Part 19

As we’ve been thoroughly discovering, the rich fruit which our Lord bore upon His rugged cross is found most-superior to all others: It far outshines any provision found for Old Testament saints: it is varied in its scope, multifaceted in its blessing, and gracious in its direction toward us. Today, we can partake of Jesus’ very own ripeness, that we too be declared fruitful “unto God” (Rom. 7:4). Those ancient believers could never declare such a thing. They died in hope: hope for better fruit to one day grow upon mankind, at the coming of the true Vine, and by their feast upon His sap. Dear reader, you and I are the fulfillment of that hope! We are now called to eat from that holy “Branch” which ancient saints could only dream of (Lk. 10:24; Jn. 8:56; Heb. 11:13, 39; 1 Pet. 1:10-12)! The manner of wine poured into our heart’s glass proves to embarrass all other vintage: It’s a “new and living way” for God’s sheep (Heb. 10:20; Jn. 10:7-9). We’ve been invited to produce whole gardens where only few branches once grew! What an honor for New Covenant believers! What great cause for our appreciation! And what obligation now given to us!

According to Paul’s letter to the Hebrews, such better fruitfulness is true with regard to spiritual heritage as well: Jesus awards a superior inheritance. As always, Paul made this a case for our Lord’s total supremacy: Judaism was losing its appeal. But why? And for what reasons? There are many.

Firstly, Jesus bears us a corporate inheritance. It’s deemed a corporate inheritance because it’s one that’s dispersed. Jesus does not hoard the fruit wrought upon Calvary’s hill, but rather, He lovingly shares it. No longer is He to be the only Son with an inheritance, for we are now given “power to become the sons of God” too (Jn. 1:12). As sons, we can expect heritage and reward. We reap all the benefit while He paid the highest of costs. As saints, we are brought into the family of God: we’re no longer called servants, but “children” and “sons” (Heb. 12:5-6). This allows us now share in our Lord’s fruitful reward, to “an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled… reserved in heaven” (1 Pet. 1:4).

The road toward such rich inheritance has finally been fully-paved; Our “Forerunner” has entered “for us” and for our sharing of His prize (Heb. 6:19-20; 9:24)! Like Jesus, we can now partake of a holy reward: Rich inheritance can now be our report too! We’re led “to the obtaining” of his noble glory (2 Thess. 2:14), and we’re appointed unto his regal kingdom (Lk. 22:29-30). We’re now permitted to be with Him instead of standing afar off (Jn. 17:24). Old Testament saints were not fed such honorable fruit (Exod. 20:19; 33:20; Jn. 1:18). They often lived in great fear of God’s nearness, for certain death was the expected result (Exod. 33:20; Isa. 6:5). But now we’re invited , not only to be near Him, but to sit with Him upon His very throne (Gen. 32:30; Rev. 3:21). The “Spirit of adoption” now reaps us a new royal bloodline; we can now cry “Abba” ourselves:

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 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” (Rom. 8:15-17).

And secondly, Jesus bears us an assured inheritance. It is said to be assured because it’s born among our earthly trials, which are certain. God has designed it this way with great wisdom. The very thing that used to slay the men of earth now serves to catalyze their inward maturity, and thereby lend us toward great spiritual riches. What’s the one thing that humanity can be assured of, as we trek through daily life? You guessed it: trial and tribulation! Each and every man, woman, and child will undoubtedly feed from this tree many times (Eccl. 5:15-17). Man has been “shapen in iniquity” (Ps. 51:5), and  even “born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward” (Job 5:7). Just as the warm rays of blessing rise upon both evil and good, so do the harsh rains of life’s circumstance fall upon both just and unjust (Matt. 5:45). Our wicked and fallen nature is what absolutely ensures it! We cannot escape it! Of course God is not the author of such suffering and anguish, but He certainly is the sovereign ruler over it, for the bride blossoms most in the valley (Job 1:6-12; 1 Cor. 14:33; Song. 2:1-2). As another has well-said, “The Lord allows in His wisdom what He could prevent by His power”. He is both “good to all” those who love Him and yet tolerant of their sufferings (Ps. 145:9; Jn. 9:2-3). Verily, “Time and chance happeneth to [us] all” (Eccl. 9:11). He works all things, both pleasant and harsh, “after the counsel of His own will” (Eph. 1:11). Who can say “what doest Thou?” (Dan. 4:35).

It’s because of our assurance of trials we can now have assurance of glory as well. Such trouble was the very thing that made Job so doubly-blessed in the end (Job 42:10); So why should we expect to be different? Suffering and inheritance are intimately linked together, and inheritance, therefore, can be assured! Christian struggles are no longer to be those things so-avoided and despised, for God has seen fit to realign their role and purpose: They no longer have to bring us down to the dust! On the contrary, we may now bear the sweet fruit of purposeful refinement, as we’re faithful to embrace the fiery furnace. These will be our Lord’s most beloved branches, for God prunes whom He loves, and He chastises all those He calls sons. And what can be the expected result? A glorious and abundant inheritance!

“And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby” (Heb. 12:5-11).

Personally, I find this to be quite an amazing truth. What would kill other men serves as our inward cleansing and perfection. What would depress and defeat those attached to the earth is that which actually prunes God’s children unto maturity and abundance (Jn. 15:1-3)! What great cause for joy! Our afflictions have become our servants, and the furnace has become our friend!

To be continued…