Unraveling inheritance
When I get into these difficulties, I will usually find my books or online resources that connect to the original languages. I ask questions like, “What Greek word did Paul use that was translated inheritance? Could there be alternative words that explain it better to me?” The word I found was allotment. “To get by lot” is what Paul was intimating. It is a lot like the time when Moses divided the Canaan among the tribes.
13 Moses commanded the people of Israel, saying, “This is the land that you shall inherit by lot, which the Lord has commanded to give to the nine tribes and to the half-tribe. (Numbers 34:13–ESV) 1
So, when Paul says we have obtained an inheritance, he is recollecting the time when the tribes received their Promised Land allotments. Even in this Old Testament passage, the English word inheritance is used, and it can help to think this way when we ponder what Paul meant by that which we have in Christ.
You and I, each one who has accepted Christ as savior, has an allotment. When time has run its course and God makes the New Earth he will have completed his purpose. Then, we Christians will be given our allotment.
Adam and Eve received an allotment of the current earth, the Old Earth if you will, called Eden. That fell apart, but God knew it would and his as yet uncompleted purpose continues to play out. Certain people, like Adam and Eve, Paul, our saved ancestors have run their course on the Old Earth, but they still live; they still exist. You and I have not finished our Old Earth time, but we will. Eventually, all of those Christ made his own will live forever. These will receive an allotment in that place ideally suited to the forever-life.
How will that be shaped?
What look will your New Earth existence have? Do you want mountain streams or a condo? Snowy trails or warm grass? Each of our hopes is but a guess, but we can learn from the Bible and our current experiences the character of God. He has done all things well. He will do all things well. So, rest assured on his character. The Christian has a real allotment in forever. It will surely have some similarity to our now and yet the perfection of the sinless, rebellion-free, eternity.
Leave a Reply