NIKKI BONHAM | GUEST

Our family is in the middle of a move. Again. But only across town this time. The house we’ve been living in had been sitting empty for years when we moved in, and it had major maintenance issues, which we won’t miss.  The new house was recently built, so I’m thankful to leave behind the leaky pipes, mold, and broken floors. But my favorite part of the new place is the view. It overlooks the Colombian countryside, and I am convinced that a few minutes on the back porch with a strong cup of Colombian coffee will cure almost anything that ails you.

But apart from the view, the biggest difference between the two has been the shift from living in a house that had been left empty and deteriorating to one where every detail of the construction and maintenance has been painstakingly considered.  Our previous landlord had been ready to rid himself of the burden for years. Our new landlord built the house himself and put his literal blood, sweat, and tears into its completion.  The difference is striking. And there’s only one reason for it; the new landlord is guarding and maintaining his own inheritance.

Someone Else’s Inheritance

On our first visit to the house, the owner proudly pointed out each tiny detail. My husband commented, “I can tell that your whole heart has gone into this project.”

“Well, it’s my father’s land,” the owner told us, “But he let me build on it now. He’s already promised me this portion. I’ve given all I have to this house. But it’s our future, so it’s worth it.”

Moving into a home that is someone else’s literal inheritance comes with a little extra pressure, especially with a house full of boys. Every day I think, “There is no way we are giving this house back in the same condition we received it.”  But mostly, it feels like yet another gospel image the Lord has built around me for me to live in (literally, this time!) that lifts my eyes to the greater reality of what He is doing on an eternal scale. As I sit on this porch and drink my coffee in someone else’s future inheritance, I am reminded of the covenant promises of inheritance that are already mine in Christ.

Our Glorious Inheritance

In Ephesians 1, Paul makes the incredible statement that God “has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Eph 1:3) Has blessed us—past tense. He goes on to say that as God’s adopted children, “in Him we have obtained an inheritance” (v. 11). Those aren’t hypothetical, far-off promises that we hope might end up being true. We’ve already obtained it! The lavish outpouring of God’s love on us as His adopted children isn’t something I am waiting to experience; it’s my current reality even in the midst of a fallen world.  My faith in what is to come gives me the confidence to fully invest everything I am into whatever He calls me to. This back porch reminds me of that; it’s where we share meals and disciple new believers and counsel hard situations here in the “already/not yet,” in this strange limbo where we see blessings and beauty alongside the brokenness, and we wait for the fullness of what we know is coming.

I’m already living in and experiencing the blessings of that inheritance, an inheritance that is not mine. I have obtained Christ’s inheritance, for “if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” (Rom. 8:17).

We Are His Inheritance

But the extravagance of this covenant inheritance isn’t even the most unbelievable part. Paul then prays that believers will have “the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints” (Eph. 1:18, emphasis mine).  Apart from the fact that we have already obtained this beautiful inheritance that is pouring out blessing upon blessing on us even as we wait to experience its fullness, Paul says that we ourselves are God’s glorious inheritance that He has prepared and set aside for Himself (Deut. 32; Zech. 2). We are His portion that He has redeemed and purchased with His very blood. We, His broken, needy, rebellious children, are the inheritance that He has chosen to spend eternity delighting in. How is that even possible?

I remember again our landlord on that initial visit as he pointed out the tiniest details that he had taken so much joy in building. His passion and care stem directly from the fact that he has invested in and delights in building and preserving his own inheritance, even at great personal cost.

Like him, I can confidently give everything I have and know that it is worth it. I can pour out my energy and effort and strength without hesitation, trusting in a future inheritance that my Father has promised me. I can hold the brokenness and blessings at the same time, confident that the fullness of joy is what is to come.  As the author and perfecter of my faith, He takes joy in the smallest details, and I can trust in that same care and passion as He continues to build, refine, and sanctify His people, forming us into His own worthy inheritance.

Photo by Robin Jonathan Deutsch on Unsplash