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The Apostle Paul prayed a beautiful, insightful prayer on behalf of the brethren at Ephesus. 

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.” Eph.1:18

When our eyes are enlightened to the point that we really see the riches of the glorious inheritance God has promised to us, we become more intensely focused on heaven and less distracted by the world. Paul understood that we need that.

What are the riches of the glorious inheritance God has promised to us?

We are heirs of salvation, saved from the deserved consequences of sin, excluded from God’s wrath.

“Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?” Heb. 1:14

We are heirs of the promise, the blessings promised to Abraham, planned by God before He created the world.

“In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise  the unchangeableness of His purpose,  interposed with an oath,” Heb.6:17.

We are heirs of grace, undeserved favor realized now in forgiveness and peace, realized eternally in heaven.

“You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.” I Pet.3:7

We are heirs of righteousness, the perfect rightness of God; impossible for us, but ours by inheritance.

“By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence  prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of  the righteousness which is according to faith.” Heb.11:7

“in the future there  is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on  that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His  appearing.” II Tim.4:8

We are heirs of the kingdom, far greater than any kingdom of this world, a kingdom that will never pass away.

“Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?  Js.2:5

“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you  from the foundation of the world.” Matt.25:34

We are heirs of all things, everything that is anything is all to be ours, I Cor.3:21;

“So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you,” 1 Cor. 3:21-22

“And He who sits on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new. …He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.’” Rev.21:5-7

What more could anyone want? …a few passing sensual tingles? …a measure of temporary self-exaltation and fleeting fame?  Are such things worth giving up the riches of the glorious eternal inheritance that belongs to Christians?

“and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ,  if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” Romans 8:17