You Could Be Rich
Many of us have probably received that familiar piece of mail with Ed McMahon’s picture on it and which announces that "YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY WON 10 MILLION DOLLARS." This represents for many people the dream of a lifetime, to win the grand prize in a sweepstakes. The advertisement always says that we can now buy that big, beautiful house we have always wanted. In the advertisement is also what looks like an expensive sports car with the bold-lettered message underneath that says "YOU COULD BUY THIS CAR WITH CASH." Often what dominates all the colorful pictures is a large scene of Disney World (to which most will attest that winning a sweepstakes is the only way a family of four can afford to go). But just as the advertisement begins to work its magic on us, making visions of wealth spin before our eyes, reality rears its ugly head. Careful reading tells us that we have not actually won yet and we have only a 1 in 2.5 zillion chance of winning! For many, however, this is the only way to become extremely wealthy. For even more of us, the truth is that we do not even know someone who knows someone who has won such a sweepstakes. And so the hope of becoming extremely rich subsides as quickly as it came.
Christians are already rich, having received true wealth rather than alluring but unlikely promises. Not only do they presently enjoy all spiritual blessings in Christ, but they are heirs to an eternal and incorruptible inheritance (Ephesians 1:3, 11; 1 Peter 1:3-4). They are like children who are in line to inherit the tremendous wealth of their parent. We all know what happens when a wealthy man’s will is about to be read. People claiming to be his relatives appear out of thin air because they know that blood relationship can put them in line for part of that inheritance. Romans 8:14-17 says that those who are God’s children are joint heirs with Christ and stand to receive an inheritance. But this inheritance could never be adequately illustrated or described with colorful pictures of cars and houses. It is not a sports car. It is not ten million crisp, green dollar bills. It is spiritual and its value is beyond our imagination.
Unfortunately, many people are more interested in cars, houses and the other things that money can buy and so they overlook this spiritual inheritance. They may send back their sweepstakes numbers in the vain hope of winning but neglect to take advantage of the spiritual blessings which could be theirs for a certainty. Very few will win the grand prize in the sweepstakes, but the day will surely come when God will give His children their inheritance. Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23 that many will try to claim relationship on that day, but only those who are truly God’s spiritual children, those who submit to His authority as Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven.