THE CENTRALITY OF THE WORD OF GOD The particulars of our inheritance in Christ are proclaimed in "the word of the truth of the gospel" (Col. 1:5). The fact of this inheritance is set forth before us through the Gospel of Christ. " . . . the INHERITANCE of the saints in light" (Col 1:12) . . . "Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the INHERITANCE" (Col 3:24) . . . "they which are called might receive the promise of eternal INHERITANCE. (Heb 9:15) . . . "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again . . . To an INHERITANCE incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you" (1 Pet 1:4). Tomorrow:
"I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for THOU HAST MAGNIFIED THY WORD ABOVE ALL THY NAME." (Psa 138:2) ". . . for You have exalted above all else Your name and Your word and You have magnified Your word above all Your name!" (Amplified Bible)
Devotion 27 of 30
The inheritance is the point of coming into Christ. It is the appointed objective for being delivered from the power of darkness, the guilt and power of sin, and this present evil world (Col 1:13; Heb 9:14; Rom 6:11; Gal 1:4). The objective of salvation is not to merely clean up your life, give you a happy existence in the world, and cause everything related to personal, domestic, and social life to be better. Those are all byproducts, and they are not even guaranteed. Jesus taught us that He can divide families as well as unite them (Matt 10:36). Paul testified that closeness to God can bring greater and more extensive sufferings (2 Cor 11:23-28). Jesus Himself told Paul that one of the objectives of his apostleship was that his hearers "may receive . . . inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Me" (Acts 26:18).
When the saints of God are not told of their inheritance, they have been robbed of something that is sorely needed. This is true because we are "saved by hope" – and our inheritance has to do with that hope.
Any attempt to paint a picture of our inheritance in a dream or vision would come far short of the expressions of it in God's word. Think of the specifics that are revealed of this inheritance. "But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever" (Dan 7:18) . . . "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth" (Mat 5:5) . . . "The saints shall judge the world . . . we shall judge angels" (I Cor. 6:2-3). ". . . but then shall I know, even as I am known" (I Cor. 13:12). ". . . we shall bear the image of the heavenly . . ." (I Cor. 15:48-49) . . . "When Christ, Who is our life, shall appear, then shall we also appear with Him in glory" (Col. 3:4) . . . "If we suffer with Him, we shall also reign with Him" (2 Tim. 2:12) . . . "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (2 Tim 4:8) . . . There remains a rest to the people of God" (Heb. 4:9) . . . we shall be like Him" (1 John 3:2) . . . "And they shall see His face . . . and there is no night there . . . and they shall reign forever and ever" (Rev. 22:4-5).
While dreams and visions tend to generalities, the word of God deals with specifics. The names of the righteous shall be confessed before God and before the holy angels (Rev. 3:5). Part of the great salvation brought by Christ is "the redemption of the body" (Rom. 8:23). It is at that time, when he comes, that our "vile" bodies shall be "fashioned like unto His glorious body" (Phil. 3:20). When the Lord appears, we shall also "be glad with exceeding joy" (I Pet. 4:13), for "we shall be like Him" and "see Him as He is" (I John 3:2). God Himself will praise the faithful. As it is written, "and then shall every man have praise of God" (1 Cor 4:5).
Everything is not told us about the world to come, but sufficient details are provided to whet the appetite of the faithful, and constrain them to become more thoroughly involved in the great enterprise of redemption.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I THANK You for the greatness of the things You prepared for those who love You.