“And into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade– kept in heaven for you,

who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:4-5 (NIV)

Everyone was excited and hopeful. They had hoped to win the $675 million Powerball. People ventured near and far to find the magic numbers that would change their life forever. Forget the fact that the odds of winning were 1 in 175 million. I heard one commentator say, “The odds are greater that you’d be hit by a vending machine.” Yet Powerball players spent over $2 billion in lottery tickets. For believers, our hope lies not in earthly games of chance but in a sure thing—a glorious inheritance that is ours through Christ Jesus.

In this letter to the believers scattered throughout what is now modern Turkey, Peter wanted to share comforting news. In spite of the current persecution for their faith in Christ Jesus, their reward or inheritance was guaranteed. The irrevocable nature of their inheritance included the fact that:

It would never perish, spoil or fade. This described the nature of the believer’s inheritance. Inheritance in ancient times was based on an agricultural economy. A person’s inheritance would typically include property, livestock, or the products that could be derived from the aforementioned assets. All were vulnerable to the perils of unpredictable factors of crime, climate and catastrophe. The story of Job can attest to how quickly one’s wealth (or inheritance) can perish due to forces beyond one’s control (Job 1:13-19). However, the believer’s inheritance would never suffer the threat of such destruction for its essence is eternal. It was indestructible.

It was kept in heaven. This designates the repository of the believer’s inheritance. To illustrate this attribute, think of how we currently manage our monies. Instead of coffee cans or mattresses, we utilize the services of banks and/or credit unions. There we are able to access our money, 7X24 through the use of debit cards and checking accounts. We need not worry that we will be robbed or lose our money, it is secure in the bank repository. Our inheritance in Christ is equally accessible to us now through God’s presence, promises and provision AND in our future life with God in eternity. It was secure—“kept beyond the reach of change or decay.”

The most glorious aspect of our inheritance is that while it is kept in heaven, the believer himself is “shielded” by God’s power. “Shielded” (phrouroumenous) is a military term used to refer to a garrison within a city. What blessed assurance is ours in knowing God’s power guards us from within while we await our final inheritance when Christ returns. With earthly inheritances the benefactor, the provider of the inheritance, must first die. Our inheritance has already been “gifted” to us by God through our Living Savior, Jesus Christ. What a glorious inheritance!

Good to the Last Byte…
While our future inheritance is “kept” in heaven, we have the promise of that inheritance now in the person and presence of the Holy Spirit. (2 Cor. 5:5)

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:4-6 (NKJ)

During the month of January, we’d like to kick off the New Year by focusing on the believer’s inheritance and our need to lay hold to all that Christ has obtained for us. If the believer is to live victoriously and faithfully in this fallen world, they must believe and understand the basis for their success.

The source of the believer’s victory is the work that was accomplished by Christ on the Cross. Jesus Christ’s obedient sacrifice resulted in the believer’s adoption into the family of God (Ep. 1:5), their reconciliation with God (Ep. 1:6) and most importantly, the forgiveness of their sin (Ep. 1:7). God’s plan of salvation constitutes the only legitimate means by which believers can access their spiritual inheritance. In our text, the Apostle Paul uses three verbs prefixed by syn- (with) to describe what God has done in and with Christ to obtain the inheritance He predestined before the foundations of the world (Ep. 1:4, 11).

First, God “made us alive” (synezoopoiesen) together with Christ Jesus. The King James Version renders “made alive” as “quickened.” We were spiritually dead in our trespasses and sins but God made us alive (Eph. 2:1; Col. 2:13). Regenerated as new creations in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17), we are now spiritually alive-empowered by the Spirit that dwells within us (Rom. 8:11).

Next, God “raised us up” (synegeiren) together with Christ Jesus. Just as the omnipotent power of God raised Christ from the dead “physically” on Easter morning (Eph. 1:19-20), we too have been resurrected “spiritually” with Him. Being raised from the dead, we now walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:4), seeking those things from above where Christ is (Col. 3:1).

Finally, God “made us sit together in the heavenly places” (synekathisen) with Christ Jesus. “Heavenly places” refers to the realm of God’s complete, heavenly domain, from which all His blessings come. Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father (Ep. 1:20-21) where He now physically resides. By faith, believers also sit in heavenly places with Christ Jesus, not physically, but positionally. This means that as heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, we have access to the same blessings or inheritance with Christ. This includes His righteousness, resources, privilege, position and power (Rom. 8:16-17).

In Christ Jesus we are not only assured of resurrection and glorification at the end of the age but also the present blessings provided in Christ in His ascended majesty. We thank God who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son (Col. 1:13). We thank God for His plan of salvation that made us alive, raised us up, and made us sit together in the heavenly places with Christ Jesus. We thank God through Jesus Christ for the inheritance made available for us.

“Speak to the Israelites, and tell them to make fringes on the corners of their garments throughout their generations and to put a blue cord on the fringe at each corner that when you see it you shall remember and do all my commandments,
and you shall be holy to your God.” Numbers 15: 38-40 (NRSV)

It is not unusual to see people “wearing” their beliefs. They do this by putting on designated colors to show their affiliation and support. In October, both men and women, showed their connection with breast cancer awareness by wearing the color pink. During the Vietnam War, friends and family wore yellow ribbons to show their support for the young men engaged in battle on behalf of this nation.

The newest trend is wearing rubber wristbands in a myriad of colors to support everything from prevention of animal cruelty to sexual preference. But the wearing of color as a reminder is not a new phenomenon. In Numbers 16:37-41, God instructs Moses to tell the children of Israel to place tassels on the corners of their garments with a blue tread. These blue tassels, in the form of a flower or petal, were attached to the edge of one’s garment. They were placed there as a perpetual reminder of two things.

First, the blue tassels reminded the Israelites to follow God’s commandments. God’s commands are more than a list of “do’s and don’ts”. They are His instructions on how we are to live in relationship with Him and with our fellowman. God’s commands, found in the Bible, are divine orders to help us live victoriously in a fallen world. By them we are warned; in keeping them there is great reward (Ps. 19:11).

Second, the blue tassels reminded the Israelites to live holy for God. Why was God concerned with holiness? God knew the children of Israel would be tempted to assume the habits and beliefs of the pagan, sinful society they occupied. Holiness demands separation and consecration of oneself for God’s special purposes. Each step of the believer was to be encircled by blue tassels that symbolized the restraints and freedoms of knowing Yahweh (Deut. 6:8-9).

How do you remind yourself to obey God’s commandments? Many of us don’t even think about God’s expectations for our lives until Sunday morning. What’s your cue to help you live holy? God knew that the children of Israel needed a reminder. In His omniscience, He saw that we needed a reminder, too. Where are your blue tassels?

Good to the Last Byte…
It’s not easy to live in the world and not be of the world (John 17:14-16). The world consists of the people, place, and beliefs that make up the environment we live in. We interact with the world through our social networks, our jobs and other relationships. Jesus warned His disciples, “If the world hates me they will also hate you” (John 15:18-19). The world will try to change your beliefs concerning God. They may call you bigoted, intolerant, or small-minded. When this happens, look at your “blue tassels” and continue to walk confidently with the Lord.

HAVE A BLESSED AND JOYOUS THANKSGIVING
“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
1 Thessalonian 5:18

“Though the fig tree does not blossom, and no fruit is on the vines; though the produce of the olive fails, and the fields yield no food; though the flock is cut off from the fold, and there is no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will exult in the God of my salvation. GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, and makes me tread upon the heights.” Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NRSV)

The events of the past weekend in Paris have left us speechless as we again must determine our response to catastrophic events that occur in the world in which we live—especially events that disrupt our sense of safety and security. The threat of terrorists home and abroad is pushing the human heart to new levels of fear and anxiety. Dwindling resources (financial and natural) and strained relationships are creating atmospheres of hopelessness and hostility as people attempt to create their own solutions to living in these perilous days.

In our text, Judah was living in times similar to ours where there was a continual bombardment of “bad news”. Habakkuk, one of the Old Testament prophets, was given the burden of proclaiming God’s Word during a time of unprecedented political, military, economic, and social upheaval for Judah. Sound familiar? Judah’s religious unfaithfulness, their perversion of justice and disregard for the Mosaic covenant, would result in punishment by God—70 years captivity in Babylon. While Habakkuk didn’t fully understand what God was doing during this critical time, he chose to trust God completely. After much prayer and inquiry of the Lord, he obediently received the Word from God and the understanding that “the righteous will live by their faith” (Hab. 2:4).

Habakkuk ends his judgment prophecy with an expression of full confidence in the God of his salvation. Habakkuk expresses his trust in God by describing his indifference to the loss of external indicators of God’s blessings– prosperity and agricultural abundance. Although there would be “neither blossom, nor fruit” and there would be “olive failure, no food, no flock nor herd”, Habakkuk would rejoice in the LORD. Why would Habakkuk rejoice? Because he knew the true source of His security (Ps.18:2-3). Habakkuk affirmed his unswaying confidence in the Sovereign LORD who would make him “as surefooted as a deer and bring him safely over the mountains” (Hab. 3:19). God would insure his safety and restoration.

To live by faith as God directed Habakkuk is not bright-eyed optimism or wishful thinking. Optimism is often based on an expectancy of the best possible outcome or dwell on the most hopeful aspects of a situation. “Faith to live by” is placement of our trust and confidence in God—His love, His presence, His power—regardless of the outcome. Life in the 21st century is hard BUT GOD is able to be whatever we need to handle the most difficult circumstances—our healer (Luke 4:18), our provider (Matt. 6:33), or our protector (Ps. 45:1-2). God has ordained (prepared) us for such a time as this. Therefore, let us not live fearfully but let us live by faith and boldly proclaim “I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength” (Hab. 3:18-19a).

Good to the Last Byte…
Whether Baby Boomer or Millennial, life lived apart from the presence and power of God will be difficult. Place your confidence in the True Source of Life and Security (today, tomorrow, and throughout eternity). God is more than able (Ep. 3:20).

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV)

Our text today comes from Paul’s letter to the young preacher, Timothy as he prepared for leadership in the church at Ephesus. In this letter Paul passes the mantel of ministry to Timothy and exhorts him to continue faithful in his duties, especially as it pertained to holding to sound doctrine ( 2 Tim. 1:13-14), avoidance of error (2 Tim. 2:15-18) and confidence in the Scripture (2 Tim. 3:15-17).

Paul knew the importance of knowing God’s word and its critical role in the survival of the early church. Paul’s message, the direct result of God’s inspiration (2 Tim. 3:16), is relevant to believers in the 21st century. Although we may not be clergy, we are expected to “hold fast the pattern of sound words, which we have heard” (2 Tim. 1:13). Are we “holding fast”?

The Barna Research Group found that Biblical literacy is neither a current reality nor a goal in the U.S.

“Bible reading has become the religious equivalent of sound-bite journalism. When people read from the Bible they typically open it, read a brief passage without much regard for the context, and consider the primary thought or feeling that the passage provided. If they are comfortable with it, they accept it; otherwise, they deem it interesting but irrelevant to their life, and move on.”

Paul warned that in these “last days” leading to Christ’s Second Return, one of the things that would suffer would be knowledge of God’s Word.

“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” (2 Tim. 4:3-4)

We can no longer depend exclusively on our pastors and other ministries to explain and interpret God’s Word. In many churches, the full counsel of God’s Word (both Old and New Testament) is being neglected. Ministers are questioning, from their pulpits, biblical truths including the security of believers and the sinlessness of Christ. Such behavior is not new, for Jeremiah observed: “A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?”(Jeremiah 5:30-31)

Biblical literacy in the 21st century is critical. In reading the Bible one receives wisdom from God (1 Cor. 2:6-16). In addition, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3: 16-17, ESV). Biblical literacy encourages spiritual maturity and empowers us to live victoriously in these tumultuous times. As we witness to unbelievers and seekers, it will become the tool for sharing the Gospel—the message of life over death.

“Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me.” Psalm 51:2-3 (NKJ)

The 51st Psalm is God’s lesson on confession. It was authored by King David after he was confronted by Nathan the prophet for his adulterous affair with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, Uriah. The whole incident was not unlike the stories we read in the gossip tabloid or see in the latest “made for television” sequel. King David, however, gives us a better approach to confession.

First, King David quickly accepted responsibility for his behavior and pleaded guilty to all charges. He immediately called upon God for forgiveness. He offers no excuses but appealed to God to “blot out, wash and cleanse him” from his “transgressions, iniquity, and sin.”

“For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.” (VV. 3-4)

Next, King David recounted God’s expectation of him, as a man and as the leader of Israel. Though King David had perpetrated this crime against Uriah, he answered to a Higher Judge, the omniscient God, who see, hears, and knows all things. There are no “hidden sins” in His presence.

“Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.” (VV. 4-6)

Finally, King David was concerned about his broken relationship with God. He had the unique opportunity of walking closely with the Lord most of his life beginning as a young shepherd boy in the hills of Bethlehem. He longed to be restored to that relationship.

“Create in me a pure heart, 0 God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” (VV.10-12)

It is important that we learn to quickly confess our sins. Unconfessed sin results in guilt and shame, spiritual strongholds in our lives, and even worst, a broken relationship with God. Therein lies the power in confession. Power comes from the One who is “faithful to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

“Who is a God like You, who pardons sin and forgives transgressions?” (Micah 7:18) There is none O Lord like You.