Do You Know How Rich You Are? - April 27

Read 1 Peter 1:3-5

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Reflect

As children of God, what is our inheritance? What are the riches that we have in Christ?

I don’t have a ton of money and as far as I know, I don’t have a wealthy uncle planning to bequeath his estate to me when he’s gone. Chances are, you don’t have a rich relative leaving you a ton of money either. I did a little digging online and discovered that very few people actually receive much of an inheritance.

So, it may surprise you that I consider myself extremely rich. And if you are also a believer in Christ, I consider you to be abundantly wealthy, too…even though I have no idea how much money you actually have in the bank.

The beloved apostle, John, proclaimed: “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13).

In his first letter, John repeated the truth that as believers in Jesus, we are in God’s family: “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are” (1 John 3:1).

Then, in Romans 8:17, the apostle Paul explained the implications of that truth: “And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ.” Because we are children of God, we are co-heirs with Christ. We are heirs of the kingdom of God!

In today’s passage, the apostle Peter elaborated on this inheritance. First, he praised God and acknowledged that it is only by His great mercy that we have received the hope of eternal life in Christ. Then he described our inheritance with a list of beautiful adjectives—imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. It can’t be ruined or spoiled. It can’t be marred, polluted, or stained. It will never fade, go out of style, or wear out.

No one can claim that about a worldly inheritance. Even the treasures of the richest uncle are susceptible to loss, theft, squandering, volatile stock markets, natural disasters, and on and on. But for those of us who are born again in Christ, our inheritance is incorruptible! Plus, it can never be snatched up by someone else. It is being kept in heaven, on reserve, for us!

What is this glorious inheritance? Psalm 16:5-6 says: “The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.”

Our inheritance is God Himself. Our salvation in Christ restored our relationship with Him and in Him, we have everything we need and so much more! In his study Bible, John MacArthur noted: “Life, righteousness, joy, peace, perfection, God’s presence, Christ’s glorious companionship, rewards, and all else God has planned is the Christian’s heavenly inheritance.”

Because of God’s great mercy and Christ’s loving sacrifice on our behalf, we will want for nothing and experience God’s glory for all of eternity. He is our living hope—our beautiful, imperishable, undefiled, and unfading inheritance.

Do you know how rich you are?

Respond

Lord, I thank and praise You for your great mercy and astounding love. Who am I, that I should be called a child of God? Who am I, that I should be a co-heir with Christ in the glorious riches of Your kingdom? And yet, that is what I am! Thank You, Father. Amen.

Reveal

Do you know a fellow believer who could use a little encouragement? Reach out and remind them of their glorious inheritance in Christ.