“For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?” (Job 31:2).

Relatively few people receive much of an inheritance in this life, but everyone has an inheritance from above. “Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?” (v.3). The Christian, however, will “receive the promise of eternal inheritance” (Hebrews 9:15), and this is far better than a worldly estate.

Our inheritance is shared with the Son of God Himself—“joint-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17), an inheritance utterly secure. The first mention of “inheritance” in the New Testament is Christ’s picture of those who would usurp His divine inheritance: “But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come . . . let us seize on his inheritance” (Matthew 21:38). But, this subversion will utterly fail, for the Father has promised: “I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession” (Psalm 2:8).

In answer to Job’s plaintive query of long ago, we do, indeed, have a glorious inheritance from on high: “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne” is the promise of the great Heir Himself (Revelation 3:21).

The eventual possession of the inheritance is now assured, but “where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator” (Hebrews 9:16). The Heir must die and thereby conquer death, and finally rout the usurpers from His invaded estate. The inheritance is firm, however, and the victory is sure: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” (I Peter 1:3,4). HMM