God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. (Heb 1:1–2)

I received a registered letter years ago from an attorney in another state, informing me of the death of my great aunt, whom we thought had some wealth. She had no children, and I was named an heir to her estate. Who wouldn’t be excited at news like that! However, it turned out there were fifteen other grandnieces and nephews who had equal shares, and I ended up with a much, much smaller amount than expected, about enough to buy a small camping trailer. I was grateful, of course, but a bit disappointed.

Jesus Christ was “appointed heir of all things…” and He will not be disappointed. God says so. There is no limit to His wealth. The Scripture speaks of “the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory” (Rom. 9:23). Paul understood that God desires to “grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man” (Eph 3:16). And we are co-beneficiaries; since we belong to Christ, we can be confident that “God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).

For some, these words are lofty religious sentences. But for those who are genuine believers and walking in the Spirit, how can we not join in with Peter who proclaimed:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you …” (1 Peter 1:3–4)

How, then, if Jesus Christ is eternally God, having no beginning and no end (Heb. 7:3), and being eternally one with the Father, did He not already own everything? “All things were created through Him and for Him” (Col. 1:16), so Jesus Christ was the agent through whom God created all things, and Jesus Christ is the intended beneficiary, recipient, owner, possessor of all things. And as “firstborn from the dead,” He is the heir of all things.

The incarnation teaches us that:

“… although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself …” (Phil. 2:6–8)

Christ set aside “the form of God,” which would include his active possession and use of all things that exist, which were His by right. Theologians debate the meaning of this passage at great length, but we can apply this to Christ. While He was “owner” of all things, He set aside that ownership and took His place among us when he became human. Now, He is entitled to all things as the heir of all things, and He leads us back to where He was before He became human. So we can say that not only is everything made through Him and for Him, but He is also the heir of all things. Nothing about the inheritance is held back.

As firstborn from the dead, since He is the heir of all things, He shares His inheritance with us who believe:

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ … (Rom 8:16–17)

Unlike an earthly inheritance, where equal shares mean less for everyone, we believers share fully with Christ as fellow heirs. Because we are equally members of the family of God with Jesus, there is no limit to what we own. And this inheritance is sharing in all the glorious riches in Him.

Lord, how amazing is it, the inheritance You have committed to giving us, in Christ Jesus. You are worthy of all our worship.