By Nadine Judge
Heritage and inheritance are words thrown around so often. We have Heritage Day on the 24 September here in South Africa, that celebrates our wonderful “rainbow nation” as coined by Archbishop Desmond Tutu in the early 1990’s. It refers to our diverse and multicultural society.
Heritage refers to something passed down to us, and Heritage Day celebrates the different nationalities and cultures within South Africa. While this is wonderful and beautiful to see, so much is busy changing. Traditional cultures are merging with other traditional cultures and new cultures are emerging. I think this is quite exciting and look forward to what 24 September is going to look like in the future.
Heritage though, for believers does look different, and so let’s explore that.
Heritage
A culture that does not change is found in Deuteronomy 6:6 – 7: “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (NIV)
When you pass on your heritage to your children, we talk about them to your children, whenever we can, we teach them about it, we spend time with the greater family, all so that our children can learn about their heritage. This is why God told the Israelites to remember His commandments to them, so that they would keep the heritage of being God’s chosen people. Deuteronomy 7:6: “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.” (NIV)
How much more do we celebrate being God’s chosen people, because we are now called His chosen people, as we see in 1 Peter 9: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (NIV) We have a new heritage and therefore we need to cultivate that heritage and live like His chosen people.
This is how we live out our new heritage:
Psalm 119:11 – 16 (NIV)
“ I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
Praise be to you, Lord;
teach me your decrees.
With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from your mouth.
I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches.
I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.”
16 I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word.
INHERITANCE
Let’s talk about inheritance. Many people expect an inheritance from their father’s or mother’s, uncles, aunties, or someone who could surprise us. This is great and often a wonderful blessing. However, we need to understand that as Believer’s in Jesus, have a different inheritance we will one day receive. Like David in Psalm 2:7-8 declares (NIV):
“I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:
He said to me, “You are my son;
today I have become your father.
Ask me,
and I will make the nations your inheritance,
the ends of the earth your possession.”
So hard to understand that our inheritance as believer’s is the nations.
Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV) states the following:
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Our inheritance is not the treasures we get here on earth, but those that cannot be destroyed by moths and vermin and cannot be stolen by thieves. That’s the folks around us, the nations both here in our country (remember Heritage Day), as well as those over our borders.
One day, the things we have here on earth will be left behind as we “graduate” to be with Jesus. There we will see Him, our ultimate inheritance as well as all the fellow believers around us. What a great day that is going to be.
CONCLUSION:
Living as Believer’s in Jesus changes both our heritage and our inheritance. Our heritage is tied into becoming more like Jesus and living it so that our children will learn how to live for Jesus and so teach their children, so that the heritage of Jesus is lived out every day by each one of us.
Our thoughts on inheritance also changes. Whatever inheritance we receive from loved ones here on earth, should pale in significance to the inheritance we receive from Jesus. When we love Jesus, we love His bride, and His bride, is the church. Loving those who are in church with us – from different cultures and nations, as well as going out into all the world to love His church, that’s the inheritance that has very long-term benefits.
Enjoy being who God has called us to – a wonderful heritage, and enjoy our inheritance, the nations.