The key word - Inheritance.
From St. Paul’s letter to the Colossians: And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light (Colossians 1:9-12).
A reflection on this by Thomas Guthrie (1803-1873). “Volumes of theology have been written, and long controversies have waxed hot, about the question – whether heaven is, or is not, in part, the reward of our own good works? Now it appears to me that there is one word in my text, whose voice authoritatively and summarily settles that matte; and would have always settled it, had not men’s hearts been fired with angry passions, and their ears confused with the din of battle. That word is – inheritance. What is inheritance? The pay of a soldier is not inheritance; neither are the fees of a lawyer or of a physician; nor the gains of trade; nor the wages of labor. Rewards of toil or skill, these are earned by the hands that receive them. What is inherited, on the other hand, may be the property of a new-born babe; and so you may see the coronet, which was won by the stout arm of valor, and first blazoned on a battered shield, standing above the cradle of a wailing infant. True, the ample estate, the noble rank, the hereditary honors were won. But they that won them are long dead… “(Christ and the Inheritance of the Saints).
The difference for us in Christ is that the One Who won the forgiveness and life everlasting which we inherit by faith is not long dead. No, indeed, Christ Jesus is risen from the dead and He reigns for all eternity!
As we have just celebrated the Baptism of our Lord, we rejoice that we have been the new-born babe, mentioned above, receiving the gifts Jesus won in His passion, death, and resurrection. Such is the legacy of Baptism, the Spirit calling us to faith and giving us gifts beyond all value.
Learning from a grandchild...
It was a new and thoroughly enjoyable experience for Jami and me to have a grandson (Hudson, 17 months) in our home for Christmas. Though we had covers for the outlets and had moved a few things higher up, our house was not nearly as “baby-proofed” as his own. While the District 56 “Dickens Village” was up on the mantle and Hudson had to be lifted to see and enjoy it, the Christmas tree and the gas fireplace were out in the open and on his level.
After a day or two, Hudson learned that as he approached the fireplace to touch the glass he would be admonished “No, no. That’s hot.” Similarly, as he approached the Christmas tree to look at and/or grab an ornament, the call would go out, “No, no.”
By the third day we laughed as Hudson would approach either one and, turning to us, wag an index finger and say, “No, no.” He was learning!
Still, quick as a wink, he’d regularly turn and try to examine an ornament with his own hands. He knew he wasn’t supposed to, but the ornaments were so pretty and the temptation was too great.
It was an important illustration for his Nana and Pops. God has given us His Word – His directives and warnings about what we should and should not do. He has given this to us for our own safety and good.
In the same way as Hudson, we fall to the temptations all around us. When we do so, we experience the consequences: consequences akin to broken ornaments and burned fingers, and often more serious.
Thankfully, in a way much more powerful and lasting, our Father in heaven sees to our healing and our forgiveness as Nana and Pops did for Hudson. In this season of Christmas, turning soon to Epiphany, we rejoice in the sending of God’s Son, Christ Jesus, Whose mission was to win our forgiveness and reunite us with God through His passion, death, and resurrection.
I pray yours was a good celebration of the nativity of our Lord and that yours will be a happy new year.
When life gets turned upside down.
Haggai 1:1-15 was the Old Testament lesson in our devotions this morning. Through the prophet the LORD was chastising the people for having the wrong priorities. It was because the people were always and only involved in their own satisfaction – and not in the worship and service of the LORD – that their endeavors were always left wanting. “Consider how you have fared. You have sown much, and harvested little; you eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages earns wages to put them into a bag with holes” (1:5b-6).
This got the attention of the people of Judah! They dropped what they had been doing for themselves and set themselves to the rebuilding of the Temple, which lay in ruins for years. They returned their attention to the LORD and His will.
Let us consider that perhaps this year now passing is something that God is using to once again refocus our attention. The stock market has been soaring. The employment rates had been the best they’ve been in our memories. The Middle East was and still is marching towards historic peace. Please don’t misunderstand me: all of these are good, blessings from our gracious God!
But has our attendance on these issues distracted us from or lessened our resolve to value all life, from conception to natural death? Has the enjoyment of the relative ease of life numbed us to the coarsening of and, in some cases violence in, our common life together?
Let me close with some slightly altered words from the Society of G. K. Chesterton about God working through things that turn our lives upside down. My wife, Jami, had recently shared them on Facebook, as well:
Chesterton said that many things are made holy by being turned upside down. Was there a moment (or many!) in your life in which God turned it completely upside down to increase your holiness and faith? Often in those instances, we fail to realize the value in our situation as it undergoes change. Most of us hate change. We just want to remain comfortable, to have things the way they always were. How did God use those upside down moments to change your life for the better? How did you grow in virtue and holiness? Take a few minutes to think about those times and thank God for changing your life and bringing you closer to Him through them.
Lord Jesus, thank you for turning my life upside down to draw me closer to you. Help me in those future moments when you change my life for the better, even though I may not understand. May I always remember to cling to the [example of Mary], whose life was turned upside down when she bravely said “yes,” to you. Give me strength like [Joseph] to be trusting, wise, prudent, and faithful in those blinding times of uncertainty when I just don’t understand. Help me to always want what you want for me. Amen.