“Top o’ the mornin’.”   “’Tis the luck o’ the Irish.”  “The wearin’ of the green.”  “Kiss the Blarney Stone.”  “It’s me lucky charms!”

What do all of the funky sayings above have in common?  Well, unless you’re ethnically challenged, you recognize them to be a-comin’ from some fer-off Irishman (or Irishwoman in this case).  As in most of our ancestries, certain sayings, unique characteristics, novel clothing, secret recipes, and other indigenous distinctions help make up our heritage.

Do you know anything about your heritage?  Have you ever studied your family background, your genealogy?  If no one has done this for your family, you really ought to investigate and work up a genealogy for future generations.  I’ve been blessed with some mighty fine relatives (and some not so fine), and some of them have taken the time to do this for us.  It is really cool.  Of course, I’ll be tellin’ ya about some of the fine, upstanding ancestors; nothing will be mentioned about “two-toed Larry” who…never mind.

My maiden name is Kelly.  You can’t get much more Irish than that!  But, of course, one must go farther back than one or two generations to get a genealogy or to check out the heritage of a family.  Let’s see, there was at one point in history a G-R-E-A-T (that’s a long-time-back “great”) uncle of mine that helped settle the Northwest Territory.  He rode in a covered wagon, and I’m sure he wore buckskins and ate “rattlesnacks” (rattlesnakes that have been roasted over an open fire and seasoned with chicory or some other wild herb, dried to a leathery texture, and rolled up in really long rolls to be eaten at any given time along the lonesome, dusty trail....kind of like our modern day “Fruit Roll-ups”).

Then, on my mother’s side there were some ancestors who founded a candy company that is still in existence today.  No, I don’t get a penny from their penny candy.

John Quincy Adams is another ancestor that we are proud to claim as our own.  He’s from my husband’s side of the family and is fondly referred to as “J.Q.” by those closest to him.

How about you and your kin?  Are you distantly related to President George Washington?  Or how about King George of England?  Maybe George of the Jungle?  Is there someone you can name as your “claim to fame,” someone you can point to and proudly say, “I have a great heritage!”?

We can all claim to have some “connection” to some great person who did a great “thing” a long time ago.  Does it matter that someone somewhere did something that made a significant difference to the world?  And how does that affect us today and in the future?  When all is said and done, do you really think any of that makes a whoopdy-doo bit of difference?

If a noble birth, an immense estate, or a magnificent power are not truly the answer, what is?  What is it that makes a difference in the light of eternity?

There are two things that are eternal: God and people.  So it makes sense to see what God has to say on this subject.  He has lots to say.  More than I can talk about here, but let’s just look at a few and then I’ll give you some verses to look up for yourself (hey, I’m not doing all the work here).

First of all, we are given a great heritage directly from God.  Psalm 16:6b says, “Surely I have a delightful heritage.”  We are to call God “my Father” in Jeremiah 3:19.  Reference this with Psalm 61:5 and Isaiah 54:17.  Then, in Romans 8:17 we are called “heirs of God, joint-heirs with Jesus.”

Heirs inherit things.  What things have we inherited or will we inherit?  The Bible is full of really awesome things that we have been promised to inherit.  James 2:5 says that we are “heirs of the kingdom.”  Revelation 21:7 reminds us that we “shall inherit all things: and I will be his God and he shall be my son.”  Look up Colossians 1:12 and I John 2:25.  We “are given…exceeding great and precious promises” (2 Peter 1:4).  Then, Hebrews 9:25b says we “receive the promise of eternal inheritance.”

Promises, promises!  I’ve heard that before!  Wait.  Not only did God “put it in writing,” but listen to this:  “There hath not failed one word of all his good promises…” (1 Kings 8:56).  What God says, He WILL do!!!

But who is this “we” in all the above?  How can we get in on this neat plan God has for our lives, not only on earth but also eternally in Heaven?

People all throughout time have asked this question.  In several places in the Bible, there are stories of people searching for the answers.  One example is Luke 18:18.  This guy went directly to Jesus and asked, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?”  Long story short.  Romans 10:9 answers, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved.”

“We” are the people that have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior.  “We” are the ones given a great inheritance from God, not only eternal life in Heaven, but also an abundant life here on earth.

Have you ever inherited something?  Maybe something as big as a fine piece of furniture or your grandpa’s ’53 Chevy, or something as small as a box full of some collectible milk bottle caps from Aunt Lulu.  Some of us have inherited our blue eyes from great-grandma, our dimples from Uncle Charlie, or maybe our physique from Dad (thanks a lot for that).  What is it that you did to receive the gift?  Nothing?  My point exactly.

God tells us in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the GIFT of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (emphasis mine).  Accept this gift today.  It is your heritage from your Heavenly Father.