Heirs According to the Promise
By H. S. Giddings
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—I take this opportunity to let you know that I am still striving to keep all of God's commandments, and to let my light so shine before others that they seeing my good works may be led to glorify our Father which is in heaven. Yet when I look upon my past life, I regret that it has not been more exemplary, and I mean by the grace of God assisting me to overcome every temptation, for the promise is, "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son." Rev. xxi, 7. "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." Rom. viii, 17. The apostle Paul tells us that to Abraham and his seed was the promise made that they should be heirs of the world. "Now to Abraham and to his seed were the promises made; he saith not, and to seeds, as of many; but as of one, and to thy seed which is Christ." Gal. iii, 16. "And if ye be Christ's then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." By looking at the promises made to Christ, we may learn what his followers will inherit. The angel says, "He (Christ) shall be great, and shall be called the son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his Father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." Luke i, 32, 33. The Lord saith, "Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, (Christ,) thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession." Ps. ii, 7, 8. In this we have a share, if we endure unto the end. My heart glows with love to God when I meditate upon the precious promises which he has given to his people, those who keep his law. "And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth it shall prosper." Ps. i, 3. I can adopt the words of the apostle Peter, "Blessed be the God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you." Yours in hope of an unfading crown.
H. S. GIDDINGS.
Jo Daviess Co., Ill., Sept. 19th, 1855.