Choose Your Inheritance

Scriptures: Hebrews 12 v 14-17: "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears."
Colossians 1 v 12 - 13: "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son."

The ultimate goal of our existence on this Earth is to make it to Heaven when our life is over, and to take as many people with us as we can.  We have God-given free will and we can choose our inheritance.  Many millions of people wrongly believe that because our God is a loving merciful Father, He will forgive everyone without exception, which renders the crucifixion of Jesus of no worth.

God has given us all forgiveness, every person born since the death of Jesus is forgiven on one condition - they must acknowledge that Jesus Christ is His Son, who died in their place, paying the penalty for their sins.  They must repent of ever doing those sins again and be baptised in by full immersion in water to identify with His death and resurrection.  Then they are sinless, born again saints, translated into the kingdom of Heaven.

One of the patriarchs of Israel was Jacob, son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham. Jacob had an 'older' twin brother called Esau who sold his birthright or inheritance to Jacob for a plate of food.  Esau was a cunning, extremely hairy and greedy man. He was a hunter and given to violence. Jacob was a man who lived a simple Godly life.  Our God looks onto the heart of man and discerns motives and intentions and what He saw in Esau was the gross, greedy nature of the unsaved man.

Our God seeks those who are humble and have a contrite heart. Those who are truly remorseful will find mercy with Him. Even in our courts today the judge looks to see if a guilty man has shown remorse for his criminal deeds. The harshest prison sentence is given when there is no remorse. This is made worse when the evildoer brags and gloats about his deeds.

God's judgment on Esau in Obadiah starts with His word against Edom and the Edomites. Edom was the tribe that grew from Esau. God hated the way they rejoiced when Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel, went through trials and tribulations.

God loves Jacob for his submission and meekness, and hates the rebellion and pride of Esau. God was busy separating to Himself a group of people born from Jacob who would be called by His name. They would be known as the Israelites, the apple of His eye.

In our Christian lives today we need to be sure we are not following Esau into the pit of Hell. Are we selling our birthright of salvation into the greedy, cunning hands of the apostate church? Are we exchanging the blessing of eternal life for everlasting shame. Esau carefully sought repentance for what he had done and never found it.

I am praying with more and more people who have been soul-damaged by false doctrines abounding in the church today. Some see the light. Some get sucked right back in.  I, and many others, can only help those who sincerely want to change to be like Jesus. Some have set their standards too low and are easy prey for the agents of satan who wish to destroy true faith.

The rise of homosexuality in the Church is a sign of how far we have fallen if it does not distress us. God calls it an abomination and condemns those who practice it to hell.  The whole world can make laws that favour homosexuality, and gay marriage but our God calls it an abomination and He does not change His mind.  As Christians we must love the sinner but not the sin.  Love means speaking the truth.

Jude v 7: "Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire."  

There are many other issues causing division in the Body of Christ like Christians returning to the Jewish law of Judaism for salvation.  As Paul wrote in Galatians that the law can save nobody, it can only show you that you are a sinner.  They are choosing the same inheritance that Esau chose.  Paul writes that he wonders who bewitched them to leave the true path and put themselves under bondage by returning to the law.  When Jesus died on the Cross His last words were a shout, It is finished!  He was referring to the law!  Salvation is a free gift that cannot be earned by keeping the law. They have quenched the Holy Spirit and are in grave danger of choosing the wrong inheritance.

Our inheritance is written in the New Testament which is what God willed for us.  God had to die, as the Son of God did, to give us our wonderful inheritance.  Do not lose what the grace of God has bestowed on you for the fleeting pleasures of sin, choose this day whom you will serve which will determine your eternal reward.

Prayer: Father God we face many temptations today to succumb to mediocrity and to slide into error. Many never get to even hear the truth. Change us O Lord to walk in Your ways and live the life of joy You have promised us.  We choose to live in our righteous inheritance. In Jesus' name. Amen.