Journal Entry // November 19, 2021
to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,
1 Peter 1:4 ESV
What is my inheritance from the Lord that Peter is speaking about? It is nothing else but the outcome of my faith, the salvation of my soul. This is what is being kept and guarded until the proper time. My inheritance is salvation. It is the thing for which the prophets searched and inquired. It is this inheritance that the angels long to look. This raises a simple question for me to contemplate, what’s my heart attitude about this salvation that I have inherited? Do I take salvation for granted and my inheritance as some simple concept? Or do I long for and celebrate the hope of Jesus every moment of every day in praise and thanksgiving?
Unfortunately, I don’t think I am taking the truth about the salvation of my soul with the level of joy that should be evident in my life. Peter details out the inexpressible joy of the believer in the salvation of his soul. I read about the prophets tirelessly searching for knowledge of this salvation. I read about the angels desiring to look into these things. Yet, I sometimes treat it as if it is just a stated fact of the gospel. That it is the outcome of my faith and of course that is the goal, but it has become just words in a lot of ways.
I seem to be more focused on the here and now. Not necessarily in a bad way though. Good things. Righteous and holy living for Christ in this world. Me seeking to honor him and be faithful to him in all areas of my life as I journey through this world. But I think I am missing this key element in my faith. I am missing the importance of my inheritance, my salvation.
Looking at the words from this verse, I can see the importance of salvation to God. He keeps it imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. He keeps it safe in heaven. Look at how amazing this salvation is in the grand design of God. It is so important that it has been bestowed with eternalness… Imperishable, undefiled, unfading. My inheritance is pure and holy, waiting safe for me in heaven where Christ is seated with Father.
This is my joy. This is why Jesus came to earth and took upon himself a human nature. This is why Jesus conquered sin and death. This is the demonstration of his love for not only me, but the whole world. When everything in this world seems to conspire and align against me and threatens to undo me, my surety is based on the imperishable, undefiled, and unfading inheritance being kept for me in heaven. No matter what my loss is here on earth. No matter how poor I may be in the eyes of the world and those around me. No matter how unimportant I may be in this life. I have an inheritance that cannot and will not be taken away.
And this inheritance… It is everything. It is my salvation. It is my rescue from destruction. It is my redemption from slavery to sin. This is where joy is found. My joy is found in the work of Christ upon the cross and his resurrection. Who now reigns in heaven. And he has prepared a place for me. He is leading me home. Home to be with him and the Father and the Spirit… Forever.