- Inheritance
Psalm 16:5, 6
The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup:
Thou maintainest my lot.
The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places;
yea, I have a goodly heritage.
The Promise of Land is an unconditional promise for the Israelite to whom the physical Promised Land was first given, conquered, possessed and apportioned. The Book of Joshua records the fulfillment of this promise. The Promise of Inheritance is an unconditional promise for the NT believer in Jesus Christ to whom the spiritual and eternal Kingdom of God was (and still is) given. This “Kingdom Land” is eternal in the heavens kept for believers in Christ. “He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.” I Peter 1:3-4)
Also, you who heard the gospel and believed in Him were sealed with the Holy Spirit, “who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it.” Ephesians 1:14. The “Land, the Promised Land, and the Promise of Land” throughout the OT is meant for us in the NT. The physical geographical land becomes the spiritual Land, which is the spiritual Kingdom of God, the heavenly City, a better country, the New Jerusalem, Paradise, the new heaven and new earth. This transition of physical land to spiritual kingdom was announced by Jesus Christ and fulfilled in his life, death, and resurrection. A goodly heritage moves beyond land, place and temple to grace and the presence of God. Faithful optimism is a life lived in communion with God.
The further mysterious nature of this mystery and its fulfillment is the “already and not yet” aspects of the “Land.” The physical “by sight” enjoyment of the eternal land will not yet be realized until Christ returns at the Last Day. However, the “already” part of the promise has been fulfilled as heaven lives in the hearts of believers even now before that Day comes. This is the present “portion of mine inheritance, my lot,” the pleasant boundary lines, and a “goodly heritage.” All this inherited land is given to me, sealed in my heart by the Spirit, enjoyed by me here and now, and lives as a certain hope of future reality after death. “In your presence there is fullness of joy…pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16: 11).
Ultimately, God has given himself to us as our inheritance in such a way that we are always maintained in the enjoyment of the promise. If we have Him what more could we desire? Savonarola says, “What must not he possess who possesses the Possessor of all?” Paul says: “All things are yours…and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. (I Corinthians 3:21, 23)