Chapter 17—An Inheritance in Heaven
To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not
away, reserved in heaven for you.
1 Peter 1:4
.
Christ was teaching, and, as usual, others besides His disciples had
gathered about Him.... But there were many who desired the grace of heaven
only to serve their selfish purposes. They recognized the marvelous power
of Christ in setting forth the truth in a clear light.... Would He not lend His
power for their worldly benefit?
“And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother,
that he divide the inheritance with me” (
Luke 12:13
).... In the midst of the
solemn instruction that Christ had given, this man had revealed his selfish
disposition. He could appreciate that ability of the Lord which might work
for the advancement of his own temporal affairs; but spiritual truths had taken
no hold on his mind and heart.... [Jesus] was opening to him the treasures of
divine love. The Holy Spirit was pleading with him to become an heir of the
inheritance that is “incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away”....
[But] his eyes were fixed on the earth....
The Saviour’s mission on earth was fast drawing to a close. Only a
few months remained for Him to complete what He had come to do, in
establishing the kingdom of His grace. Yet human greed would have turned
Him from His work to take up the dispute over a piece of land. But Jesus
was not to be diverted from His mission. His answer was, “Man, who made
me a judge or a divider over you?” ... Christ virtually said, It is not My work
to settle controversies of this kind. He came for another purpose, to preach
the gospel, and thus to arouse men to a sense of eternal realities....
When He sent forth the twelve, He said, “As ye go, preach, saying, the
kingdom of heaven is at hand...” (
Matthew 10:7, 8
). They were not to settle
the temporal affairs of the people. Their work was to persuade men to be
reconciled to God. In this work lay their power to bless humanity. The only
remedy for the sins and sorrows of humanity is Christ. The gospel of His
grace alone can cure the evils that curse society.... He alone, for the selfish
heart of sin, gives the new heart of love.
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