November 2 - Inheritance of Heaven 하늘의 기업

November 2 - Inheritance of Heaven

 

“And into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade—kept in heaven for you.” - 1 Peter 1:4

 

 

In verse 3, Peter revealed that we are born again to a living hope. He continues, explaining that we are also born again to an inheritance. How can we have an inheritance? Because, in Christ, we have become heirs of God's endless fortunes. How can we possibly be heirs of God? Because, in Christ, we have become God's children. Incredible!

In Romans 8:15–16, Paul says that we "have received the Spirit of adoption" and that we cry, "Abba! Father!" "Abba" is a term of endearment, much like calling someone "Dad" or even "Daddy." It reflects the warmth and closeness we can have with God. This spirit makes us heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ Himself.

The Christians Peter was writing to were experiencing heavy persecution for their faith in Christ. They were suffering. We all suffer. One of the ways that we suffer is that we have very little value in this world. What we do have—what we earn or what our parents and grandparents may leave to us—can easily be lost or taken away. But as children of God, our inheritance can never be lost. It is ours now and ours forever. It is imperishable (can't die), undefiled (can't become corrupted or broken), and unfading (can never lose its value). Our forever inheritance of infinite worth is being kept—right this minute—in heaven for us.

 

When we become children of God by being born-again, we receive the inheritance of heaven. Inheritance here originally indicates a portion earned from casting lots. The Old Testament said that the land God gave the Israelites was their inheritance (Deuteronomy 15:4). In the New Testament, inheritance means a portion, succession, or inheritance in the future. “For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise” (Galatians 3:18). We, as a family of God, became the successors of God. But, a complete inheritance will be given when Jesus returns in the end times (Romans 8:15-17)

 

The heavenly inheritance has several characteristics. First, it is immortal. The inheritance can never be destroyed or disappear. “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:20). The Apostle Paul speaks of God’s immortal glory (Romans 1:23). Second, the heavenly inheritance is pure and not tainted. Third, its inheritance can never decrease. It is always dynamic and alive. 

 

In Milano, Italy, one finds the painting of the ‘Last Supper’ by Leonardo da Vinci. It is said that more than $10,000 was spent recovering the color of the painting. No matter how excellent a painting is, it withers and fades. But our heavenly inheritance is immortal. Some say an immortal inheritance is the opposite of death and sin and is never bound by time. In other words, our inheritance is beyond the limitation of death, sin, and time. Peter said this inheritance is kept and preserved for us in heaven and is God's promise. In time, God will free us from all our hardships and troubles and grant us our pure, immortal inheritance. 

 

“I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess.” – Martin Luther.

 

 

Today’s Prayer: Pray that parents may teach their children how to give cheerfully and generously to God, responding with compassion to needs in the lives of others (2 Corinthians 9:7),

Prayer Pointer: A person must recognize his need for God before requesting divine aid and giving God due thanks. - Anonymous 

Bible Reading: Jeremiah 33-35; Titus 3

 

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11월 2일  하늘의 기업

 

“썩지 않고 더럽지 않고 쇠하지 아니하는 기업을 잇게 하시나니 곧 너희를 위하여 하늘에 간직하신 것이라” - 벧전 1:4

 

베드로는 1장 3절에서 우리에게 산 소망을 주시고, 기업을 잇게 하기 위해 거듭나게 하신다고 말씀합니다. 우리는 어떻게 기업을 이을 수 있습니까? 그 이유는 그리스도 안에서 하나님의 한없는 축복의 상속자가 되었기 때문입니다. 우리는 어떻게 하나님의 상속자가 됩니까? 예수 그리스도 안에서 우리가 하나님의 자녀가 되었기 때문입니다. 이것은 참으로 놀라운 일입니다.

 

바울은 로마서 8:15-16에서 우리가 "양자의 영을 받았다"고 말하며 하나님을 "아바! 아버지"라고 부른다고 말합니다. "아바"는 아버지를 "아빠"라고 부르는 것과 같은 애정을 표현하는 용어이며 우리가 하나님과의 관계에서 가지는 따뜻함과 친밀함을 반영하는 말입니다. 성령께서 우리를 하나님의 상속자로 삼으시고 그리스도와 함께 공동 상속자로 삼아주십니다. 

베드로의 서신을 받고 있는 이 당시 그리스도인들은 믿음 때문에 박해와 고난을 당하고 있었습니다. 우리들도 이 세상에서 믿음 때문에 고난을 당합니다. 우리가 고난 받는 이유중에 하나는 우리의 세상적인 가치가 없기 때문입니다. 부모와 조부모로 받은 상속이나 우리의 소유는 쉽게 상실하거나 빼앗깁니다. 그러나 하나님의 자녀로서 받는 우리의 기업은 영원히 상실하지 않고 빼앗기지 않습니다. 우리의 기업은 영원히 우리의 것입니다. 이 기업은 썩지 않고(없어지지 않음), 더럽혀지지 않고(부패하거나 부서지지 않음), 퇴색하지 않습니다(가치를 잃을 수 없음). 무한한 가치가 있는 우리의 영원한 기업이 우리를 위해 하늘에 보관되고 있습니다.

 

거듭남으로 하나님의 자녀가 되면 하늘의 영원한 기업을 받습니다. 기업이라는 것은 본래 제비를 뽑아 얻은 부분을 의미합니다. 구약에서 하나님께서 이스라엘 백성에게 주신 땅을 그들이 받은 기업이라고 말합니다(신 15:4). 신약에서 기업은 미래의 일부와 승계 또는 미래의 상속을 의미합니다. 율법의 기준하고 있는 기업은 약속에 의존하지 않습니다. 그러나 하나님은 그의 은혜로 약속을 통해 아브라함에게 그 기업을 주신 것처럼(갈 3:18). 우리는 하나님의 가족으로서 하나님의 상속자가 된 것입니다. 그러나 마지막 예수님께 재림하실 때 우리에게 완전한 기업이 주어질 것입니다(롬 8:15-17).

 

하늘의 기업에는 몇 가지 특징이 있습니다. 첫째, 불멸입니다. 기업은 결코 파괴되거나 사라지지 않습니다. “오직 너희를 위하여 보물을 하늘에 쌓아두라 거기는 좀이나 동록이 해하지 못하며 도적이 구멍을 뚫지도 못하고 도적질도 못하느니라”(마 6:20), 바울은 하나님의 불멸의 영광을 말합니다(롬 1:23). 둘째, 더럽지 않은 순전한 기업입니다. 때묻지 않은 못 쓰거나 상한 기업이 아니고 완전한 기업입니다. 셋째, 시들지 않고 쇠하지 않는 역동적이며 생동감이 있는 기업입니다. 

 

이탈리아 밀라노에 레오나르도 다빈치의 '최후의 만찬' 명화가 있습니다. 그림의 색을 복구하는 데 10,000달러 이상이 사용되었다고 합니다. 그림이 아무리 훌륭하더라도 시들고 퇴색합니다. 하지만 우리의 하늘의 기업은 불멸합니다. 어떤 사람들은 불멸의 기업은 죽음과 죄의 반대이며 결코 시간에 얽매이지 않는다고 말합니다. 다시 말해, 우리의 기업은 죽음, 죄, 시간의 한계를 초월합니다. 베드로는 이 기업이 하늘에서 우리를 위해 간직되고 보존되어 있는 하나님의 약속이라고 말합니다. 때가 되면 하나님은 우리의 모든 고난과 어려움에서 우리를 해방시켜 주시고 우리에게 불멸의 순수한 기업을 주실 것입니다.

 

"나는 많은 것을 내 손에 쥐고 있었지만 모두 잃었습니다. 그러나 내가 하나님의 손에 맡긴 것은 무엇이든 여전히 소유하고 있습니다." – 마틴 루터 

 

 

오늘의 기도: 부도가 자녀들에게 다른 사람들의 삶에 필요에 사랑으로 응답하여 기쁨과 후한 마음으로 하나님께 헌금하는 길을 가르칠 수 있도록 기도하십시오 (고후 9:7).

기도 지침: 하나님의 도움을 구하기 전에 먼저 하나님의 필요를 반드시 인정하고, 하나님을, 하나님께 당연한 감사를 드려야 한다.- 작자 미상

성경 읽기: 예레미야 33-35장; 디도서 4장