Inheritance

We usually associate inheritance with money or things we get at the point in which someone dies, but there is so much more to this word.

The word inheritance holds the notion that a person is given something without regard for their ability to earn it or even have a say in it.  What is inherited by someone has everything to do with the person passing something on to the next generation.  There are things such as genetics which are one type of inheritance that neither party has the ability to control and things that are gifted as inheritance, whether the receiver wants them or not.  

While this happens in the experience of the natural realm, inheritance is also a part of the foundation of the spiritual realm. We have had a spiritual inheritance from the beginning of creation as children of God.  Through the actions of Adam and Eve however, we were given another inheritance of distorted thinking about that inheritance.  Neither were inheritances we asked for, they were simply automatically transferred to us.  Like a natural inheritance, only the originator of the inheritance can make a change.  Along comes Jesus.

Jesus tells us a story of two sons in Luke - a story that most believers have heard and get really excited about.  Historically, interpretations go something like this: “No matter how many bad things you’ve done or how far you get from God, He is always ready to accept you again when you come back to Him.”  Not that this is not true, but it is incomplete.

The prodigal son in this story was always a son - regardless of how he acted, where he went, or how far away from his father he was.  While he had blown his tangible inheritance, he was still his father’s son.  What changed in his return to his father was not being a son but his experience of his genetic and ultimately spiritual inheritance as a son.  Upon his return his life was filled with the abundance that was meant for him all along - not just tangible abundance but also the intangible experience of reciprocal love and relationship.

Let’s take this reality of the prodigal son a step further - if something is true whether we “believe” it or not, then what does that mean for our faith?  We are told that we are only saved if we believe, right?  If our salvation was based on our belief though, then it would be something that we had to do - isn’t that the opposite of what Jesus came to show us?  

Jesus returned to remind and restore our original inheritance, freeing us from the shadow of the inheritance of distorted thinking.  We were ALL included in Jesus’ death which means our spiritual inheritance as children of God is without exception (2 Cor. 5:14-15).  How can people then be excluded from the promises associated with this inheritance?  A person’s choice of disbelief does not exclude them from their spiritual inheritance - it does prevent them from the experience in the abundance and freedom that exists in this natural realm of that inheritance.  

God has already decided that you will be with Him forever - the question is “Will you choose to live in the abundance of that spiritual truth while here on earth?” The answer to this question is what will determine the impact on your life and the lives you encounter while here on earth. You too will leave an inheritance, a legacy.  May it be one that resembles the love and likeness of our Creator.

- Katie Rivera, Coach-Counselor