Imagine for a moment you receive a sizable inheritance from a rich relative. When you first receive this news you are overjoyed, to say the least. Now you have millions of dollars in the bank at your disposal, but you choose to withdraw only a small amount. Despite the wealth at your fingertips, you are still living like you are poor. You accept and have knowledge of this incredible gift and yet your lifestyle has not changed at all. Why are you not living out of the riches you have been afforded?
This scenario seems strange, but if we are honest, it depicts our reaction to the spiritual inheritance we have received in Christ (Ephesians 1:11). While many of us have an understanding of salvation and the forgiveness we receive when we make the decision to believe in Jesus, we fail to live in the light of our inheritance now. We keep the money in the bank, so to speak, waiting to obtain the eternal riches one day in heaven with Him. We allow ourselves to be rescued by the gospel and rest in the security of heaven, but don’t know who we are and what we have been given as His children.
As God’s family, we are heirs to our Father’s estate. Because God knew we would need His help living as His heirs, He sent the Holy Spirit as the deposit to help us (Ephesians 1:14). Each time the Holy Spirit reminds us of His teachings, convicts us of sin, restrains us from selfish behavior, and prompts us to love, we see the evidence of His presence in us. The realization that we are empowered by a supernatural source confirms we can be fruitful now because of the fruit of the Spirit living inside of us (Galatians 5:22).
This is an excerpt from Living in Light Of Your Inheritance. To continue reading visit Crosswalk.
