Heir Of All Things

"In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe." (Hebrews 1: 1, 2 NIV)

Glorious things are spoken of Jesus in the Scriptures. As the Son of God he is titled the "Heir of All Things." He is not merely AN heir, but he is THE heir.

"Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession." (Psalm 2: 8 KJV)

"Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, THIS IS THE HEIR; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons." (Matthew 21: 33-41)

The Lord Jesus Christ is The Son of the "householder" in the parable. As "The Son," he is appropriately and legally "The Heir" of the vineyard and all that his Father possesses. He is the one too, in the parable, who is killed by the lessees who were hired to caretake the vineyard in the absence of the Landlord.

By their murder they revealed their hatred towards the owner of the vineyard, and how they were unthankful to him for employing them, and how they were covetous men who would commit any sin to obtain the inheritance for themselves.

These murderers recognized the identity of the heir, and yet they killed him anyway. Their judgment is also described. They will be "miserably destroyed" when the "lord of the vineyard comes (returns)."

Jesus is The Heir Of All Things. This is a great revelation, one that explains all the dealings that God has had with the human race. "All things" have been made both "by him" and "for him."

"But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him." (I Corinthians 8: 6 KJV)

"For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. " (Hebrews 2: 10)

"Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. " (Colossians 1: 15-17)

"For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen." (Romans 11: 36)

"All things" are "Of" the Father, but "all things" are "by him (Christ the Son) and for him." Glorious thought! The Lord Jesus Christ is the ultimate reason for all things. All exist by him. All exist because of him, for his ultimate glory. Jesus is the sum of all biblical teleology.

All things find their reason for existence in the Lord Jesus Christ.

"These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come." (I Corinthians 10: 11 NIV)

In the KJV it is translated as "upon whom the ends of the world are come." Other translations will say "ends of the ages." The "end" of something is it's "final purpose." Just as there is to everything created a "first cause" of it, so too does everything have a "last cause" or "ultimate reason." It is in the Lord Jesus Christ, God's Son and Heir, that all things find their first and last cause.

"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Romans 8: 16-18)

While some servants of Lord God reject his Son, saying - "we will not have this man to reign over us" (Luke 19: 14), other servants joyfully receive the Son of God and are glad to have him to reign over them. These are they whom Lord God calls his children; And, it is the children of God who become the heirs to all that God has promised to redeemed man.

This heirship is only possible as one is connected by faith to the Lord Jesus, the one great "heir of all things." Those who are "sanctified by faith that is in Christ," are those who are promised to receive the glorious eternal inheritance. (Acts 26: 28)

"For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Galatians 3: 26-29)

"Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." (Galatians 4: 7)

"That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. " (Titus 3: 7)

"Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" (Hebrews 1: 14)

"By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith." (Hebrews 11: 7)

"Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?" (James 2: 5)

"Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us." (Hebrews 6: 17, 18)

It is beyond our imagining powers to comprehend how great is this inheritance in Christ! All belongs to Christ! But, Christians are "joint heirs" with him! No wonder Paul would write to the early Christians and say -

"So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God." (I Corinthians 3: 21-23 NIV)

Sadly, those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ will inherit nothing but grief, an evil inheritance, inheriting folly and the wind.

"He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart." (Proverbs 11: 29 KJV)

"The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools." (Proverbs 3: 25 KJV)

"The simple inherit folly" (Proverbs 14: 18 KJV).

Friend, what will you inherit? The promise of a great and glorious inheritance is to be had in Jesus. God said long ago to his ancient people - "I am their inheritance" (Ezekiel 44: 28 KJV). Oh think of it! To inherit God for a Father! Listen to the promise given by Christ after his resurrection.

"He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son." (Revelation 21: 7 KJV)

Will you receive Christ today and become on of the children of God?