JUL 11

Colossians 1:12
Memorise Colossians 1:12
“…partakers of the inheritance...”

DO YOU LOOK FORWARD TO HEAVEN?

Paul in Colossians 1:12 wrote “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.” Paul reminds the Colossians that God is not just a god that the heathen try to compare to other gods, but He is our Heavenly Father, who loves us as His children and has given us a priceless inheritance. The phrase “partakers of the inheritance” makes one recall how God meticulously commanded Israel to divide up the Promised Land amongst the tribes, down to the family level. As children of God, each one of us has a part of the kingdom of heaven that God has worked out. The phrase “hath made us meet” has the sense of qualifying; it is God who qualifies us to this inheritance; we cannot qualify ourselves, nor lose this qualification, for it is the Father’s doing. The verse ends off with a reminder that this inheritance is in light, not in darkness, and our heavenly home is holy, for God will never give us anything in darkness.

See how much care God has put into preparing this place for us! The question is, do you give thanks unto the Father for such a wonderful gift, and live with eternity’s values in view; or do you live your life your earth right now as if there is no such inheritance? When you are going on holiday and have booked a hotel room, and read up on the internet beforehand about how nice your hotel room is going to be, it gets you excited as you prepare yourself to make full use of the facilities. Here we have a mansion in heaven that God our Father has lovingly “booked” for us and paid for, and prepared for us, doubtless better than any hotel room on earth for it is a place of eternal rest free from sin and the cares of this world. Are you excited about it enough to start preparing for heaven? Or do you look forward instead to the darkness of this world and whatever pleasures this world offers, and live your life as if there is no heaven to live for?

Thought: Am I more excited about heaven or earth?
Prayer: May I live my life preparing for my eternal home.