He has given us new birth… 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 1:3, 4-5 (NIV)
You have been born again into a new family, the family of God. Being a member of God’s family, you have an inheritance, which God will keep for you until the day when Jesus Christ comes again to gather the whole family and bring us into the presence of God.
God keeps the inheritance for you
God has a place in heaven for you. The reservation is made. The price has been paid by the blood of Jesus. There is an inheritance with your name on it, and when you see it, you will not be disappointed. Yet it would be a great tragedy if God kept the inheritance in heaven for you but somehow you didn’t make it to heaven to enjoy it.
God keeps you for the inheritance
Peter says those who have faith in Jesus Christ are kept by Jesus Christ—shielded by God’s power. In other words, your final salvation does not depend on the strength of your grasp of Jesus Christ; it depends on the strength of Jesus Christ’s grasp on you.
This is one of the greatest blessings of the Christian life: When you come to faith in Jesus, you are kept by God’s power, not for a few weeks or months, but until the moment you are brought into His presence. That’s the whole basis of Christian confidence, humility, and assurance.
The hands of Christ were pierced for you and for me. In the one, He holds an inheritance; in the other, He holds you for the inheritance. Both are held safe in His hands until the day in which He brings the whole family into His presence.
On a scale of 1 (not confident) to 10 (very confident), what is your confidence level that you and your inheritance will make it safely to heaven? Why is your confidence so low? Or so high?
