The glory of the riches of our inheritance (VI) eye has not seen .. hereafter

We have been considering what it means to have a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the here and now aspect of the glory of the riches of our inheritance (Ephesians 1:17, 18). Paul quotes the Greek translation of Isaiah 64:3 as “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). This version has both a here and now and a hereafter aspect of our inheritance, the latter is seen very clearly in our inheritance which is “incorruptible and undefiled and fades not away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4) In spite of this, I hear people saying they think that heaven and hell are both here on earth.

I know what they mean in a way, for life consists of both joy and pain. But if there is no afterlife, God is not just. How is it just if Hitler or Pol Pot have the very same fate as mother Teresa or Paul (see 2 Corinthians 11:23-29)? But He is just, for “He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed” (Acts 17:31). We are looking at the positive side of this, this morning, and “God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love … “ (Hebrews 6:10). This fact is the basis of Paul’s admonition “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23,24).

So what are some of the things we can look forward to in our inheritance in the hereafter? And will God make it up to you and me, for all the trouble and pain of this life? Well “At His right hand are pleasures for evermore” (Psalm 16:11), and “Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17). There are things I will certainly not miss for “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4). We have this sure and steadfast hope as an anchor for the soul (Hebrews 6:19) as we “fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).

Father, there are times I so identify with Paul when he said “For me to live is Christ, to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). He was saying  this in the midst of suffering (i.e. Verse 13), but his “to die is gain” is not suicidal, it's a longing to be with You, and for the time when there will be no more suffering. But in the meantime, knowing You,  having a revelation of the glory of the riches of our inheritance, and the need, as it relates to helping others, to stay and keep walking in victory (verses 24,25), this helped him and  me to continue to be content in whatever state and situation we find ourselves  in (Philippians 4:11). Thank You Lord that You who began a good work in me will keep right on doing it until the day of Your Son in whose Name I ask Amen