Our Inheritance

Thoughts by Randy Alcorn - Christian writer


" When an earthly father dies, he bequeaths his estate to his offspring. His children are heirs. To what? To the father's property. If he owns land, they become landowners. If he was a king, they are heirs to his entire kingdom. When an earthly king dies, his firstborn takes his place. Sometimes the new king is surrounded by siblings who are his co-heirs and therefore co-rulers. As heirs, the king's children rule on their father's behalf, even if he still lives. They share in his glory. they go to battle to defend his kingdom, which is also their kingdom. In battle, they share in his sufferings."


" It is the same in our relationship with God. "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now, if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may share in His glory." (Romans 8:16,17)


" Of course, the King of the universe, God, never dies. But He has delegated sovereignty to His firstborn son, Jesus. Christ, in turn, gladly shares His dominion with the redeemed - His siblings - who are co-heirs of the Father's throne. They will rule with Christ over the Kingdom."


" The right to exercise power comes from ownership. A king owns his kingdom, which consists of land. The extent of his rule is the extent of what he owns. Because God owns the entire universe, the Kingdom that falls into the lap of His heirs, His children, encompasses the entire universe. Christ, the firstborn, is the primary Ruler, but we are called "co-heirs" with Christ." God entrusts us to rule one prime piece of territory - Earth, which He created specifically for us."


" God has not arbitrarily assigned us to rule the earth. It is our land, our kingdom, granted to us by our Father. It is a kingdom once lost by us to a usurping pseudo-king, Satan, but which was won back for us by the mighty valor of Christ, who shed His blood to purchase our freedom - and with it our inheritance, the earth."


"This is the drama of redemption. If we fail to understand our status as God's children and heirs and rulers of the earth, we will fail to comprehend God's redemptive work. But if we do understand our role in God's plan, we will realize  that He would not deliver us from Earth to live forever in a disembodied realm. In fact, the inheritance that God grants us is the very same Earth over which epic battles have been fought since Satan's attack in Eden. Our inheritance is not only physical but also eternal: "The days of the blameless are known to the Lord, and their inheritance will endure forever." (Psalm 37:18)


" Currently, on this earth under the curse, we serve Christ and "share in His sufferings." Why? Because the earth is under siege. It is being claimed by a false king, Satan, and his false princes, the fallen angels. It is being claimed by human kings, rebels who set themselves up against God and violate His standards by declaring their independence from Him. Those who are co-heirs with Christ engage in spiritual warfare to reclaim the hearts of mankind for God's glory. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:12) After the final battle is won by Christ, we will rule the earth with Him as co-heirs of His kingdom.