The Father "has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light" (Col. 1:12).
You are the recipient of a very special inheritance.
Perhaps you've had the disappointing and annoying experience of receiving in the mail an envelope that identifies you as the winner of a large sum of money or some other fantastic prize, only to open it and discover you hadn't won anything at all. It was simply a ploy to get you to enter a contest or purchase a product.
In a world filled with deception and unfulfilled expectations, it's wonderful to know that God's truthfulness and integrity never waver. Not only has He promised you an eternal inheritance, but He also has qualified you to share in it.
The Greek word translated "qualified" in
Colossians 1:12
12 giving thanks unto the Father, who made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light;
means "to make sufficient," or "authorize." "Share" speaks of receiving an allotted portion. The idea is that God has authorized you to receive a portion of the blessings that belong to all who love Him.
In
Ephesians 1
Chapter 1 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the saints that are at Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed `be' the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly `places' in Christ: 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love: 5 having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of the glory of his grace, which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved: 7 in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 making known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him 10 unto a dispensation of the fulness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth; in him, `I say,' 11 in whom also we were made a heritage, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his will; 12 to the end that we should be unto the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ: 13 in whom ye also, having heard the word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation,-- in whom, having also believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 which is an earnest of our inheritance, unto the redemption of `God's' own possession, unto the praise of his glory. 15 For this cause I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is among you, and the love which `ye show' toward all the saints, 16 cease not to give thanks for you, making mention `of you' in my prayers; 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; 18 having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 and what the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might 20 which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly `places', 21 far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 and he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Paul says that your inheritance consists of every spiritual blessing in heaven (v. 3). It is a glorious inheritance of which the Holy Spirit Himself is the pledge (vv. 14, 18). In
Colossians 3:24
24 knowing that from the Lord ye shall receive the recompense of the inheritance: ye serve the Lord Christ.
Paul calls it an inheritance from the Lord.
In
Colossians 1:12
12 giving thanks unto the Father, who made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light;
he further describes it as an inheritance "in light," which refers to its overall character or quality. In the New Testament, "light" is often used metaphorically of truth and purity. First
John 1:6
6 There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John.
says, "God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all." Believers are those who walk in the light (v. 7). So an inheritance in light is a godly, true, and pure inheritance—one that is reserved in heaven, where dwells He who is the Light (1 Pet. 1:4; Rev. 21:23).
Your eternal inheritance is no empty promise. God has secured it by delivering you from the domain of darkness, and transferring you to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom you have redemption, the forgiveness of sin (Col. 1:13- 14). Rejoice in God's grace and live today as a child of light!
Suggestions for Prayer
- Thank God for the grace of salvation and the glory of your inheritance.
- Ask Him to use you today as a light to those who walk in darkness.
For Further Study
Using
Ephesians 5:6-16
6 Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them; 8 For ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 proving what is well-pleasing unto the Lord; 11 and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them; 12 for the things which are done by them in secret it is a shame even to speak of. 13 But all things when they are reproved are made manifest by the light: for everything that is made manifest is light. 14 Wherefore `he' saith, Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine upon thee. 15 Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise; 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
as your guide, contrast the characteristics of darkness and light.
From Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright © 1993. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.
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