Many of us have been very blessed, as I was, in having a kind and loving father.
My father was not great by worldly standards. He had to leave school at the age of eleven to assist at home with work on the farm. His entire life was one of hard farm labour, much of it during depression years when one worked hard simply to survive. He was never rich by worldly standards.
Yet my father was a truly great man! He was a man of love, a true gentleman, who brought out the best in everyone. He was always calm and patient, even under the most trying circumstances. He made every possible material provision for his family, but the inheritance he gave us was of much more value than worldly wealth.
Those of us who have had such a father can readily understand the character of our Father in heaven who has infinite love, care, and patience with us even when we don't deserve it. If we live according to the rules of His household, we inherit the riches of His family. We will feel His presence within our bodies as a sign of His ownership (Eph.1:13-14). We become sons of our Father (Gal.3:26), and Jesus' adopted brothers and sisters (Eph.1:5). We become heirs to his kingdom (James 2:5).
We, as God's children, can walk into any true church of Jesus Christ anywhere in the world and recognize the people as our sisters and brothers. We recognize them because the glory of their Father shines from their faces (John 17:26). It makes no difference whether they are rich or poor, black or white, their joy is like a name-tag identifying them as `Christian.'
It is a shame that some try to wear the Christian name-tag when they really do not belong to God's family. They think they belong, but their hearts are not His. They want to keep one foot in the world, and are often the reason God's family members are criticized. Jesus told them, "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire...the reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God"(John 8:44-47 NIV).
Idolatry is anything which we love more than God. The worship of money and what it can buy is idolatry (Matt. 6:24). Many professing Christians will never make the kingdom of God because of their consuming drive to become rich. Jesus is Lord--not money or social prestige--and EVERYONE will eventually have to acknowledge that fact (Phil.2:10-11).
Only true family members, those who have not been overcome by worldly teachings and values, will be eligible to inherit the kingdom. God's love is very great as was that of my own father, but in order to receive our rich inheritance, we must obey the rules of His household.
The Bible ends with a reminder that "whoever wishes" may come to Jesus and receive the free gift of eternal life (Rev.22:17 NIV). Our Father in heaven loves us.
© 1999, Doreen Palmer