“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.” 1 Peter 1:3-4a
You may have received an inheritance in the past. Or, you may be expecting to receive one in the future. But if you are in God’s family, then you are guaranteed an inheritance that you cannot imagine:
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Cor. 2:9, NLT
An inheritance is not something that is earned. It’s a gift of money, land, or property that is usually given to a family member. Similarly, the inheritance that the Apostle Peter describes is not something that is earned. It’s a gift for everyone who has been born into God’s family through Jesus Christ.
This inheritance is unlike any other for three reasons:
First, it is not held on earth for us by a legal arrangement, but is “kept in heaven” for us by God himself (v. 4b).
Second, while an inheritance normally becomes ours as the result of a death, this one becomes ours because of a resurrection—“the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
Third, while earthly inheritances can be spent, squandered, or lost, our heavenly inheritance “can never perish, spoil or fade” (v. 4).
Knowing that we have such an inheritance in the future enables us to live differently in the present. We can take risks for Christ, knowing that our future is safe. We can be generous with our stuff, because our treasure is in Heaven. We can endure loss, rejection, and even death for Christ in this life, knowing that in the next life we will have prosperity, peace, and joy in His presence forever.
Father, thank You for the glorious inheritance I have in Christ. I want others to believe in Jesus and be in Your family too. Help me to live in a way that shows others Your grace and goodness. For Jesus’s sake, Amen.
Take Action
In view of your future inheritance, be generous today: give the gospel to someone in need; give something of value to someone in need; or give away your time to someone in need.