The second type of inheritance—inheritance from God—is a very precious commodity because Scripture tells us it can be lost.
Jesus spoke in Revelation chapter 3:
10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.
12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the Name of My God and the Name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My New Name.
You can obtain a crown and then later have it taken away while on earth. Jesus warns us to understand this situation. He is speaking to overcomers who will be known in Heaven as such. We must finish the work given to us just as Joshua and Caleb persevered 40 years to enter into The Promised Land. Reuben in 1 Chronicles 5:1 who defiled his father’s bed, and thus his birthright was taken away from him and given to the sons of Joseph. Nevertheless, again, he still retained his sonship. These are types and shadows of the levels of inheritance.
Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1st Corinthians chapter 3:
10 God has given me unique gifts as a skilled master builder who lays a good foundation. Afterward another craftsman comes and builds on it. So builders beware! Let every builder do his work carefully, according to God’s standards.
11 For no one is empowered to lay an alternative foundation other than the good foundation that exists, which is Jesus Christ!
12-13 The quality of materials used by anyone building on this foundation will soon be made apparent, whether it has been built with gold, silver, and costly stones, or wood, hay, and straw. Their work will soon become evident, for the Day will make it clear, because it will be revealed by blazing fire! And the fire will test and prove the workmanship of each builder.
14 If his work stands the test of fire, he will be rewarded.
15 If his work is consumed by the fire, he will suffer great loss. Yet he himself will barely escape destruction, like one being rescued out of a burning house.
This passage refers to believers who made it to Heaven—they had eternal security—but they lost their reward of inheritance. Where and what you invest your time and resources in will determine what survives the test of fire.
Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Hebrews chapter 3:
12 So search your hearts every day, my brothers and sisters, and make sure that none of you has evil or unbelief hiding within you. For it will lead you astray, and make you unresponsive to the living God.
13 This is the time to encourage each other to never be stubborn or hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,
All Christians are called to be overcomers, but not all Christians choose to be.
The word overcome (Strong’s # 3528, nikao) means “to conquer or to gain victory over something.” The inherent thought in the word overcome, is to be a conqueror or victorious in a contest or conflict. Overcomers are those conquerors and those winners who have successfully run the race of faith and conquered the numerous obstacles encountered along the way. They are those fruitful believers for whom special rewards are offered. They are not perfect, religious, or good; they are just ordinary believers who have made continuing choices to follow Christ, regardless of how they feel.
Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Romans chapter 8:
37 Yet even in the midst of all these things (tribulations, distress, persecution, famine, peril, etc), we triumph over them all, for God has made us to be more than conquerors, and His demonstrated Love is our glorious victory over everything!
38 So now I live with the confidence that there is nothing in the universe with the power to separate us from God’s Love. I’m convinced that His Love will triumph over death, life’s troubles, fallen angels, or dark rulers in the heavens. There is nothing in our present or future circumstances that can weaken His Love.
Don’t let this second type of inheritance be lost but rather persevere!