KenH
Well-Known Member
"He that overcometh shall inherit all things." Revelation 21:7
"He shall inherit all things." When? In eternity? Yes. Only in eternity? O no! In time also. There is a twofold inheritance, though it is but one and the same. One part is given in time, the other part in eternity. One part is the firstfruits, the other the harvest. One part is the pledge, the other the full sum. There is an inheriting here below and an inheriting above, and he that receives no inheritance here on earth will receive no inheritance in heaven.
Now, in like proportion as we overcome in this life, are we put in possession of this inheritance. What therefore are we to inherit? Riches, glory, honour, power, praise? These are worldly things; let the world enjoy them. By inheriting "all things," we are to inherit the things of God; the favour of God, the love of God, the mercy of God, the glory of God. All that a covenant God gives in giving himself is ours; peace here and glory hereafter; pardon below and salvation above; the beginning of rest on earth and the fullness of rest in heaven.
Howbeit, whilst we are overcome, there is no being put into possession of this eternal inheritance. Does sin overcome us? Do we inherit pardon in being overcome? No, we inherit shame and confusion, guilt, fear and wrath. But do you, do I, ever overcome sin by the fear of God in our soul, as Joseph did? Do I ever overcome sin by looking to the Lord of life and glory to sprinkle his blood upon my conscience? Do I ever overcome sin by the leadings and teachings of the Spirit in my heart? No sooner do I thus overcome by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of his testimony, than I enter into the inheritance. So that there is a connection, a beautiful and experimental connection, between overcoming here below, and inheriting here below.
To enter into this inheritance here below, we must be perpetually reminded that we have no strength of our own. Thus our slips, our falls, our backslidings, our frailties, (though we would not and dare not justify them), are mercifully overruled amongst the "all things" that work together for our good. They teach us our weakness, and by teaching us our weakness they lead us up to Christ's strength; and by leading us up to Christ's strength they enable us to "inherit all things," for in inheriting him, we inherit all that he is to God's people here on earth.
- J.C. Philpot, Through Baca's Vale, December 7
"He shall inherit all things." When? In eternity? Yes. Only in eternity? O no! In time also. There is a twofold inheritance, though it is but one and the same. One part is given in time, the other part in eternity. One part is the firstfruits, the other the harvest. One part is the pledge, the other the full sum. There is an inheriting here below and an inheriting above, and he that receives no inheritance here on earth will receive no inheritance in heaven.
Now, in like proportion as we overcome in this life, are we put in possession of this inheritance. What therefore are we to inherit? Riches, glory, honour, power, praise? These are worldly things; let the world enjoy them. By inheriting "all things," we are to inherit the things of God; the favour of God, the love of God, the mercy of God, the glory of God. All that a covenant God gives in giving himself is ours; peace here and glory hereafter; pardon below and salvation above; the beginning of rest on earth and the fullness of rest in heaven.
Howbeit, whilst we are overcome, there is no being put into possession of this eternal inheritance. Does sin overcome us? Do we inherit pardon in being overcome? No, we inherit shame and confusion, guilt, fear and wrath. But do you, do I, ever overcome sin by the fear of God in our soul, as Joseph did? Do I ever overcome sin by looking to the Lord of life and glory to sprinkle his blood upon my conscience? Do I ever overcome sin by the leadings and teachings of the Spirit in my heart? No sooner do I thus overcome by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of his testimony, than I enter into the inheritance. So that there is a connection, a beautiful and experimental connection, between overcoming here below, and inheriting here below.
To enter into this inheritance here below, we must be perpetually reminded that we have no strength of our own. Thus our slips, our falls, our backslidings, our frailties, (though we would not and dare not justify them), are mercifully overruled amongst the "all things" that work together for our good. They teach us our weakness, and by teaching us our weakness they lead us up to Christ's strength; and by leading us up to Christ's strength they enable us to "inherit all things," for in inheriting him, we inherit all that he is to God's people here on earth.
- J.C. Philpot, Through Baca's Vale, December 7