Inheritance shouldn't start when someone dies.
In the Jewish culture, children as they grow, slowly take over more and more of the family’s resources and responsibilities until the father tells everyone dealing with their heir is exactly like dealing with him.
Food for thought
I am an heir to the kingdom of God in the present age and the age to come.
Sharing my notes of a sermon by Paston Jen at Spirit of Life Kearney, NE.
Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits. ~Hebrews 6:1-3
We're not spending any more time laying the foundation. Many people stay here. Even though this list is excellent. We must move forward.
For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned. ~Hebrews 6:4-8
We can move forward because we're experiencing the goodness of God's kingdom. Old Testament laws taught people how to be good. People want to return to the 613 laws in the OT.
Going back rejects the sacrifice and thus says his grace wasn't enough. It's almost like we want to crucify Jesus again. Reason tells us that "man-made" wisdom is better. The devil tells us to go back and reject grace. If we listen, we're making that same declaration.
Warning
For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned. ~Hebrews 6:7-8
The people all in will produce an excellent harvest. Others will produce thorns. Ignoring things multiplies problems, "like work" creates "like results." Walking away from grace is walking away from your inheritance. That's why the warning is so stern.
so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. ~Hebrew 6:12
Inheritance in our culture is something we await.
In Jewish culture, Jews didn’t become an heir when someone died but when they were born. Slowly they take over more and more of the family’s resources and responsibilities until the father tells everyone dealing with their heir is exactly like dealing with him. They were heirs to a relationship with God. You have a responsibility to manage your inheritance and your relationship with God. At three years old, a drop of honey is placed on their lips to show them the sweetness of a relationship with God. Context of the relationship, and inheritance, they learn how to live.
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. ~Eph 1:11-14
And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. ~2 Cor 1:21-22
We are heirs. God with Christ appointed us.
For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. ~Hebrews 6:10-12
We are heirs now, and this needs to become part of our identity with all the responsibilities that come with it.
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. ~Roman 8: 14-17
Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? ~James 2:5
so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. ~Titus 3:7
Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ~Matthew 25:34
We are sons and daughters, heirs not just in a kingdom one day but to a kingdom now. If we remain faithful and patient, we will receive our inheritance in full. God will not forget us.
We have a responsibility to grow our inheritance. Not from the position of striving to earn something. God wants to see we are responsible for managing and growing the kingdom. Increase and manage our inheritance now so that we get more later. We do that with diligence, faith, and patience.
Using our talents to grow the kingdom brings God glory. We learn from those currently doing this. Growing our inheritance is equal to God's love. Acts of service are acts of love that he will never forget, no matter how small. If he did, he would be unjust.
For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. ~Hebrews 6:16-20
God's unchanging purpose is made clear by the oath in his name. The high status of witnesses to an oath would give it more sway. The name of an oath giver mentioned was the cosigner. God was the witness and the guarantee that it would come to pass. God can't lie, and he cannot go against what he says. A high promise that we can trust.
When we believe, our faith increases, and then our hope increases.
We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. ~Hebrews 6:19-20
The temple in Jerusalem is a copy of the heavens court. The holy of holy is God's place on Earth and representation of God's throne in heaven. Before Jesus, one person once a year could enter. Jesus paid the price so we could freely enter the throne room of God. Jesus entered the throne room of God to give us a picture of what our inheritance would be like, connection to God.
What are we going to do with our inheritance?
He gave us his inheritance. It was his and now ours. It's time to realize this and stop losing. It is our time right now, not tomorrow. We carry everything we need!
Who does God say you are?
You are the full expression of his creativity, the same creativity that created the entire world. You are worthy enough for Jesus to give his life. Jesus said, "I love you." when he stayed on the cross if anger was enough to die on the cross. We should be angry at everything. Anger would solve our problems, but love kept him on the cross. He wants to use us. We must walk in his spirit.
Prayer
Reveal our purpose God that we may see where we fit in your community. God is not unjust, and we have served God. Remember our sacrifice and increases our inheritance. Break off the lies that we've believed about who we are. Lord, the glory and honor are yours.