June 2007

The Inheritance & the Kingdom 

There are no ten steps to fulfilling purpose neither are there any twenty steps to your destiny. There is only one step and that is establishing a relationship with God and submitting one’s self completely to the working as well as the leading of the Holy Spirit. This (submission to the Spirit) is the only “seal … guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession-to the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14). The ultimate destiny achievable for every believer in Christ is the possession of the inheritance. If the destiny of us all is the inheritance, what then is the inheritance? The following verse of scripture best defines that: “…You who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world” (Matthew 25:34-35). The inheritance then is the kingdom of God. However true this is, we may still want to ask, what really is the kingdom? It is very important that we answer this because at the end of the day our conclusion is that our destiny is the complete possession of the inheritance, which is this kingdom. So then how best can we define the kingdom?

Kingdom is a single word derived from two words, king and domain. So we will certainly be correct to say that kingdom is simply the king’s domain. This is the extent of the king’s area of ruler - ship. The kingdom of God hence is any place or any one’s life where the rule of God extends. But then, just as a king’s physical kingdom is continually extending as far as he is able to conquer and take over or posses, so also the kingdom of God is continually being established in a people’s or a person’s life as God consistently conquer and take over rule in the different areas of the person’s life. The kingdom of God in a man’s life therefore is the continual deposing of the different areas where other rules had been established in the person’s life and the consequent establishment of God’s holy and righteous rule in that area of the person’s life. This is so until the rule of God is fully established in every area of that person’s life – this is perfection! Yes, Perfection!! The crown or reward for a life that has fulfilled its purpose is perfection, which is the fullness of the glory of God as an evidence of His complete rule in that life. This is no doubt the reason why Jesus, having fulfilled is purpose on the earth, could say, “…Completing the work you gave me to do (purpose). And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory…” (John 17:4-5).  Paul also, having completed the work given him to do also said, “I have finished the race…now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness (fullness of God’s glory)…” (2 Tim 4:7-8). This is our destiny, i.e. the destiny of every person on the earth, although not every one knows or gets there. Since this is so, moving towards perfection now becomes imperative for any one who seeks to arrive at the place called destiny; to receive the full weight of the glory (of God); to enter fully into God’s kingdom; to posses the inheritance.

Remember that the awarding of the crown is for “all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8). Appearing here does not only mean a physical appearance but also according to Paul’s words, “… My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you” (Galatians 4:18 – 20) that forming is the word here synonymous appearing or putting on Christ. This is growth – a movement towards perfection. Remember it takes becoming a Son for the heir to enter into his inheritance (Galatians 4:1-3). The process of maturing is what leads into “managing the Father’s estate (the inheritance or Kingdom)”.