1 Peter 1:1-13 My mother died last year, and I received a small inheritance of $1,000. This inheritance has already been spent. Imagine having an inheritance that never disappears. I had a friend who wanted to leave her precious antiques to her daughter. Some of these antiques dated back to before the Revolution. They were priceless. Her daughter, however, said she did not want these pieces of furniture. I have heard stories where people received the contents of their mother or father’s home, and in the process of cleaning the homes to sell them, they found thousands of dollars tucked in mattresses and cracks in walls. I have seen items given to sons and daughters by their beloved departed that have been allowed to mildew, dry rot and become worthless. If these people had taken care of those things they inherited, they probably could have sold them for a good price.
Peter tells us about our great inheritance in our reading today: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (vv. 3-5).
The whole world is able to claim this inheritance, but few in the world choose to receive or claim it. This inheritance is reserved in a place where moth and rust will never corrupt it and where thieves cannot enter in to steal it. This inheritance is reserved for every one who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ. Just as the daughter refused to receive her inheritance of those lovely antiques, many people never claim and therefore cannot receive this great inheritance.
The Bible clearly tells us that we are joint heirs with Christ. Everyone who is born again can receive all that Jesus has inherited. This inheritance includes the kingdom of God, which is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. It also includes all the promises of God, which are all yes and amen through Jesus Christ, the Word of God with all of its wisdom, the fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit. Many Christians even fail to receive their full inheritance. The thing that blocks them from receiving their inheritance in full measure is unbelief.
Today you can avail yourself of this inheritance. All that Jesus has is yours. You can access this inheritance simply by faith. Everything we receive from God is by faith, as we learned in our study of Hebrews. If you do not have enough faith to believe for your total inheritance, then ask God to give you the gift of faith so you can enter into your full inheritance.
READ: Ezekiel 44:1-45:12; 1 Peter 1:1-13; Psalm 119:17-35; Proverbs 28:8-10
