| “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” |
| —2 Timothy 4:8 |
My mother wrote my name on a label attached to a baby blanket that she had kept for me from my Grandmother’s items. My other Grandmother put my name on a pendant watch that came from my Great Grandmother’s estate. Although I never sacrificed to pay any price for them, I claimed them as my own. Why? Because my name appeared on them.
If we call ourselves “Christians” because we believe in the work of Jesus on the cross, we all can lay claim to an inheritance that consists of salvation from our sins, and of the blessing of eternal life because the blood of Jesus has placed our names on these great gifts from God. Although we did not sacrifice to pay any price for these precious items, they have become ours, as a gift of God through His Son, Jesus.
As Charles Haddon Spurgeon explains:
There is one crown in heaven which the angel Gabriel could not wear; it will fit no head but mine. There is one throne in heaven which Paul the Apostle could not fill; it was made for me, and I shall have it. 1
The Psalmist David assures us, too, of our inheritance—some of which we may even enjoy in this life. Read these words from David, as he speaks to God, found in Psalm 31:19:
How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.
Whenever we travel, it reassures us when we hear that someone has reserved a room for us, or has put our name on a rental car reservation, or even has bought us a ticket to an event. We will have every right to claim those items when we arrive. In just the same way, God is storing up for us a place. Along with that place, He has reserved special items that will surprise us. He has reserved these special gifts out of the inheritance planned before the foundation of the world. As the Apostle John shares these words of Jesus, found in John 14:1-3:
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
Truly, when we see our names written in “The Lamb’s Book of Life” by our Savior, we will rejoice in the goodness and amazing love our Lord has shown toward us. Praise His name!
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| 1 Spurgeon, Charles Haddon, Morning and Evening. McLean, Virginia: MacDonald Publishing Company, Public Domain. p. 20. Citation of Copyrighted material is made on this blog post strictly for Educational Fair Use illustration purposes only. All Rights Reserved by the original Copyright Holder. |
