this world in  1 Timothy 6:17. So, which do you think are more important? Unsearchable or uncertain?

So many of God’s precious children live as though they were spiritually poor, when they are heirs to all of God’s riches. How sad that must be for our Father who wants us to enjoy all that He makes available to us. Our children in the natural enjoy the use of our wealth even as children. Imagine if they chose to go live under a bridge while you are offering them a good home and food and clothing.

Our Father offers us unsearchable wealth in Christ, and all is ours to enjoy even now. We certainly will have and enjoy more in eternity, but that is no reason to live spiritually poor now. Not sure how to lay hold of your inheritance now? Study God’s Word. Ask His Holy Spirit to reveal your wealth in Christ. You will find there that He shows you what those riches are, and you will find that your faith to lay hold of them is increased. We do not want to be like the children of Israel that missed out because they failed to believe. Numbers 14.

The world would have us believe that the riches of this world are to be sought after and fought for. God’s Word tells us that they pass away (Proverbs 23:5). The world would have us to run after worldly riches and gain, but our Lord would have us run after Him. We have an unrivaled privilege to inherit eternal riches in heaven, but we must lay hold of them by faith. We will surely miss out, if our focus is on the earthly riches.

What is the purpose of wanting to inherit all that God offers? It will bring glory to Him. Ephesians 1:18 “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.” Based on our understanding of natural wealth, we might think that all those people inheriting the riches of Christ will diminish His inheritance, but it is quite the opposite. The more we lay hold of what He has, the more He is enriched and glorified.

Don’t be a spiritually poor child of God when He offers you so much. Gratefully reach out and lay hold of His Grace.
Gordon Crook