Thought for 6 November

1 Peter 1:4-6

For God has reserved a priceless inheritance for his children.  It is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.  And God, in his mighty power, will protect you until you receive this salvation, because you are trusting him.  

It will be revealed on the last day for all to see.  So, be truly glad!  There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while.

Since some of today’s reading touches on inheritance, it’s worth considering just what that looks like in this life.  I was under the impression that most folks leave a will, usually when they are getting older but,  according to the magazine ‘Which’, as many as 60% of people don't have wills, and If you die without one, your estate will be distributed according to strict rules, meaning the people you care about may lose out.  A will is a legal document you create that sets out instructions for who will inherit your estate and what should happen after your time in this world comes to an end.  Sometimes known as your last will and testament, it's a legally binding document - but if it is not properly prepared, it may not be valid.

I have a friend who is involved the business of sorting out wills and managing sums of money and property that has been bequeathed to family members.  Based on the stories he relates, inheriting money or property under these circumstances does not always come as a blessing.  It frequently leads to fallouts within families, disputes, legal fights and genuine disharmony.  I’m guessing that in most cases, this is not what the deceased benefactor wished for.

In our reading, we are assured by the Apostle Peter speaking with the confidence and authority given to him by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, that the inheritance that awaits believers is something more special than anything that could be bequeathed by a man or woman in our world.

In our world, the whole process of inheritance is open to fraud, dissatisfaction and abuse.  Although lawyers are part of a profession, there are forever examples of lawyers not doing what was expected by their clients, possibly charging more than they should or disappointing their clients in the way they handled their requests.  These indiscretions may be few and far between but due to human frailty, they do occur.

The inheritance that awaits us will bring us wonderful joy.  I believe that this joy being spoken about here is a joy we will never have experienced in this life, a joy beyond anything we can imagine.  Peter teaches us that we need to put our trust in God every day of the life he gives to each one of us.  We are reminded that this will not be straightforward, we will encounter difficulties and tests of our faith but if we persevere, there is something precious waiting on us if we continue to do our very best to remain children of God and followers of his son that cannot be tainted by the hand of men or women.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, how we praise and thank you that we are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready for that wonderful day when we will see you, face to face.  Help us to live our lives in ways that honour your holy name.  We thank you that we have been given a new birth and a living hope through the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.  As we are being prepared for the coming glories of our heavenly home, help us to rejoice in this future hope despite the challenges and sometimes distresses of life’s various trials.  May we keep a heavenly perspective, knowing that you have promised to keep us by your mighty power. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen  

(with thanks to knowing-jesus.com)