Children of God: The Great Inheritance

by Kendra Scott
@thekendrascott 
(formerly@_iamwater)

I was reading excerpts of The Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee and came across a passage in the book where he jokes with a doctor and asks if his pet dog carries the family name just as his children carried the family name. The doctor laughed at the notion, recognizing that the dog, no matter how well-behaved or intelligent it was, would never have the same privileges as his own children. Nee went on to explain that it is not a matter of how good or bad we are as human beings that determines if we inherit the gift of eternal life. Rather, it is our positions as sons and daughters in the family of God that determines if we inherit eternal life.

We have seen this play out in the media headlines over and over again with members of the British royal family. Some have made poor, reckless decisions.  However, no hardworking, diligent, kind-hearted servant working in the palace was asked to step into the place of the misbehaving family member. No highly-respected civilian was invited to replace the rebellious royal. The family line was not broken by misbehavior. The bloodline remained royal.

Likewise, we who believe and follow after Jesus Christ need not worry about our position in the Kingdom of God. We have been adopted into the Family of God. We are not merely servants, striving to get a piece of the pie through hard work and good deeds. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith. . . not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV). We have been born again into the Family of God (John 3:3), which makes us members of The King's family.

It was God's plan all along to have a family and to have heirs.   "God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure." (Ephesian 1:5 NKJV). God wanted children just like Him. He created Adam and Eve in His image and after His likeness (Genesis 1:26) to be just like Him--just as children on earth inherit traits from their parents. Yet, recognizing that men would fall away and live in sin, God sent Jesus to redeem mankind so that "He [Jesus] might be the firstborn among many brethren..." (Romans 8:29).  Now, as God's children and by His Holy Spirit, we are able to take on more of His character and traits. "If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him." (1John 2:29). 

So it is not how good or bad we are that determines our inheritance. It is our positions as sons and daughters. We must carry the bloodline and the family name -- that is the Blood of Jesus Christ and Name of Jesus Christ.

"What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! ...we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are. . . ." (1 John 3:1 The Message) . . . "and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ . . . " (Romans 8:17 NKJV). We can now enjoy the privileges of being a son and daughter of God!  Being a son and daughter of God enables us to enjoy the Great Inheritance of eternal life with Jesus Christ. And that's something worth celebrating!


Nee, T'o-sheng Watchman. The Normal Christian Life. Tyndale. 1977. pp116-117.
Second image: Kendra Scott, Mt. Arbel, Israel March 2019 

If you're not sure if you're in the family, just pray this: "Jesus be my Lord and Savior. I want to be part of your family. I am sinner but you died and resurrected to redeem me. Make me born again. Make me a child of God. Amen." (based on Romans 10:9-10)