ILLUMINATED FOR INHERITANCE
Jack Davis
“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” Col. 1:12-14.
Oh, what a wonderful Father we have by faith. What marvelous things He has done for His family. Shall we not thank Him forever, and even now? How could we not appreciate being delivered from the dominion and controlling influence of darkness.
WE HAVE REDEMPTION
Our deliverance is spelled redemption through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. In fact the Triune God is involved in our being made meet (fit, qualified, entitled, illuminated) to partake fully of this vast, rich, glorious, eternal inheritance. By Jesus Christ we were bought, by the Father – begot, and by the Holy Spirit we are brought into the revelation and realization of an heirship for His Holy ones, in the realm of light.
BLESSED BY RESURRECTION
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again in unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you…” I Pet. 1:3-4. We, being delivered by redemption, have blood rights, and being translated by resurrection and regeneration we enjoy birth rights. Our wholehearted thanks must ascend to our heavenly Father for transforming us from our former condition. We, who were “sometimes darkness,” are now light in the Lord to walk as children of light. Consider Eph. 5:5-15. Our former conduct was to do the bidding of Satan. Eph. 2:1-3.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” Jas. 1:17-18. Having called us out of darkness into His marvelous light, (I Pet. 2:9) the Father of lights has given unto us many good gifts. He has given us the ministry of the Apostle Paul to turn us from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that we may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified by the faith that is in Jesus. Acts. 26:18. So Paul commends unto God and the word of his grace. Acts 20:32.
Therefore the calling, the turning, and deliverance is that we might “show forth” His praises, display His excellence, manifest the virtues of His person.
“God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all…If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.” I Jn. 1:5-6. We manifest our thankfulness to the Father by staying in fellowship with Him. We have a new realm to walk in and a new course to travel since we’ve been –-
“ILLUMINATED”
“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them…For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” II Cor. 4:3-4,6. Being illuminated and walking in the light will bring us into direct conflict with the forces of darkness, set against God being glorified and enriched by our entering into the fullness of our God given inheritance. Therefore when we go after those eternal spiritual things the way is not easy, and we experience a “great fight of afflictions.”
“But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.” Heb. 10:32-35.
Divine enlightenment points all God’s family toward full partakership. “He that overcometh shall inherit all things”…Rev. 21:7. Will a full share to those that neglect or reject the provision given to enhance complete appreciation and enable full appropriation in the face of satanic opposition?
To be continued
