“inherit the kingdom prepared for you”
God’s promises are many. The Bible tells us so. As we consider them, which of God’s promises resonate most?
- When days are pleasant?
- When health issues come to us?
- When family members go astray?
- When life becomes difficult?
- When facing unknown challenges?
- When approaching death?
The prophet Jeremiah wrote about the promise of God given to His servant Jacob, whom He renamed Israel.
“The portion of Jacob is not like these;
(The Book of Jeremiah 10: 16 NASB)
For the Maker of all is He,
And Israel is the tribe of His inheritance;
The LORD of hosts is His name.”
As individuals age and prepare for their future, oftentimes they consider their inheritance, what they will leave to those who come after them. In planning for our estate, we think of money, property, possessions, and of those personal family heirlooms.
Many years ago, when my paternal grandparents’ estate was sold at auction, the children and grandchildren had the opportunity to bid on treasured items. It was a pleasant morning, as we stepped inside the auction tent and listened to the auctioneer begin to explain the details. Earlier, my husband and I had acquired our bid number, the card which we would hold up during the auction to purchase those items we wished to buy. We were both blessed with employment, so we had a certain amount of funds available to purchase those treasured items. There was a large crowd gathered, both community and family members. The auctioneer began to name the items up for bid, some objects sat under the tent, some sat on my grandparents’ porch just a few feet away, and some were scattered across their front yard. To be honest, there was only one object I wished to own: a large painting that had hung over my grandparents’ couch inside their living room.
Fast forward to the end of the auction. That day, my inheritance purchased consisted of a bedroom suit that had been my paternal great-grandparents’ bed and a wood stove that had been my maternal great-grandparents’ daily cook-stove. What did not become my inheritance was the painting that hung inside my grandparents’ living room. To this day, as I think back to that auction, I wonder why I did not bid higher when the auctioneer called for the crowd to place bids on that painting. What held me back? What caused me to keep my bid card close to my side when bids were placed? Why did I not place the highest bid for that which I desired most?
Reflecting upon that day reminds us of the inheritance God’s children will receive. The Son of God, Jesus, spoke these words recorded inside God’s Word:
“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him,
(The Gospel According to Matthew 25: 31-34 NASB)
then He will sit on His glorious throne.
All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;
and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.
Then the King will say to those on His right,
‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
One day, we will give an account for all things done and for those actions not completed. The Bible says the LORD will judge, not overlooking anything.
- Why do we do that which is commanded of us while we live?
- What causes us to serve or not serve the LORD as we should?
- When Jesus returns, will we be prepared to give account?
- Where will you be when He comes: with the sheep or with the goats?
- How can you know your inheritance of the LORD is SURE, even today?
May you and I be ready and not found wanting when Jesus comes.
Let us not stand idle, not claiming that which we most desire—
Heaven for eternity in God’s presence.
Nothing is trivial here on earth, so let us be prepared within our soul and let us then do God’s will.