“The Powerball Jackpot is now $204 Million!” my older neighbor informed me as we chatted in the driveway. The drawing for the potential winning ticket on Wednesday was newsworthy. How kind of him to make sure I was not missing out!
“Oh, but you aren’t the gambling type,” he remembered, knowing we have talked together about the lottery and eternity many times. What good is winning the lottery if you die?
“Oh, but I am rich!” I said, dead serious. “I have an inheritance; I’m just waiting for that time.”
For a minute, my neighbor leaned in, “Wait, you have an inheritance? Is that your grandparents? your parents?” But then he caught truth, what seemed to him nonsense, “Oh-- that religious stuff you mean?”
The conversation launched into discussions of the Bible and faith, and even how men gambled for Christ’s clothing when he was crucified. Yes, there is gambling even in the Bible.
I brought up reason as a starting point to show how not believing the Bible is still a gamble. Philosopher Blaise Pascal used his skepticism and reason to lay out what is known as the “Great Wager”.
What you stake is finite and what you gain (or lose!) is infinite.
If you don’t believe God, and he doesn’t exist=you lose nothing
If you do believe God, and he doesn’t exist=you lose nothing
If you do believe God, and he does exist=you gain infinitely
If you don’t believe God, and he does exist=you lose infinitely
Reason alone can’t save your soul, but there is strong reason for our faith. Even with a weak starting point like this, I feel it is worth staking my life and soul and eternity on the Truth of Jesus in the Bible. If I don’t trust Him, I lose infinitely!
I have been meditating on the riches promised to me in the Bible so much that by faith my inheritance promised is as real to me as if written in my own grandparents’ will. My response to my neighbor’s news about the Powerball that I am rich was not in jest but very much in earnest.
The $204 million jackpot is pennies to me compared to the inheritance I am going to receive. My hope to gain is not wishful but it is certain.
This is absolutely amazing!! I am awake early with the birds because I could not even sleep thinking about this truth!
Listen to this prayer of Paul:
“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.” Ephesians 1.18
Riches!! I am stunned to think that he has called me to receive an inheritance! This is just incredible!
I turn back a few verses and read “In him we were also chosen [NIV]...made heirs [NIV alternative rendering]...we have obtained an inheritance [ESV]...”
CATCH THIS:
“According to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.” Ephesians 1.11
Think “Last will and testament”...think of a will! This is the plan of the King: His will is written in ink, in blood, no less! And it says that we who are in Christ have obtained an inheritance.
We are heirs of the Divine will!!
It’s all written in his will! Think “New Testament”.
Oh! I long for you to join me in celebrating these riches and putting your hope in Christ with me. I cannot begin to detail all we receive, because we would end up quoting verse upon verse of the Bible!
What I invite you to do is to receive this song I spent hours and days laboring to write, to put into melody and line the truth I have seen in the Word about the riches I am to inherit. Nearly every single line of the song is a reference from Scripture, so for a delightful treat, look up the verses too!
This can be your inheritance too if you have been adopted by new birth into the Royal family of the King!
Inheritance
original music and lyric by Jessica Becker
Listen On YouTube to Jessica singing
I’ve been given a glorious inheritance (Eph 1.18)
I’m an heir, according to the promise (Gal 3.29)
I’ve been called, chosen, predestined (Heb. 9.15, Eph. 1.4-5)
to become God’s own son (Gal 4.5-7)
A brother of the Holy One (Heb. 2.11-12 & 3.1; Ro. 8.29)
[Refrain A]
This mystery in Christ is just marvelous! (Eph. 3.6)
Unsearchable!--the riches of Christ (Eph. 3.8)
The truth of it makes me quite delirious (K. Hughes)
That by His blood he secured eternal life! (Heb. 9.12)
1. Long before time began (Eph. 1.4)
God wrote His will and plan (Eph. 1.11)
Eternal Son radiating Glory (Heb. 1.3)
Clothed Himself with humanity (Heb. 2.14 & 17)
2. Through Christ’s blood upon death
The Sovereign will took effect (Heb. 9.16-17)
A ransom slain, mediating for me:
His inheritance I receive (Heb. 9.15)
[Refrain A]
3. The dead alive?! How can it be?!
Never before in history (Heb. 13.20; J. Piper)
The Executor working His will in me (Heb. 13.20-21)
The Spirit His Guarantee (Eph. 1.13-14; 2 Cor. 5.5)
[Refrain B]
The magnitude of Christ is Superior (Heb. 1.4; 3.3; 7.24-27; 8.6...)
Incredible--the greatness of Christ!
All other gods and men are inferior
I’ll worship Him for the rest of my life!
Christ’s been given a glorious inheritance (Eph. 1.18)
He’s appointed heir of all things (Heb. 1.2)
I’m adopted through Christ Jesus (Eph. 1.5)
And an heir, since a son (Gal. 4.7)
Rich in faith--to inherit the kingdom (James 2.5)
