THE INHERITANCE OF THE BELIEVER
1 Peter 1:3-5
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Some of the biggest fusses in church families that I’ve seen over the years have had to do with someone’s inheritance; who gets what. You’ve probably seen some of these. Aunt Susie promised me this or Grandmother promised me that. I’ve seen whole families split over something as little as one foot of land. To some people the stuff of life is just a little too important.
The question of “what’s coming to me?” is still extremely important to Christian believers. In this passage Peter is very descriptive of exactly what has been promised to us beyond this world. When we move to our next home, when life continues for us in heaven, what will be our inheritance?
In this passage we discover four characteristics of the inheritance awaiting us in God’s big house.
INHERITANCE
Anonymous writer, about an American tourist's visit to the 19th century Polish rabbi, Hofetz Chaim:
Astonished to see that the rabbi's home was only a simple room filled with books, plus a table and a bench, the tourist asked,
"Rabbi, where is your furniture?"
"Where is yours?" replied the rabbi.
"Mine?" asked the puzzled American. "But I'm a visitor here. I'm only passing through."
"So am I," said Hofetz Chaim.
1. OUR HEAVENLY INHERITANCE WILL BE INCORRUPTIBLE (v. 4):
4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
"Incorruptible” is the first word Peter used to describe the inheritance that is reserved for believers in heaven. This word describes something that does not, can never decay. No matter how prepared a dead body is for burial that outer shell of flesh will eventually undergo decay and return to the basic elements from which it is constructed. Our heavenly bodies, however, will be homes not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
When sin came into the world the possibility of corruption became a deadly reality. No nighttime in heaven. No corruption. No decay. Ours will be an inheritance of life that will go on forever.
2. OUR HEAVENLY INHERITANCE WILL BE UNDEFILED (v. 4):
4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
This word “undefiled” means “unspoiled or pure.” We all know what defiles the life of the believer here on earth. Once we choose to sin in disobedience to our heavenly Father our personal purity can never be the same. To be tempted is not a sin. To surrender to temptation as opposed to surrendering to God’s will for our lives is a sin. This is the nature of the world in which we live.
In heaven we’ll discover that life is vastly different from life here on earth. There will be no temptation just as there will be no inclination to sin and rebel against God’s desire for our lives. According to Peter our next place will be a place without sin and life there will be pure and incapable of being spoiled.
3. OUR HEAVENLY INHERITANCE WILL BE ETERNAL (v. 4):
4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you
The phrase “does not fade away” can also be translated as “eternal” or “that which does not depreciate.” We all understand that life in heaven will last forever but to say that it will not depreciate puts a new spin on eternal life. If you’ve ever bought a home or a car or invested money in the stock market you understand what it means for something to depreciate. It means that today it is not worth as much as it was yesterday.
Peter’s message is that in heaven life will not become less and less palatable the longer we’ve been there. Some have come to a time here on earth when because of infirmity or some other reason they felt life was no longer worth living. In heaven the passage of time will not distort the value of life because there will be no time to pass, just one big, happy eternal today.
AMAZING GRACE
When we've been here ten thousand years...
bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise...
then when we've first begun.
4. OUR HEAVENLY INHERITANCE IS RESERVED FOR US (v. 4):
4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
This word “reserved” means to “guard by keeping an eye on.” Can’t you just see that angel who has been posted by the Lamb’s Book of Life where your name has been written - where your reservation is kept? His orders are to keep an eye on our inheritance. The saved person has a reservation for a place in heaven. Ever get to a hotel and they’ve lost your reservation? This is irritating to say the least. Won’t happen in heaven. When we get there Peter promises that all will be in order.
Have you reserved your place in heaven by relying upon or resting in Jesus for salvation?
