A Guaranteed Inheritance

Jonathan here. It’s a drizzly Monday in North Olmsted and chilly too, at least it feels that way after the record-breaking heat we’ve had in the last week. Though the air is cool, my heart is not. It’s been a wonderful weekend of fellowship with Phil and Sandy Dufrin, friends from the ten months Megan and I spent at the Pastor’s College. Darren has asked me to share a few thoughts on the message Phil gave on Sunday morning. I’m grateful for the chance to reflect back on the preaching of God’s Word. Phil’s message from I Peter 1 was strong and offered a clear challenge to abandon the false hopes and deceptive guarantees of the world and to put all of our trust in the “living hope...an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading...”

Phil made three great points from the text. First, we have assurance of a living hope. This is not a hope that is still alive, as in, I’m hoping I will pass the test, or, I’m hoping my kids will turn out okay, or, I’m hoping that my car won’t break down. This is not hope in a situation, but hope in a person--and this person is alive. Peter writes: “He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead...” Our hope is living because Jesus is alive. And since he has already overcome death in his resurrection, this is the one hope that can never die (even if every earthly hope does). I can’t help but ask myself, am I placing my hope in the right place? Where am I seeking “peace of mind?” Is it in the approval of other people? (Their opinions of me will change) Is it in my abilities? (There’s always someone more gifted). Is it in financial security? (the recession taught us all can be lost in an instant). I think we all hope in something, the question is, what are we hoping in? For youth it may be going off to college? For others it may be getting a better job or retirement or a ring on the finger? But all these hopes will ultimately die (at least when we do), but there is one hope that never will. Where are you placing your hope? Where are you seeking peace of mind? Or, perhaps a little easier, what is stealing your peace of mind? If it is taking, it’s probably because you were looking for it there. As we place our hope in the right place, our “peace” will be harder and harder to steal.

Secondly, Phil noted that we have assurance of a perfect inheritance. He illustrated this with a story from his own life. Without digging into the details, essentially he was going to receive an inheritance from his grandfather, but never did. It was taken by an individual who wasn’t even listed in the will. The contrast was obvious. Unlike Phil’s experience with an earthly inheritance, our inheritance in heaven is being “kept.” It is not going anywhere. No one can take it, not even the finest lawyers. We cannot lose it like we lose an object. It is “kept in heaven” for us. With my record of losing things around the house, I’m so grateful for this. Not only do I lose my keys, wallet and cell phone, but I often lose my way. I’m so thankful those who are saved cannot lose this inheritance that is kept for them. Do you take comfort in this? Does this bring a smile to your face and lighten the load on your shoulders? It should. Especially when we realize that not only is this inheritance kept safe for us, it is preserved for us. Imagine having a package placed in the world’s best safe. It wouldn’t matter how incredible the safe was if the content of the package was perishable. This inheritance is not the deli meat that spoils after a few days. It is not the sunlight that fades at the end of the day. It is “imperishable…and unfading.” It will be as glorious then as it is today. Earthly circumstances will always change like the rising and setting sun, but Christian’s can find hope in something unchanging. What difference does this make in your life during times of suffering and hardship? How does this change your perspective? Perhaps joy in the midst of the daily-grind is more possible than you thought.

Third, Phil noted that our inheritance is guarded through faith. Peter writes that this inheritance is kept for those who “by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” Not only is this inheritance guarded for us, but WE are being guarded by God for this inheritance, and we are being guarded through faith. It is faith that God uses to keep us until we see him face to face. What a reminder to resist the natural drift into unbelief. It is an invitation to trust God and to utilize the means that he has given us to preserve and strengthen our faith— Christian fellowship and his word (among many others). One of the best tools to strengthen faith is meditating on God’s word. It’s there that we see God’s character. Bible story after Bible story recounts his faithfulness to men and women throughout history—he’s trustworthy! He always fulfills his promises! With so many accounts of his character, it’s no wonder “faith comes by hearing” and, dare I say, reading as well. So, we need his Word to fuel our faith. How’s your faith doing these days? Are you trusting in yourself or in God, the one who guards you? Are you taking time to fuel your trust in him? I’m reminded of my frequent trips to Shell to fill up my gas tank? My soul needs fuel too and its not even $2.81 a gallon. I’m so grateful that I can go to God’s word each day and allow the Lord to “guard” me with faith fueled by his word. Don’t run from your Shepherd; allow him to guard you with his Word. I hope Phil’s message from I Peter did just that…

the Promises of Christ in the church...

"To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, 'The words of the holy one, the true one, who has they key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. I know your works... I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name... Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world.'" (portions of Revelation 3:7-13)

The church in Philadelphia wasn't the most dynamic group of believers in the region. They lived in a city plagued by earthquakes, one of which had leveled their city so severly that they'd been forced to completely rebuild. Sadly aftershocks and tremors continued to damage the walls of the town so heavily that their commercial prospects were limited to the fertility of their surrounding fields- where most of the inhabitants actually lived. Economically challenged, the church also lived under the assaults of the local Jewish rulers. Officially, the Christians were seen as outcasts from the people of God- the doors of God's kingdom officially closed to them at the synagogues.

But Jesus sees this struggling church with "little power" and has much to commend- in particular, their "patient endurance" under trials. What encouragement this is! Trials and suffering are difficult to endure, but the church in Philadelphia is set forth as a model for us. From them we learn to walk the long road of continued obedience- looking to Jesus. From Jesus' words to them, we learn that Christians can press on for Christ as we trust in the promises of Christ. We often wonder why we started down this road or how we'll make it to the end, but Christ reminds us of four things:

1. He is Lord over His Kingdom. Jesus reminds the believers in verses 8 and 9 that, although the official doors to the synagogue have been closed to them, He holds the keys to the kingdom of God. Jesus' words are the ones that matter, He is the One who drew them, and He is the One who continues to make the way of salvation open to us and those we know today. How encouraging these words were to those who lived in a city whose crumbled walls provided little protection. Their unstable home was a drastic contrast to the permanence of an eternal dwelling... but one they could only enter through the Door (John 10:9).

• How comforting it is to know that nothing of our "little power" prevents our entrance into God's kingdom as well! Our shady background, our financial weakness, our limited gifting, our lack of biblical proficiency haunts us- making us wonder if we've got what it takes to really matter in God's plan. Only Jesus' invitation to us through the door He opened up with His blood mattters. Perhaps a good question to ask ourselves is "What is one thing you've been doing lately to remind yourself that God saved you- not because of your strength, but because of His grace?"

2. He is sovereign over our enemies. Jesus knew that the church in Philadelphia was living under the constant oppression of their Jewish opponents. Quoting the Old Testament passages that seemed to indicate that God could only include folks into His kingdom if they belonged to "His country," they traced God's favor back through their parents' ancestry and their personal obedience. But Jesus had come to break down the barriers between Jew and Gentile and to create a new identity of people whose only "work" was to believe in the Son of God. (John 6:29). Faith, not family, forms the new people of God. And now that the church had placed their faith in Jesus, He reminds them that this faith will be vindicated: "I will make them come and bow down at your feet and they will see that I have loved you" (v 9). Amazing!

• Often we are discouraged and tired, especially when others seem to remind us of our failures or to challenge the basis of our faith in Christ. But consider Christ's promise to us that helps us endure: Jesus will one day vindicate your claims that Jesus is God, that we owe our lives and allegiance to Him that we are saved because of His sacrifice, and that we will only persevere because of His grace that sustains us. One day, whether in this life or the next, we will see Jesus' glory acknowledged by everyone... even those who may mock you today. How does this encourage you to share your faith? Who can your community group pray for that you've had a burden to share the gospel with? Remember, Jesus promises that some of the opponents the gospel in Philadelphia (and Cleveland) would be "given as a gift" to that very church!

3. He is faithful in our trials. Jesus promises to keep His church from the "hour of trial that is coming upon the whole world." For a church that had endured both financial instability and the mockery of an established religious community, this promise is especially meaningful. Jesus wasn't claiming that His people wouldn't suffer- their history already refuted that interpretation and John's experience on Patmos nullified any doubt to the contrary. The common experience of the believer is defined by John's description of himself in chapter 1 (echoed in 3:10)- we are partners in the "patient endurance" that is in Christ.

• Trials tempt us all to want to opt out of the race, to stop and take a break from a "long obedience in the same direction." But Jesus doesn't pledge to keep us from suffering but to sustain us in suffering. How can we endure? By remembering what John remembered: there was only One who has truly endured the suffering we all deserve. John had written Jesus' own words on the earth: "It was for 'this hour' (the Cross of shame and suffering) that I came to the earth." He endured God's wrath for us that we might know God's love. How does the knowledge that Christ suffered once for all help you to endure our "light and momentary" sufferings? Is there anyone in your group struggling that you can pray for tonight as they trust in Christ's promise to hold them in their trials?

4. He is establishing us for eternity. Jesus' final promise comes in a series of statements. He will make the church pillars in His temple, setting His name on them forever. In a town rebuilt time and again (renamed twice for their benefactors), the church in Philadelphia was promised a place of permanence in the presence of God, living under the name and identity God creates for them. What a goal that creates for the weary soul.

• One of the greatest challenges to endurance is the fear that nothing will ever change... that our role will always be one of unrewarded and unnoticed. But Jesus sustains us with the promise that He is not only ruling over His kingdom, our enemies, and our trials... He also has plans for our eternal destiny. We will one day be established in His presence, our endurance ended in the security and peace of God's household. We're heading home... what peace that brings to the soul! What passages of Scripture sustain you and remind you of heaven when you are weary? How does focusing on heaven help you to endure in your current trial?

When we remember that Jesus' promises are faithful and true, we are given strength to endure. Enjoy encouraging each other on the journey this week in community group!

the Life of Christ in the church...

"To the angel of the church in Sardis write, 'The words of Him who has the seven spirits and the seven stars. I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die... Remember, then what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent.'" (portions of Revelation 3:1-6)

Imagine strolling along a beach and coming across a body lying in the surf. Unsure if they're alive or dead, you'd immediately begin the process of searching for vital signs: you'd look at their eyes, you'd listen for breath, you'd feel for a heartbeat. In the same way, Jesus examines the church in Sardis to find out if there's life left in the church. Sardis was a church overrun by inoffensiveness... ignored by the Romans, they were (in the words of one commentator) "too harmless to be worth persecuting." Their witness was ineffective because they had forgotten one thing: when we share in Christ's life, we reflect Christ's glory. Jesus calls the church to "wake up" from their slumbering... and he does so by examining three vital signs of the church:

1. Breath: the Spirit revives the Church. Jesus tells the folks in Sardis that He alone holds the church (the seven stars). He holds them and sees their weaknesses. Like a guard asleep at his post, the Christians of Sardis needed to remember that Jesus not only held them, He held the Spirit (the "seven spirits of God"- representing the fullness of God's presence.) Echoing the New Testament's theme that only the Spirit of God gives life (John 6:63, Romans 8:2, Galatians 6:8), Jesus calls us to a desperation for the activity of the Spirit in our lives.

• As a church we need to remember that the Spirit revives our Church... are we daily looking to the Spirit for our vitality as a church? We've implemented two indispensable aspects to our church calendar: our "20-40 meeting" on Sundays before our service (9:20-9:40) and our "Worship and Prayer Night" on Fridays- first one's coming up on the 24th at SGC. In addition, let's make sure that our CG's are defined and highlighted by a desperation for God's Spirit to meet with us corporately.

2. Heartbeat: the Gospel revives the Church. Jesus tells the church in verse 3 that they are to "remember what they received." Sardis had forgotten the message they received from Paul and others in this region- the good news that Christ had redeemed them from sin and rescued them for His kingdom. Like messengers for a liberating army, we're called to remember one main message: the decisive victory against our enemy is over.

• The most important thing we can hope in isn't what we have to do but what the King has done for us! As a church, we're called to love God by celebrating, proclaiming, and living out the message of the gospel. All over the country, the gospel is being watered down, marginalized, and forgotten. Do you have confidence when you share the gospel that others need to hear and be encouraged by this one truth? If not, what do you need to do in order to restore your confidence so that you can witness more freely?

3. Blindness: Our hope revives the Church. Jesus looked into the eyes of the church and saw that their gaze had drifted from their eternal hope. So He reminded them that (despite the way others may regard them) those who conquer will have a new name redeemed for them in heaven. Jesus will one day rescue our name and reputation by forever uniting it with His grace!

• Our sins will be atoned for, our failings will be made up for, our final destiny is to have our names written in the book of life (which Revelation 13 and 20 link to the Lamb who was slain). When you struggle with your sins or shortcomings, it revives us to remember that Christ's blood will forever cover everything. How can you fix your gaze on our eternal hope- the final work of the gospel?
  

When he was closing our meeting, Jonathan encouraged us to do three things each week:

• Take a morning to cry out to the Spirit for life.
• Take a morning to review and remember the gospel.
• Take a morning to fix your eyes on eternity.

Enjoying the gospel with you,
Darren