Romans 8:16-17 “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs–heirs of God and coheirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”

God’s sons are also his heirs. As good as it is to be God’s children now, there are better gifts waiting in our future. But like most heirs, we don’t know all the details about what is to come.

Are you an heir in someone’s last will and testament? As far as I know, I am included in the will of my earthly father. Right now, his estate involves a nice townhome overlooking a pond and a large park, investments of various sorts that currently support my parents in retirement, and the tools, vehicles, appliances, and furnishings he has collected over a lifetime. I suspect that about one fourth of what’s left when my parents die will be mine. I have some vague ideas about what that could include, but time can change things, and I don’t know the specifics of much of what they have or plan.

There is no doubt that you and I are included in the will of our heavenly Father. He has been very specific in promising us a piece of heaven, a resurrected and perfected body, and life that never ends. Still, he has chosen not to reveal many of the details of what these include.

But since we are heirs of God and coheirs alongside Christ, we can safely conclude that our inheritance will be 1) perfect. God is without fault and so are his gifts.

It will be 2) generous, even lavish. God has inexhaustible resources, and he desires to take care of us richly and lavishly.

Everything we find there will be 3) suited to us. He put a lot of time into making each one of us unique individuals with our own tastes and abilities. One of the wonders of his creation is the variety and originality he has displayed in making his people fit together like one body with its many parts. We can expect heaven to be personally tailored to each of us so that our uniqueness can finally reach its potential and purpose.

Fourthly (4) our inheritance will be wholesome and good. Sometimes people try to picture heaven as a place where their sinful desires can be indulged, like the suicide bombers who expect to satisfy their lust. But what God has prepared ennobles us, it lifts us higher, and it respects those who will share heaven with us.

This inheritance isn’t an exclusive gift for a few special saints who have lived distinguished lives. As believers in our Lord Jesus we are all God’s children, and we all share that sacred status that makes us heirs of God and coheirs with Christ.