I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints. Ephesians 1:16-18 (ESV)
Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians is that God would open the eyes of their hearts so that they would know the riches (wealth) of God’s glorious inheritance in the saints. Paul is not talking here about earthly riches. However, we do have wealth waiting for us in the next life. Yes, we get a taste of our inheritance now, but we have not yet taken possession of it. We will not realize the full measure of our inheritance until Christ returns.
Like our hope, our inheritance in found in Jesus Christ. Through Christ, who paid the purchase price, we have obtained an inheritance. What is so amazing is that even before we believed in him we had an inheritance because God predestined us in Christ before we were born.
When were were born again God sent his Holy Spirit to dwell in us who sealed our salvation and now lives in us as a guarantee (down payment) that we will take possession of the promises of God. Paul wrote to the Ephesians, In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:11-14 ESV)
Lest we think that we somehow earned our inheritance, scripture says that it is the Father who qualified us to receive it (Colossians 1:12). It is from the Lord that we will receive our inheritance (Colossians 3:24). And it is God who is keeping our inheritance for us (1 Peter 1:4).
Peter wrote that it is God who caused us to be born again to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading (1 Peter 1:3-4). Our inheritance is imperishable in that it will never wear out or decay. Our inheritance is undefiled in that it is not polluted by sin. Our inheritance is unfading in that, like earthly wealth, it will never lose its worth or glory. We will never get bored with our inheritance nor we will ever spend it all; it is an eternal inheritance (Hebrews 9:15).
Since we are fellow heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17) everything God has given Christ he has given to us. Finally, why do we have such an awesome inheritance waiting for us? The answer is TO THE PRAISE OF THE GLORY OF GOD (Ephesians 1:14). The ultimate purpose of our inheritance is the glorification of God.
Do you eagerly await your promised inheritance?
Scriptures for meditation:
Psalm 16:6
1 Timothy 6:17-19
Revelation 5:9-10