this my inheritance

she had $9,000 sitting on her wrist.
The look on her face told me she was terrified to even look at her wrist for fear of ruining the jewels found there.

Somehow, we had found our way into the most expensive of jewelry stores at the mall. And for some reason, the owner felt it necessary to have my friend be the model of his jewelry.
As we walked through the aisles of the mall, we became a bit more overwhelmed.
That store could feed a small country if every diamond and precious metal was sold.
Heck, we could feed the whole continent of Africa if every piece of merchandise and every beam supporting the place were auctioned off for its worth.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, 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, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation to be revealed in the last time. 

This inheritance of mine is worth more than gold, diamonds, and silver.
I absolutely LOVE the joy of being invited into someone else's journey. This same friend, who had thousands of dollars on her wrist, has gone through a stunning transformation in the last few months. Part of which came into fruition during our trip to the expensive mall. Suddenly, the clothes, the jewelry, the money, it all seemed so meaningless. So temporary. It also didn't help that we had just spent a week at Missions conference.

Our eyes were not full of stars because of the priceless jewels and the shiny shoes, no we were encapsulated by our Savior. How temporary our breath suddenly felt. How meaningless this place felt. How desperate we were to share this inheritance we had found. Our inheritance was the most valuable thing we had, everything else was so unfocused because Jesus had our full attention, our unwavering eyes. This my inheritance, that there is a purpose for this momentary affliction. This my inheritance, that there is beauty beyond compare waiting for me in the presence of Jesus. This my inheritance, my forgiveness, my salvation, my acceptance, my sanctification, and the glory that awaits this weak heart. This is my inheritance. And it is this that none can take away. 

imperishable, undefiled and unfading:

Amiantus: a precious stone which cannot be blemished

Amarantus: a flower which keeps long, fresh and green. 

These are the words that Peter chose to define my inheritance. It is a stone whose ability to remain unblemished is steadfast. It is a flower that will never wilt, never be destroyed by the storm, never falter, never lose its luster or its flourishing qualities. 

It is in this that I rejoice. 

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith- more precious than gold that perished though it is tested by fire- may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 

I rejoice that my inheritance is secure and it is worth more than the gold on my friend's wrist. It is worth more than the value of that store and it is worth more than all these things that are quickly growing strangely dim. I rejoice in spite of these trials that shake me to my core. I rejoice because the trials have only pointed me closer to Christ. I rejoice because in these trials, in this darkness, in this struggle I  glow because the Light inside of me cannot be hidden. 

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 

I do not yet see him, but I know him. I believe in him and I am rejoicing with an inexpressible joy. Last week we had a speaker in Chapel whose voice shook when he shared stories of sharing the Gospel. I have never seen anyone more in love with sharing Jesus, more in love with knowing Jesus. It was as if his heart just could not bear the weight of glory and his soul was bursting with this inexpressible joy because Jesus was his and he was ready to share him with anyone he came into contact with. This man knew his inheritance. He was overcome by the weight of the good news. He was awed by the magnitude of this truth. He was a man walking so closely with the Holy Spirit. 

I want that kind of joy. When I do not see Jesus in my circumstance, I want to believe without doubt. Trust without fear. Rejoice without hesitancy. I want my joy to bubble over because of the abundance of the truth given to me. I want my soul to burst in response to the love I have received. 

O praise this Holy King who has made himself known to me. Praise this Gentle God who has come to us. Praise our Precious Savior who died for us. Praise upon praise to my Kind Father, my Sweet Jesus and the Ever-Guiding Holy Spirit. 

This my inheritance.