Our Astonishing Riches In The Resurrection! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in James 5:1-3,

"Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days."

Here is something I wrote about this passage in March of 2011:

I suspect we could view anyone who has riches as "rich people". I feel I have been blessed in many ways, and I suspect that there have been and are many who would look at my lifestyle as one of a rich person, say, someone from Haiti. I certainly don't feel that way. 

I consider myself as something of an average joe who enjoys what he has and doesn't really pine for much else. But the reality is that I have been blessed in many ways. James throws a caution my way relative to that when he speaks of the fleeting nature of possessions in this passage. Not only are we here for a short time, but our "stuff" is very temporary as well.

In thinking of these things, I can't help but think in terms of James' admonition to the poor in James 1:9, "The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position." It is not that there will simply be a tremendous blessing for all who enter into the resurrection of life as far as "stuff" goes, but our lives will be incredibly blessed in so many ways!

We will live our lives for an eternity in God's very presence. That thought is a difficult one to wrap my mind around. Our Creator, the One who designed us, who brought us into existence, gave us life, will be in our very presence! We will finally be able to approach him with all the questions we might have about anything and everything. I read in Revelation 21:3-4, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

We will also live among people who not only are no longer energized by a sinful nature, but are filled with and reflect all of the wonderful qualities of God. The fruit of the Spirit will be ours in an abundance in our relationships with one another. Things like, "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23, What would it be like to find this in all we came upon as we walk down the street? As Paul tells us in Romans 8:29, "those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." And, John tells us in 1 John 3:2, "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." This will be true for all of us!

My thoughts also drift toward the inheritance that will be ours. It is the very inheritance that Jesus Christ receives from our Heavenly Father, "Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ..." Romans 8:17. I can't begin to think of what all this might mean, but it certainly is enticing to think about. We receive this inheritance because God determined beforehand to give it to us, "he [God] predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will..." Ephesians 1:5. There Paul uses language like "lavished on us", "the riches of God's grace", "his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves", etc.

In John 14:2-3 Jesus tells us, "In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."

Jesus also told his followers, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first." Matthew 19:28-30.

Musing on what will be ours in the resurrection is something that has to be fascinating no matter how much we have been blessed with the fleeting riches found in this life!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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