God Longs to Inherit Us

In Ephesians 1:14 we’re told that the Holy Spirit is “the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it.” In this rendering, we are told that those whose faith is in Christ will receive their full spiritual inheritance in God’s presence in eternity. Another equally valid rendering of this phrase is that the Holy Spirit is “the guarantee of our inheritance until God redeems his possession.” In this rendering, there is the idea that we are the prized possession that the Lord himself is waiting to inherit.

Now this is a truly mind-blowing statement! The fact that the Lord is waiting to receive us as his inheritance is a little hard to believe. And yet this idea is stated multiple times in the OT toward God’s people:

“Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples.” – Exodus 19:5

“For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.” – Deuteronomy 7:6

“They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him.” – Malachi 3:17

While it is important to remember that eternity will be when we receive our full inheritance in the Lord, it is also important to remember that the Lord is just as eager for us to be with him as we are to be with him. He is not frustrated by us or disappointed in us; he longs to be with us as a father longs to be with his children. If your faith is in Christ, then you are part of the inheritance the Lord looks forward to receiving!