Inheritance

Inheritance.

a:  the act of inheriting property

b:  the reception of genetic qualities by transmission from parent to offspring

c:  the acquisition of a possession, condition, or trait from past generations (Merriam-Webster)

Have you heard the story of the Portuguese aristocrat who left his fortune to 70 total strangers he picked from a phone book?

Who knows, maybe you have a sizeable inheritance in your future. Maybe you have already received your inheritance though the gift of land, mineral rights, or stock. Some inherit material things like fine China, furniture, or cookware. We can also inherit personality traits both good and bad. We all know the saying, “more is caught than taught” concerning our kids. Sadly, some of you instead of inheriting wealth inherited debt. Not all inheritance is desirable.  Some of us will inherit genetic makeups that lead to dementia, cancer, vision loss, and so forth while others inherit longevity and good health.

 The common thread is we cannot choose our earthly inheritance. But joyfully for us, we can choose our eternal inheritance and we can choose to share that inheritance with future generations.

That brings us to Psalm 119:111 English Standard Version (ESV)

“Your testimonies are my heritage forever,

for they are the joy of my heart.”

My goal in bible study is a heart change that produces life transformation. We are aiming to plant seeds into good soil, so that it may take root and bear fruit. The bible tells us to hide God’s word in our hearts. Someday our bibles could be ripped from our hands.  Study and memorizing scripture could be against the law. Illness and memory loss can rip it from our minds. But if we work to let scripture take root and change our heart and lives that can never be taken away from us! Let’s eagerly dig deep today.

Testimonies.

The greatest testimony of God in all the world is Jesus Christ. He is God’s testimony embodied. God said to us, “If you want to know what I am, look, there is my Son.” And Jesus came and said, “He that hath seen the Son hath seen the Father.” Jesus Christ is God’s testimony against sin, for Christ died through our sin. He is God’s testimony concerning divine love, for God so loved us that he gave his Son to die for us. In Christ you will find that, the more you study him, the more you will see what the invisible God is, for he is “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.” Now, beloved, I can say, and many of you can say, “We have taken the Lord Jesus Christ to be our heritage forever;” and we are complete in him, perfect in Christ Jesus, Christ is all and in all to us. When we once get Christ, we get everything. “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”

Spurgeon, C. H. (1895). The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons (Vol. 41, p. 255). London: Passmore & Alabaster.

We are richly blessed by the truth of God’s word. The testimony is truth-Jesus Christ. I love how Spurgeon explains it.

“A man’s mind is rich very much in proportion to the truth he knows. He who knows the Word of God is mentally rich, he has a large heritage.”

“Thy testimonies.” Ah, brethren, I cannot draw a complete map of this estate, it is so large, so wonderful; but, thank God, you can go and see it for Yourselves! Walk over its broad areas, lie down in its green pastures, rest beside it’s still waters. It is indeed a wealthy country that is described in those two words, “thy testimonies.”

Does this not make you eagerly squirm in your seat ready to explore God’s word? What a privilege and joy.

A couple of summers ago, we vacationed to the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. While there we traveled into Asheville and toured the beautiful Biltmore Gardens and Estate. One day is not nearly enough to explore and see the beauty of this massive estate. We certainly missed some places and did not get to see everything.

That is like God’s testimonies. It is large and wonderful. Majestic and full of beautiful truth. Every day we have a choice to walk in the gardens or explore a trail. To tour the mansion or sit by the lake. To ride horseback back by the waters or gaze over the green forests. We will never see it all or tire of its beauty. By faith in God and the choice to enter in all are welcome. No one can force you. It is your choice.

“None are excluded hence but those

Who do themselves exclude.”

“Oh, may the Lord, in his infinite mercy, make us to be so enchanted with this estate, so enraptured with this divine property, that we shall never rest until we enter into full and final possession of it, and find it to be the rejoicing of our heart!”

 “the Bible is as fresh to me to-day as when first I began to speak from it as a boy, and preached to you from it as a youth. It is an inexhaustible heritage of mental wealth to the man who will accept it, and give his mind to the study of it. Look at the doctrines, the precepts, the promises, the prophecies, the histories, the experiences, —it is no use for me to try to map out this estate, it is so large. As a great heritage of mental wealth, it makes every man who receives it, however illiterate he may be upon other subjects, a wealthy man spiritually, while they who discard it become poverty-stricken in mind, whatever else of mental attainments they may possess.” Spurgeon, C. H. (1895). The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons (Vol. 41, p. 254). London: Passmore & Alabaster.

Heritage.

Our heritage is found in God’s testimonies. God’s covenant is our heritage.

“Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.” Hebrews 9:15

“to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” 1 Peter 1:4

“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26

“I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned and whereby they have transgressed against me. And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honor before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it.” Jeremiah 33:8

In the exercise of this holy diligence, you and I have to take possession of the Word of God by studying it more earnestly, to take possession of the covenant by believing it more fully, and to take possession of Christ by communing with him more closely, and using him more constantly, so that you say with David, “Thy testimonies have I taken as a heritage forever.” Keep on taking, keep on taking, keep on taking. Thy testimonies have I taken.”

This heritage is free to you as it is me. Unlike earthly inheritance that we will leave behind, this inheritance will last eternally.

Sadly, George Vanderbilt who built the magnificent Biltmore Estate died 19 years after completing construction at the age of 51. All his labor was left behind.

With deep gratitude, I rejoice that my parents passed down to me the path to obtain the inheritance of eternal life though Jesus Christ. I didn't gain it from them. I chose myself to believe in faith. They just taught me the way. They shared the gospel message. They took me to church and fed me the word of God. Because of that I can REJOICE.

 Every day that I study the word of God my inheritance is continually giving to me. Making me rich.  I rejoice and rejoice and rejoice again as I walk new trails and discover new paths through God’s word. As I watch God work and lives transform I rejoice. Salvation brings great joy. The testimony, Jesus Christ, makes people brand new. That brings me great joy. Walking with the Holy Spirit, leading and guiding me, brings great joy. See a sinner saved brings great joy! Let go of earthly possessions and seek that glorious inheritance found in the promise of God.

“Your testimonies are my heritage forever,

for they are the joy of my heart.” Psalm 119:111