THE FUTURE REAL ESTATE PROBLEM.
“The meek shall inherit the earth.” Ps. 37:11; Matt. 5:5. As yet such a condition has not been known. Even Abraham, “the father of all them that believe” (Rom. 4:11), “sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country.” Heb. 11:9. Altho the promise included the whole earth (Rom. 4:13), he bought of a Hittite the Cave of Machpelah for a burial place. Genesis 23. Isaac and Jacob were heirs with Abraham of the promise, but they all died without receiving it. However, they saw the fulfilment of the promise in the future, realizing that for the time being “they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” Heb. 11:9, 13. Moses is noted in the Scripture (Num. 12:3) as being “very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth;” but he did not inherit any portion of the earth as a reward of his meekness. Before he became so meek, he might have inherited the throne of Egypt; but he chose the privation and affliction that pertained to the children of God rather than the treasures of Egypt. Why did Moses make this apparent sacrifice?—Because he saw by faith “greater riches” in the “reproaches of Christ.” He believed that the promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob could not be broken, and he looked forward “unto the recompense of reward.” With all his meekness, he could not even go into the typical promised land to enjoy a temporary possession. Then we have before us another example of meekness, one that excelled even Moses, for His life was without flaw. The life of Jesus of Nazareth was the acme of virtue in every respect; even the governor who passed sentence of death upon Him could find no fault in Him. Of His meekness the Spirit of prophecy has said: “He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth.” Isa. 53:7. And this prophecy was literally fulfilled. Matt. 26:59–63; Mark 15:2–5; Luke 23:8–10. But Jesus did not inherit the earth during His earthly pilgrimage. Matt. 8:18–20. Nor are those who follow His example in meekness and humility noted for their landed possessions, or other evidences of this world’s riches. 1 Cor. 1:26–29; James 2:5–9. But “the Scripture can not be broken;” therefore “the meek shall inherit the earth.” When?—The psalmist says, “Yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be; yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.” Ps. 37:10. Moreover, when the meek shall inherit the earth, they shall also “delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” This must be when there will be no wicked to molest them; for “the wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.” But the Lord knows that the end of the wicked is coming. “The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.” But “their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. . . . For the arms of the wicked shall be broken; but the Lord upholdeth the righteous. The Lord knoweth the days of the upright; and their inheritance shall be forever.” The end of the wicked is thus further foretold: “The wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs; they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.” Then the contrast is pointedly repeated: “For such as be blessed of Him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of Him shall be cut off.” The meek have nothing to do with the destruction of their enemies; they are commissioned to preach the Gospel and manifest the meekness of Christ in their lives. The Judge of all the earth will execute the judgment upon the enemies of righteousness. All this is because “the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not His saints; they are preserved forever; but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein forever.” The secret of it all is, that “the law of his God is in his heart; [therefore] none of his steps shall slide.” “The Lord shall help them, and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him.” Read the whole of Psalm 37. The last chapter of the Old Testament tells of the utter destruction of the wicked by fire. Matthew 25 tells of the coming of the Lord in glory, when the saints shall be called to inherit the kingdom. The last chapter of Peter’s second epistle tells of the destruction of the present earth by fire, as the world as it existed before the Flood was destroyed by water. To this the apostle adds: “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” The twenty-first and twenty-second chapters of Revelation tell of the appearance of the new heaven and new earth, on which will be permanently located the throne of God and the throne of Christ. On this new earth, purified of every vestige of sin and its consequences, will be fulfilled the promise that “the meek shall inherit the earth.” And the promise comes personally to every creature, “If ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Gal. 3:29.