Many fail to recognize that our inheritance in heaven is far more valuable than all the riches in the world. Jesus said, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mt. 16:26). He also said, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it, he goes and sells all that he has and buys the field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who when he had found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had and bought it” (Mt. 13:44-46). We must spare no expense or effort to obtain our inheritance in heaven.
Our inheritance came at a great price; the cruel death of Jesus on the cross. He purchased our inheritance with His own blood (Acts 20:28), which “has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of His dear Son” (Col. 1:12-13).
To receive the inheritance, we must obey the perfect will of God (Mt. 7:21) and become one of His children. How do we become a child of God so we can qualify for the inheritance? Paul said, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:26-27). We become children of God by having an obedient faith, which includes being baptized into Christ. Baptism is the point when we are put into Christ by our faith in the working of God (Rom. 6:3ff; Col. 2:11ff) If we have been baptized into Christ, “In Him also we have obtained an inheritance” (Eph. 1:11). When we are baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38), then we know we are His children and are qualified for the inheritance.
After we have become a child of God and have received the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38), “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ” (Rom. 8:16-17). We are then assured, “Knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance” (Col. 3:24). We should then “Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in Heaven” (Mt. 5:12). We then have “An inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in Heaven for you” (1 Pet. 1:4).
You should “Let no man cheat you of your reward” (Col. 2:18). You should live a faithful life and “be even more diligent to make your calling and election sure” (2 Pet. 1:10). Then on the Judgment Day, you will hear the Lord say, “Come you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Mt. 25:34). If we want to have our inheritance in heaven, we must become children of God and live faithfully to Him until the day we die (Rev. 2:10).
Adapted from Ron Boatwright.