What is it that awaits the righteous (the believer)? An inheritance that is said to be ours – intended for us – (Acts 20:32) (Galatians 3:18) (Colossians 3:24) (Hebrews 9:13-15) (1 Peter 1:3-5). This inheritance is part of God’s predetermined will for us. So just as God predetermined that those in Christ would receive a place in His heavenly family (Ephesians 1:5), so He also predetermined that His sons/daughters would receive an inheritance, and get this, they would have it forever (Ephesians 1:11-14). How does one get such an inheritance? You must be part of His family, you must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (His gospel), you must be sealed with His Holy Spirit.If you are a true believer in Jesus Christ, that is, when you heard the gospel, the word of truth, what Jesus has done to save the sinner (you), you believed Him for salvation, and to deliver you from God’s wrath which will be poured out on all sin and sinner. Then you are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of your inheritance to come. If this describes what has taken place in your life, then rejoice this morning (right now) that you are not going to receive what is awaiting the wicked. Let’s give God praise, not just with our lips, but with our life, as we walk worthy of such a High call, the highest given to man (Colossians 1:9-12).
What about the wicked? They will be separated from God!.The Scriptures speak of such separation on several occasions (Matthew 7:21-23) (Matthew 25:41-46). This will take place with no inheritance in the kingdom of God (Ephesians 5:1-7) (Revelation 21:22-27) (Revelation22:14-15). This is a place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Luke 13:22-28). Their eternal dwelling place is called hell. The Greek word is geenna {gheh’-en-nah}, and It represents the Hebrew word Ge-Hinno. The term Gehenna arose from the valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem, where the Canaanites burned human sacrifices to Moloch. After the return of the Jews from the Captivity they made it a place of defilement, where the refuse of the city was thrown and burned. What a description of the place where the wicked (those still bound to the sin nature.
The name is applied to the place of future punishment described in the Scripture in (Matthew 10:28) (Mark 942-48). This place called hell was originally prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41). But, this now is also the eternal destiny of the wicked. an everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord (2 Thessalonians 1:9). May you be found at Christ’s second coming as one of His sheep, and not one who is not.