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We are continuing to look at the inheritance we have in Christ described for us in 1 Peter 1:3-4, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to [obtain] an inheritance [which is] imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you”. Our inheritance in Christ is imperishable, meaning it continues, it will not decay, it is incorruptible.
Can you think of any earthly thing that is imperishable?
Even rocks wear away and memories fade. All earthly inheritance here will be parted with; our inheritance in heaven is eternal. Think of the words abiding and enduring, lasting forever. Our inheritance in Christ cannot be taken away once we are His. The word ‘imperishable’ or ‘incorruptible’ from Strong’s Greek Dictionary, aphthartos, is explained as undecaying in essence or continuance.
James 1:12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which [the Lord] has promised to those who love Him.
1Peter 1:23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, [that is,] through the living and abiding word of God.
John 10:27-29 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. "My Father, who has given [them] to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch [them] out of the Father's hand.
Our inheritance is undefiled, meaning it is unsoiled or pure. If we look around us, it is easy to see how sin affects the world. In contrast, our inheritance in heaven is unaffected by sin in the world; sin has no place in heaven. Nothing impure can enter heaven. Read what John writes about heaven in a vision from God.
Revelation 21:27 and nothing unclean and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Our inheritance is pure, unpolluted. On earth, it is possible to gain an inheritance dishonestly perhaps from changing records or wills or even taking someone to court. An inheritance in heaven cannot be stained by impure or dishonest motives. Those whom God calls are His, period. He will lose none of His own and He will not admit those who are not His own. No one will sneak into heaven or be able to fool themselves or God that they belong.
Leviticus Chapter 18 is an account of God speaking to Moses, warning the Israelites to live according to God’s laws and not follow after the abominations of those before them who had defiled the land with their sin.
Sin is not the rule or control of a believer’s life. God’s grace is sufficient to overcome the power of sin. God knows our individual weaknesses and our personal struggles with sin. Out of love, He provides what is needed for us to defeat it. When Paul felt weak and entreated God for help, he was reminded of God’s sufficiency, “And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) Here on earth we have God’s power to be victorious over sin. His heavens are befitting of His glory – pure and without the stain of sin. God is holy, perfectly righteous. Take a moment to imagine the absence of sin – no wrong thoughts, no bad motives, no hurt feelings, nothing unjust, no physical pain or sorrow, no regret, no disappointment, no hurtful language, no bad decisions. Do you live in a way which shows thanks to God for the incredible promise of Heaven?
Our inheritance will not fade away. It is perpetual, everlasting.
1Peter 1:24 For all flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls off.
Isaiah 40:7-8 The grass withers, the flower fades, When the breath of the LORD blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.
Think about the contrast between trusting in people and things upon the earth, with trusting in an eternal God and heaven.
Everything on this earth is in a state of decline or decomposition. Take a quick glance at your skin compared to several years ago and you will notice it is aging. Our lives on earth are a slight blip of time in the context of eternity. The only thing that will last is our relationship with God, our inheritance in His heavens.
Something that fades away becomes less and less with time, exposure, or use. Yet, Heaven cannot become less than it is. Its value will always remain perfect. Albert Barnes NT Commentary says, “This denotes perpetuity in the sense that everything there will be kept in its original brightness and beauty”. Perhaps, think ‘Garden of Eden’ untouched by sin.
Our inheritance is reserved in heaven. This is our hope, the gospel (Col 1:5); a crown of righteousness (2 Ti 4:8); victory (Isa 54:17); a place with those who are sanctified by faith (Ac 26:18); in the presence of God forever (Rev 22:3-5).
What is the expectation when you have made a reservation or an appointment?
2Timothy 4:8 in the future there is laid up 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 loved His appearing.
Consider this – you have a reservation – your name written in Christ’s blood – to claim your inheritance in heaven. It cannot be cancelled, even due to dire circumstances. No weather phenomena or world-wide pandemic will change the reservation God has made for you in heaven. It is stamped on your heart and in your soul, nothing will affect God’s claim on you. He is keeping His eye upon you. God holds fast to His own. God has appointed us as His children for His heaven. We do not possess heaven while on this earth, but it is secured for our future.
Within the last year and a half, security in the world seems to have been uprooted. We have been in a health crisis and along with that we have experienced a financial crisis, government upheaval and authority has been dismantled. People have lost jobs, homes, health, identity, and the purpose they have sought in earthly things. Circumstances have begun to improve, however, crisis of some sort will return again. This is opposite of our hope in heaven, it is fixed and abiding still. God’s children and their inheritance are kept safe by His power (1 Peter 1:5).
Our heavenly inheritance is, “In substance incorruptible; in purity undefiled; in beauty unfading”, (from Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary).
What is the object of your hope?
What is your destiny?
Matthew 25:34 "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
1Peter 5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
Philip Doddridge says this of 1 Peter 1:4, “And by whom we are brought to the cheerful and confident expectation of an inheritance, incorruptible, undefiled, and unfading, which nothing can spoil, which nothing can pollute, and which is incapable of any internal decay, as well as external violence. This inheritance is reserved in the heavens for you and for all true believers”.
Ephesians 1:18 [I pray that] the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
Psalm 31:19 How great is Thy goodness, which Thou hast stored up for those who fear Thee, Which Thou hast wrought for those who take refuge in Thee, before the sons of men!
Paul and Timothy address their faithful brothers and sisters in Christ with this reminder of their hope, “because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel”, Colossians 1:5.
Let’s keep our focus Heavenward. “If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied”, 1 Corinthians 15:19.
