Acts 20:32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
The legal definition of an inheritance is: a financial term describing the assets passed down to individuals after someone dies. Most inheritances consist of cash that’s parked in a bank account but may contain stocks, bonds, cars, jewelry, automobiles, art, antiques, real estate, and other tangible assets. My grandfathers were as different as night and day. One was a short farmer from Kansas. This one was on my mothers side. He made it to the great height of 5 foot 5 inches. He was prosperous without being too rich. It would take a book to list all the things I know about Marion Reeder.
My other grandfather from my fathers side was a shade over 6 feet tall. He was a jack of all trades. He made furniture, especially night stands. He also gambled with the boys on Saturday morning on the front porch of Bryants General Store. He ran the horse drawn road maintainer to smooth the dirt road through town. He has been accused of watering one spot on the road to make cars get stuck so he could pull them out (for a fee, of course).
From these two men I received my two middle names. Marion Ellick Reeder and Kirby Truitt Martin formed the middle of my name of Michael Marion Truitt Martin, I inherited some things from both of them over time. I have one of the night stands that my grandfather Martin made in his trade as a carpenter. It is a little rough for wear but it proudly sets by my bed holding junk that could not find another space to live.
Another thing I inherited was a large pocket watch from my grandfather Reeder and a very ornate watch fob from my Grandfather Martin. Another thing I treasure is my grandfather Reeders Bible, which had belonged to his father before him.
If I were to ask you which is more important, what would you answer? Would it be the antique nightstand that ia over 100 years old or the watch and fob or the Bible. In a monetary sense, the Bible is torn and worthless looking, the nightstand needs work but the watch and ornate fob are in perfect condition.
I’ll tell you how I look at it as a Christian. When I can read my great grandfathers name and date in the Bible it is special to me. The Bible had been used hard meaning to me that that great grandfather was a man who thought the same way I did, that the Word of God is special and we need to know as much about it as we can learn. Reading the Bible allows us to learn. Without it, we learn nothing accept what the world teaches us. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but the world isn’t teaching Godliness.
Ephesians 1:17-18 “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,” Here Paul tries to enlighten us to what can happen in our lives. The Father of Glory desires to give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation. What it means is that the spirit will allow us to understand and believe. It is a gift to us. All gifts need to be accepted to be of benefit.
Let me tell you a story. A young man had a wellto- do father. The father sent him to the best college. He made sure he had enough money to hire a tutor if he needed one and the son did very well. The young man hinted several time about his graduation present that he wanted. He describe the car he wanted in detail and his father smiled.
The day of his graduation came and the father presented his son with a Bible. He son was angry for he had told all his friends that his father was going to buy him a car for his graduation present. He had describe it to them in detail and told them just to wait for the graduation date and he would take them for a ride. He was so angry to receive just a Bible that he threw it on the ground and stormed away. He took his old car and departed the city never to see his father again. He never gave him time to explain his gift to him, in fact, he never spoke to him again.
Four years later, the father died unexpectedly. His mother had already passed so it was up to him to settle the estate. We went home without any sorry for his actions. As he went into his father’s study after the funeral, there sat the very Bible his father had tried to give him. It made him angry all over again. He picked up the Bible and threw it against the wall in his anger. I piece of paper fell out of it. He wondered what his father had written. With contempt, he picked it up andturned it over. Something broke in him at that moment. He held a check in his hand for the exact amount of the car he wanted for graduation and it was dated the day of his graduation. He was suddenly filled with regret, but it was too late to make amends.
What will you pass on to your loves ones when you pass? God is wanting to pass precious gifts to you. If you know of God’s love and sacrifice in your own life, will you try to pass it on to those you love? You need not wait until you have passed on to leave some loved one an inheritance. Give them God’s Gift to the world. Tell them about Jesus, ther perfect sacrifice that is able to take away their sins and give them eternal life.
That is truly the best inheritance you can give.
