During the week I was at a prayer meeting for the youth and kids of our region and God highlighted to pray for kids and youth to have their ‘eyes enlightened' so that they can see ‘the hope’ to which God has called them, ‘the glorious inheritance in his holy people’ (Ephesians 1:17-19). It’s worth thinking about how many challenges our kids and youth face in modern society. It helps us to understand why they need to be clear about the hope to which God has called them. What is their plan and their purpose in God? Without some clarity about those questions, why should they bother even trying at life, with all the obstacles in front of them. To be honest, the same is true for all of us, regardless of our age. Without clear vision of where we are going in life, it’s hard to be bothered attempting to move forward. So how do we get clarity about our inheritance in Jesus?
Moving Forward With Vision
Yet having clarity about the vision and where we’re going is just the beginning of the journey. As you move forward, there are undoubtedly many obstacles we will face. Late last year I arrived at the conclusion that God wanted me to travel to Liberia to support our church missionaries there. But arriving at that conclusion was just the very first stage. Next I had to recruit a team, find the finances, get the passports and visa’s, vaccines, program creation, logistics for while I was away - the list goes on. Whenever you get a vision for something, the next stage is to move into the complexity of completing that vision. How do you keep moving forward?
Moving From Simplicity Into Complexity
One of the challenges once we’ve moved from vision and then into the journey is that we’re confronted complexity. Suddenly we’re not so sure if it was a good idea even to begin. We have to make decisions about what to do first and what to hold off on. We might not be sure what the next step is. Yet, that is the journey to make a vision reality - moving into complexity, sitting there until some simplicity arises again and then moving into the next phase of complexity. And on the process goes. How exhausting! Is it really worth it?
Knowing There Is A Great Inheritance
The writer to the Hebrews gives us some insight into why he wrote down his address:
‘We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.’ (Hebrews 6:12)
That last phrase is interesting, ‘inherit what has been promised’. He is saying that all the promises of God are an inheritance for those who will believe them. In the following verses he will specifically reference the promises to Abraham that he would be blessed and have many descendants (Hebrews 6:14). Yet we all stand as ‘heirs’ of this promise as we take hold of the word of God (cf. Hebrews 6:17). If we will believe the word of God, then we will be blessed and have many descendants, not necessarily physical descendants, but descendants who walk in our faith and patience. Those who like us will believe before we see, and then will see as a reward of faith. Do we deserve this? No, it comes based on the merit of Jesus Christ.
Knowing There Is A Great Inheritance Because of Jesus Christ
As Jesus stepped foot on our earth, he was called God’s Son and a priest. That is he represented God to humans and humans to God. Jesus lived out that calling by walking through a human life of faith in his heavenly Father.
‘During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.’ (Hebrews 5:7-10)
The only reason Jesus can truely represent us to the Father is because he became one of us and suffered like us. The only reason we can have an inheritance as Sons of God, is because God in Jesus has come down and taken us up to be with Him where He is. How do we step into this inheritance?
Moving Deeper to Inheritance
The answer in the section of Hebrews we are considering is quite surprising:
‘let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity’ (Hebrews 6:1, partial quotation)
When it comes to the reality of stepping into our inheritance in Christ, either we can press in for more understanding or we can shrink back in unbelief. As we take on board the initial teaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we’re meant to believe them and live them, so that we can grow in further understanding and encourage others. We’re meant to progress from milk to solid food, as we understand more of Christ and more of how He is meant to effect every aspect of life. That progression happens as we walk with active faith in Him.
When it comes to understanding the details of our personal inheritance with Christ Jesus, we can’t expect to be growing in clarity, if we’re not walking forward with faith in the words of Christ that we do understand. ‘Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.’ (Matthew 25:29)
As you read the stories of different people through the Bible and then the same kind of stories of saints all through the last 2,000 years in the age of God’s church, you see the amazing inheritance that God desires to give to His Sons and Daughters. But, we must walk with faith. That’s how we move deeper into the inheritance that God has for us. It’s worth asking yourself if you’re seeing a progression in your walk with Jesus. Are you learning more and growing? If not, then is there some lesson that God has been trying to teach you over and over again and you’re not actually believing His word? I would encourage you to take action quickly and to change direction. Repent and turn to God with faith. Then keep following Him in all that He reveals to you.
About the Author
Jai Wright is a Christian Minister, who founded and leads MAKE Church in Mackay, Qld. He recently published the book, Life Plugged In: Connecting with the Source of Peace, Power and Purpose.
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