Wherefore, thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Galatians 4:7
Records have been found of wealthy families in ancient Roman societies who were unable to have children of their own. In these examples, the wealthy couple would locate among the children of their slaves a boy that they found to be favourable, and would adopt that child for their own. The adopted child would take the family name, and be given an upbringing appropriate to his new status. As he matured, the boy would be taken into the family business, and be groomed to take over responsibilities when the father was ready to retire. In addition to a transformed lifestyle, the adopted child would enter into a prospective inheritance whereby he would become heir of all that his parents owned upon their deaths. That is an amazing transformation from what the child of a slave had to look forward to in those days. It is very like the transformation that God has brought us into with our adoption into His family.
While we are in this world, you and I are like the adopted child while growing up in the wealthy family’s home. As for our wardrobe, we are dressed in the garments of salvation. We are also provided with the armour of God to preserve us in our Christian warfare. As for our nourishment, we are provided with the daily blessings of God, including everything that the Word of God has to feed our souls. As for our companionships, we have the Lord’s people with whom we can fellowship and labour. As for our education, we have the Holy Spirit to instruct and guide us into the knowledge of the Scriptures. As for our prospects, we have the knowledge that our Father desires all that is the best for us and leads us through experiences that will do us nothing but good all of our days. And all of this is even before we get to the benefits of being heirs of God through Christ.
The adopted son of a wealthy Roman would be able to expect his parents to provide the best of everything. And he would know that his future was assured. Even when his parents were gone, he would have everything to meet his needs. Our inheritance as heirs of God is even better than that. We have all of God’s provision here, and we have the assurance that eternity will be a never ending fulfilment of the promises of God. Whether we depart this life by way of death or the Rapture, you and I are about to enter into wealth that nobody in this world ever knew. The Bible doesn’t get into extensive details, but Heaven will far exceed anything we can imagine.
Our status in God’s family is that of sons and daughters. It is not a status that we deserved, it is ours only by the grace of God. Do we appreciate that? – Jim MacIntosh