Paul wrote,
In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, (Ephesians 1:11 NRSV)
I like that word, inheritance because its the kind of gift that a king can pass on. It appears in both our second reading and our Gospel lesson today. Inheritance, a gift that is passed on, usually from one generation to the next. If we receive an inheritance from Christ the King that means we are getting the very best. A Christian's inheritance is a legacy that's been passed on to us that is beyond earthly measure and price; we are given everything even life everlasting is given to us by faith. We have not earned it; it's a gift that's been given.
having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, (Ephesians 1:11 NRSV)
God the Father has plans for us. He has hopes and dreams for all who he chooses to call sons and daughters by adoption. There's a popular poem that says, “If God had a refrigerator your picture would be on it. If God had a wallet your picture would be in it.” I'd like add to that poem that there would be more than just pictures of you and people in your family on God's refrigerator and in God's wallet. There would be pictures of all God's adopted sons and daughters. The people of God have an inheritance, you have family, you have brothers and sisters of every nation, tribe, and tongue who call Jesus Lord. We all receive this great inheritance by faith. We all regardless of where we are on this earth receive the gift of faith and life in Christ.
God's plan is to spread the news of Jesus into world. Paul wrote that it was God's will,
12 so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:12 NRSV)
God's idea isn't to limit the gift just to us; but rather it is to send us out into world with gifts to share with all of God's family. To put it simply we are sent out with an inheritance that we are meant to share in service.
We serve a lot of powers and lesser gods in our day. Wealth, pleasure, popularity, comfort, power, sex, prestige, the list of other gods is endless. 2000 years ago the writer of Matthew chose Jesus' own words to help his hearers imagine themselves in the presence of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We are called to serve him above all others. Imagine him sitting in judgment on the throne as Christ the King.
In Matthew we hear Jesus very own description of the final judgment. We talk about the last judgment all the time and we don't even realize it. It's in the words of the Apostle's Creed right at the very end of the second article about Jesus. Every week we confess our faith that, “he will come to judge the living and the dead.” And today we hear straight from Jesus himself that his followers will serve him in unexpected ways.
The place of judgment will be huge. All the nations will stretch out before the King. The sheep and the goats will be sorted out. As you imagine the scene remember that the King has set a standard to select sheep from goats...
...the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Matthew 25:34-36 (NRSV)
Those on the right will enter into paradise. The others on the left didn't meet the standard and they will be sent out of paradise into the fire prepared for the devil and his angels. The part of the story that disturbs me the most is how unaware the righteous were of their service to the king. The surprising thing is we've already met the king. Jesus said,
37 Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’40 And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’Matthew 25:37-40 (NRSV)
Jesus standard for entrance into the Kingdom of God isn't hidden away. He's laid it out for all to hear and understand. The part we don't expect is that we've already seen his face in the face of his family. Jesus gives a great inheritance to us that we've never earned and now he asks us to give it away to the members of his family who we meet everyday. Paul prayed rightly for the early church asking,
17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, 18 so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. Ephesians 1:17-19
