OUR INHERITANCE

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: in whom also we have obtained an inheritance,.. Eph. 1

I pray: “... that the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. Ephesians 1: 16-18-  

And what are “the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.”?

In this world at the expectation of a large inheritance there is talk of all that money can buy: perhaps several new, expensive cars; a beautifully furnished home in the best part of the city, as well as one in the country; a new wardrobe; first class world travel while visiting the most interesting places, and staying in the best of hotels, with the best of foods and wines; and the increase of capital that we can use to create even more wealth. All such imaginings are exhilarating because they hold out the promise of the future enjoyment of all the wonderful experiences that this world has to offer. Think Downton Abbey. But in this cursed world even the richest inheritance is accompanied with trouble. For in this world the more we have the more we have to care for and protect.  And when it’s time to leave, we leave it ALL behind. Naked comin’ in, naked goin’ out!

But, in the New Heavens and the New Earth we will enjoy every good thing and every good experience this old world offers, but there will be no more Curse, no more sin, evil, death, fear or sorrow. And, the Lord Himself will be there to rule over a New Creation, a true Land flowing with Milk and Honey, that exists in perfect harmony

Let’s consider just one of the many riches prepared for us.

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when HE is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 1 John 3:1-2

He shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, Phil.3:21

For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body, we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God Himself and not by human hands. For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. God Himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee He has given us His Holy Spirit.  2 Corinthians 5:1-5

Heaven is the place where we will be given new bodies that are designed for living in the New Heaven and New Earth. Imagine, no more fear of crippling, wasting disease, the constant irritation of aches and pains, the loss of strength and vitality and the need for cosmetics or perfumes to deal with the effects of aging. And we will have brains that think clearly, learn thoroughly, create effortlessly, and never forget! And a spirit made perfect like His, and that will be in perfect knowledge of divine things, and completely at peace.

 

THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND

“From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”  Mt.4:17

The good news that Jesus of Nazareth declared that day begs the question: “What do I have to repent of to gain entrance into the Heavenly Kingdom?”

The Bible is clear as to what needs to be repented of so that you may be received with joy into the Kingdom of Heaven.

“…do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Cor. 6:9, 10

“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.  Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. Col. 3

“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Gal: 5:19-21

“… God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love and no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.” Rom: 1:26-32

“But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. Rom. 2:5-8

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. Rev. 22: 14, 15

 

OUR BLESSED HOPE

The author of the book of Hebrews said, “We heirs of promise enjoy a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters into that within the veil; where the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus,.. Heb.6:17-20

And the apostle Paul said: “He hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Eph. 2:5,6

We have a hope that saves us. Yes, saves us. That hope of standing in the presence of the living God, the Creator of all that is; that hope of being with the Lord Jesus in the New Heaven and the New Earth; that hope of having eternal rewards that will help us fulfill our eternal purpose is an anchor set deep in the heart of Christ Jesus as He sits on His throne at the right hand of the Father, reigning and ruling over the nations of men.  And that anchor is securely attached to the Cable of the Holy Spirit who dwells in our hearts. The little boat, that is your life in Christ, is secure. Your life and eternal soul will not be lost in the turbulent seas of this world’s trials, troubles, tragedies and temptations. The Cable will hold until the day the Lord draws our souls to the Heavenly shore. Therefore, stand firm in your faith, and hold tight to your hope until you see His face.

AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER

Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all. Jer. 31:

When a story begins with, “Once upon a time and, ends with, “And they lived happily ever after,” it has universal appeal for the child in all of us. And, for that matter, it has an appeal for the adult in all of us as well.  

I love the classic fairy tales and the old school super heroes. The protagonist (good guy), the antagonist (the bad guy) and the hero (the deliverer) who comes to save the day! I believe every story ever told that becomes a classic is only a type of the true redemption story. Homer’s “Ulysses”, Hugo’s “Les Miserable” or Lucas’s “Star War Trilogy” all hold this in common – in the end the good overcomes the evil. The desire for things to end well is common in the hearts of us all.

I’ll be, Lord willing, threescore and ten in July. 70! The last few years every time I shave I am confronted with my mortality. The travel itinerary is set.  I’m leaving this earth. I am going to die, and, so are you. And I certainly want things to end well for me. And, I assume you feel the same about your eternal future.

“…. it is given unto men once to die, and then the judgment.” Heb. 9:27
So, experiencing the Glory of God, or what most folks call Heaven, or the New Heavens and the New Earth, forever; OR experiencing no hope in the torment of the Lake of Fire, forever, are the only two possible destinies for each of us. That’s it! It will be one or the other.

So, while it is yet today and the final destination of our lives has not yet been set, let’s listen as the Scriptures tell us the true tale of hope. 

Once upon a time, “…God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” Gal. 4:4-6

And they lived happily ever after, “…because the Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Rom. 8:16, 17

This happy ending is what I call a very large slice of “The Children’s Bread”!

And what the apostle Peter called the exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature; and so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Pet. 1:4

Despite the certainty of death that seems to be rushing towards me, I live each day as one of the beloved characters in this tale of hope we call the Gospel of Jesus Christ, because Jesus made the same promise to me that He also made to all of you.  

He said, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he was dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” Jn. 11

 

WRATH? WHAT WRATH?


And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, ² in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, ³ among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. (The Apostle Paul to the Ephesian Christians)


Sons of Disobedience?
Children of Wrath?
Just like the others?


Help me out. Who is being talked about here, and what's this business about WRATH?

George Duffield, Jr.

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Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss.
From victory unto victory His army shall He lead,
Till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the solemn watchword hear;
If while ye sleep He suffers, away with shame and fear;
Where’er ye meet with evil, within you or without,
Charge for the God of battles, and put the foe to rout.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the trumpet call obey;
Forth to the mighty conflict, in this His glorious day.
Ye that are brave now serve Him against unnumbered foes;
Let courage rise with danger, and strength to strength oppose.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, stand in His strength alone;
The arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the Gospel armor, each piece put on with prayer;
Where duty calls or danger, be never wanting there.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, each soldier to his post,
Close up the broken column, and shout through all the host:
Make good the loss so heavy, in those that still remain,
And prove to all around you that death itself is gain.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the strife will not be long;
This day the noise of battle, the next the victor’s song.
To those who vanquish evil a crown of life shall be;
They with the King of Glory shall reign eternally

The sad, vile realities of Same-sex Marriage

 

However the Supreme Court rules in the matter of the abomination known as same-sex-marriage, it is clear that a large portion of our culture has been given over to the notion that homosexuality is an expression of love. To those who believe gay marriage is a good thing because it is all about Love, hear the Word of the Lord, “This is real love-not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” (1 Jn.4:10)  When one man puts his penis in another man’s rectum, this is not an act of love. Or, when a woman straps on a dildo and penetrates the vagina of another woman, this is not an act of love. The Word of God calls these acts of homosexuality sins. Oh, as an aside, neither is it an act of love, when a married man puts his penis in the vagina of someone else’s wife, mother, sister or daughter. The Word of God calls it an act of adultery; and it is a sin. And not to discriminate, unmarried men and women who “get it on” are guilty of acts of fornication. Yes, these acts of fornication are called sins too.  Clearly those who practice any of these types of sinful acts will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 1 Cor. 6:9-11   And yet, SUCH WERE SOME OF US! But He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.

I do believe it is time for all Christians in these United States to recognize that the words of Romans 1 have come to pass in our land. “For the wrath of God IS revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, therefore God also GAVE THEM UP to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves….for this reason God GAVE THEM UP to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful. God GAVE THEM OVER to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting.” (Rom.1)  The words “God gave them up, and God gave them over” are not words of permission or allowance. These words record God’s active wrath. In His anger, He ceases any effort on His part to restrain the wicked desires of the men and women practicing homosexual acts.  And He actually gives them free reign to live in their lusts without government interference. History tells us that when God acts thus it is the beginning of the end for any given culture!  We now live in a culture that has been GIVEN OVER to the influences of just such a debased world view. That the highest court in our land is even considering the legal status of same-sex marriage, and that the people of several states have already legalized same-sex marriage is sufficient evidence that this is so.

So, how then do we live in this decadent culture among those who want our children and grandchildren for their own purposes? We, “…work out our salvation with fear and trembling; and do all things without complaining and disputing, that we may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom we shine as lights in the world, holding fast the Word of life..” (Phil 2:12)  We must unequivocally declare His whole counsel, as revealed in the Bible, to our culture.

When you are afraid, discouraged or even depressed by what your eyes witness of the fruits of the powers of darkness, remember that our Savior has promised us a Heavenly Kingdom  in which the thoughts and actions of its citizens will always be the fruit of what is true, honorable, righteous, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and truly worthy of praise. No wonder Abraham and the saints of old “looked for a heavenly country”, a city whose builder and maker is God; and the apostle Paul told us, “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.  For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when, Christ , who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.  (Col.3:1-4)

HE HAS RISEN!