A great big inheritance!

 

"Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light."  (Colossians 1:12)

I was listening to a Pastor who I very much respect on the radio.  He was talking about inheritance, and how he was not going to leave his son one.  He explained that he had to work to get ahead, and that his son should too.  While it sounded noble to instill such a work ethic, I couldn't help but think, "How sad".

Passing along an inheritance is one of the best pictures of God's grace!

As it turned out, I was listening to him on the radio shortly after my Mom died.  Mom left me with an inheritance, and I couldn't help but see some parallels between her gift and God's gift to us.

First of all, it wasn't the inheritance I really wanted, it was her!  I would have given anything to just have her.  And if we love God it will be the same- He promises us a big inheritance, but He's what we really want.

Secondly, it was totally obvious that Mom was thinking of me when she left me her inheritance. She purposely planned things so my brother, sister and I would be blessed.  She was thinking of us even as she was dying.  What a beautiful picture of how Christ loves us!

Thirdly, it was pure grace!  My Mom worked her whole life to earn what she had.  I didn't deserve any of it!  And yet here I was left with all these gifts.  I don't know of any better picture of God's grace than inheritance.  God gives us everything, when we deserve nothing!  Jesus did all the work, and after He died, we got all the treasures of His inheritance!

"And that", said the Pastor on the radio, "was the very reason he would not leave his son an inheritance".  He reasoned his son might not properly value it and go and waste it.  This is true!  But it didn't stop God from giving us His treasures.  He paid a heavy price, did all the work, left us blessings that we never worked for, knew that we might not totally appreciate it, might even waste it...and yet, gave us His inheritance!  Wow!  That is why I say one of the best pictures of God's grace is inheritance.

But finally, I received an inheritance from Mom simply because I was her son and she loved me.  She did exactly the same for my brother and sister.  We were her children; she loved us, and because of that she left us what she could.  There's not a day that goes by that I don't see something Mom left me and I think of her and smile.  I smile because she was my Mom.  I smile because she loved me.  And I smile, yes, at the things she left me and her thoughtfulness to care enough to do that for me.

I received an inheritance because I was her child.  And this is the perfect picture of God in His love for us.  We're His family, He's our Father, and yes, Jesus is our brother!  All we receive from Him is just because we're His children.  Sheer grace!