Written by Pastor Jack Wellman– Sam Storms
An Incorruptible Inheritance
The government has an inheritance tax. When a person receives their inheritance, they must pay taxes on it, close to 40%. That hurts. But in the kingdom of heaven, the Apostle Peter writes that we have “an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” (1 Pet. 1:4). So this inheritance is incorruptible (eternal), undefiled (holy), and unfading (will never diminish). Right now, if you’re a child of God, its being “kept in heaven for you” and is totally safe, “knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ” (Col. 3:24).
The Awards Presentation
Don’t grow weary in doing good because Paul was “knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free” (Eph. 6:8), so “let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Gal. 6:9). “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Cor. 15:58).
The Absence of Sin
To me this is no small thing because, like you, I am in a constant battle with my flesh. I know that all too often I fail God and fall into sin, but in the kingdom of heaven, sin shall be no more. The Apostle John reassures us that “nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Rev. 21:27). The battle with temptation and falling into sin will be a distant memory, and that’s going to make our party in heaven even greater.
What’s Not There?
I think what will make heaven so great is that “death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4), and even greater, “the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God” (Rev. 21:3). I’m so ready for death to be gone, for all pain and suffering to be behind us, and we “will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads” (Rev. 22:4). Aren’t those great reasons to look forward to heaven?
Conclusion
Sam Storms was so right when he said that we’ve been created to join the party in heaven, because then we’ll finally receive our eternal inheritance and our eternal rewards for what we’ve done for the Lord. But also the absence of sin and all the sorrow and suffering that sin caused will be gone forevermore.
