“This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.” Isaiah 54:17
The word “heritage,” for the Christian, has a present application to life on this earth as well as one for eternity in heaven. First of all, what is a heritage? It is a “special or individual possession, an allotted portion.” If one would take just this simple definition, and amplify its meaning by grasping something of the perspective of God for His children, and His servants, one would find a gold-mine of spiritual wealth that would have extraordinary eternal and present day ramifications, or effects. Why? It is because of that moment of the new birth, when one is placed by God the Father into Jesus Christ. Immediately all that is true of Christ becomes true of the believer, not in the sense of one becoming the only begotten Son of God. However, by one’s union with Christ, vast resources have been put at his disposition in Christ. So then, what should be the great expectations of the believer in light of the heritage that is his or hers in Christ? We begin to answer this question by looking first at the spiritual aspects of this heritage. But even before this, let us remember that Jesus taught His disciples to pray: “…Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.” (Matt. 6;10) The blessings of heaven in Christ are revealed to us in this earth so that we might, by faith, appropriate them, live by them, and reveal them to others. Certainly, this is only possible by the Holy Spirit, for anything of the flesh is worth nothing, only that which is accomplished and revealed by the Spirit. So then, the knowledge and grasp of that which is true of this heritage belonging to the believer is to be received by faith, “on earth,” as it will one day be revealed in heaven. It is to be lived “on earth” as it is in heaven. There will never be the fullest appropriation and expression of this spiritual heritage in the life of one, or many believers on this earth. But, there is great room for great expectations, and great results, in the will of God for His glory. What are these spiritual aspects of this heritage in Christ, on earth?
In Isaiah 55, we discover that there is great covenant blessing promised to the believer concerning his children. The Lord has just told Israel through Isaiah that she will be gathered to Him, “…with great mercies.” He has spoken to her of His “…everlasting kindness” in dealing with her, and finally, that His “…kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed.” (v.10) In other words, the Lord is laying the ground work for Israel’s faith, so that she will believe Him for what He is about to say. This will pertain to her heritage which is “set in heaven.” He speaks of her children, who will be “…taught of the Lord,” with the promise, “…and great shall be the peace of thy children.” (v/13) Later, in light of the spiritual battle that Israel will know, as well as the church later on, he declares: “…whoso ever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.” (v.15) This is Christ’s declaration of His victory over the enemy, a victory that has been won, and is now communicated to the servant of Christ. The Lord then declares: “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn.” (v. 17) Not only has every foe been conquered by Christ on the cross, but every “weapon” or device of Satan has been dealt with. To make sure that Israel, and the believer, will grasp the significance and the application of these blessings belonging the believer, the Lord then declares: “This IS the heritage of the servants of the Lord.” (v.17) Great expectations stem from the grasp of one’s eternal heritage.
Dear Father, May Christ be our constant heritage. In Jesus’ name, Amen.