"Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God." (NIV)
As Americans we often place a great deal of importance on what we own or the resources we are able to accumulate. Peter is clear that there is no amount of "silver or gold" (or anything else on this earth) that can offer us salvation. Our salvation exists in the Lord Jesus and is kept for us in heaven where it is imperishable.
I have been so fortunate to have had a number of wonderful and devout Christian women in my life, beginning with my mother, Em Benedict, and maternal grandmother, Hilda Sheddan. Later it included my paternal grandmother, Marie Benedict, who was saved in her 70's. There were also my "aunts" (women who adopted me as family even though there was no formal relation): Audrey Mieir, Doris Fulfer, and Marian Etchason. All of these women, in significant ways, molded my life and my walk with the Lord. I carry a "piece" of them with me everyday as I continue to learn how to be a Christian that is pleasing to our Father God.
As each of them went onto Glory (except for Aunt Marian), I was fortunate to receive some of their jewelry. Brooches, bracelets, earrings . . . none of which had much intrinsic value, but which I cherished because each piece had been worn by them. For many years, I’ve kind of seen these pieces as my "inheritance" from them. But as I’ve grown older, I’ve come to realize that my greatest inheritance from them lives within my life, in the way I make decisions, in my goals and desires, in my very lifestyle.
And, it’s a good thing, because in the past few days, most of the jewelry is gone! My house was broken into and all of the jewelry that I hadn’t packed with me was stolen. Pieces and pieces which have basically no value to anyone but me. Gone! In one fell swoop. If I believe that these women’s inheritance to me exists in pieces of jewelry, then my inheritance is gone. But as a Christian, that isn’t the case!
The Lord Jesus spoke about inheritances when He talked about storing up treasures in heaven: "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV).
The inheritance I was given from these women is my life and what they taught me while they lived on earth. It is how I now choose to live my life and what I will pass on to those that follow me. The apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians, wrote: "Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ." (1 Corinthians 11:1 NKJV). Inheritances that last are never the things of this earth: jewels, furniture, money. The inheritances that last are the lives lived in obedience to the Lord that we can faithfully follow and know that we are truly living pleasing to the Lord.
The Lord Jesus tells us to store up treasures in heaven where thieves can’t steal. For these women, their treasure in heaven are the lives of those of us who are imitating them. For those of us remaining here, our focus needs to be on storing treasures in heaven by investing ourselves into the lives of those around us.
As for the thieves who broke into my house, I pray for them. They desperately need the Lord in their lives. And if my prayers are part of what brings them to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus, then any loss that I’ve experienced in this life is more than worth it!
© 2015 Robin L. O’Hare. All rights reserved. Permission granted for nonprofit and church groups to use this article in its entirety (including this notice). For other uses, please contact servinggodalone@yahoo.com.
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