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Heaven is an eternal inheritance
Pastor's corner
pastor corner

An inheritance is something most people are familiar with, they have received something from a loved one who has died.

This might be money, cars, houses or any number of other things. These things will not last forever. One might receive a large sum of money only to lose it in the stock market, or inherit a house only to see it burn to the ground.

Heaven is an inheritance that will not go away. Peter wrote, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:3-5).

Heaven is incorruptible, circumstances nor time can destroy or even diminish the glory of this inheritance. It is eternal, it will not decay nor age. Heaven is also undefiled.

The word used here in the Greek is "amiantos", meaning unstained, not soiled. This term was used to describe one of the characteristics of Jesus in Hebrews 7:26. Heaven will not fade away.

Sometimes people dream of different things, new cars, homes, etc., but after a while the dreams fade. Heaven is not a dream, it is a reality, one that is obtainable by all who will obey God. It is the dwelling place of God.

To receive this inheritance, one must be prepared. In the book of Matthew Jesus told of the account of those who were prepared. There were five wise and five foolish virgins (Matthew 25). Five made the right preparation and were allowed in to the wedding feast, the foolish missed their opportunity. Those who wish to have the inheritance of heaven must be wise and prepare as God has instructed.

This inheritance will be without the trials and troubles of this life. Sickness affects so many people. Pain and suffering that is a part of everyday life on earth will be no more.

John wrote, "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away" (Revelation 21:4).

This verse alone should cause man to want to have this inheritance.

The wickedness that fills the world today will not be there. News reports are filled with stories of how man mistreats man. In heaven those who do such will not be present. Paul wrote about the "works of the flesh" in Galatians 5. He said, "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, murders, drunkenness, reveling, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-21).

Those who persist in following the path of wickedness and not following God will not be prepared for the inheritance.

All the physical things that are left for an inheritance mean that someone worked, planned and sacrificed. The spiritual inheritance also took these things. Man sinned, Christ promised a way, God sent Christ to die for mankind, to shed the blood that cleanses man’s soul. This inheritance is worth more than all the gold and silver the world has ever known.

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