Inheritance in Christ
Inheritance in Christ. In all of our busyness in life, what really matters? What do we inherit from this life?
11 In
Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according
to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of
His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
Ephesians 1:11-12, NKJV
Inheritance in Christ
This is one sentence--actually only part of a sentence in the original Greek--and what riches it contains. Let us break this down into smaller pieces. 1) We have obtained an inheritance in Him. 2) We are predestined according to God's purpose. 3) God works all things according to the counsel of His will. 4) We, who are believers in Christ, are here to the praise of His glory.
We have obtained an inheritance in Christ.
In all of our busyness in life, what really matters? What do we inherit from this life? We cannot take our money, our position, our loved ones, our friends, our authority, our power, or anything else with us. The only inheritance we can take with us is the eternal inheritance we receive from Christ, and that inheritance will last forever. If that is true, what should occupy or consume our interests? To have everything in this life and yet to miss eternity with Christ would be utterly devastating. Yet, to have nothing in this life, but to have Christ for eternity would mean we have everything!
We are predestined according to God's purpose.
For some reason, this statement often makes us extremely uncomfortable. We tend to think that, if it is true, then we are nothing but robots. Is that correct? That feeling only shows our finite natures. We cannot comprehend God because we are not God! How can God choose us, and yet we still have a choice? I must admit that I do not understand it, but because both God's sovereignty (including His predestination of us) and our free will are both taught in the Bible, we must believe both. It is not our job to understand how two seemingly opposite things can be true. The fault lies in us. In heaven, we will realize how both are true! I think we make a grave error if we pretend to understand perfectly everything that is taught to us in the Bible.
Several years ago, a dear friend explained it this way. He said, "I do not know if I am a Calvinist or an Arminian, but, given the choice, I would rather go with God and not man." What wisdom. Let us not be offended because God loves us and directs our lives. Rather, let us be thankful that He does!
God works all things according to the counsel of His will.
This is really a restatement of Romans 8:28: And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. God did not create this world and then walk away. From the beginning of time, He has watched over and nurtured this world. Nothing happens apart from the counsel of His will. What a wonderful thing. We cannot mess up this world so bad that there is no recovery! What a good thing to remember, especially in this election year in the United States!
We, who are believers in Christ, are here to the praise of His glory.
When we are overwhelmed with life and utterly perplexed by the events of our lives, let us remember that we are here to the praise of the glory of God! God never leaves or forsakes His children. Though we cannot understand it now, everything in our lives brings glory to Him, and when we reach the gates of heaven, we will fall down in praise before Him.
What simple and yet
profound truths. This is the God we serve. He saves us, He loves us, He
keeps us, and He will bring us home to live with Him forever. Yes, we have an inheritance in Christ!
It is all about God and what He has done for us in Christ, and nothing about us!
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