Nobleman -

Anyone who has spent much time studying heraldry and the aristocracy of old has probably been at least temporarily enamoured with the thought of palatial living and the wealth and prosperity of royalty. Even if you haven't delved deep into a true study of those times, you have read of them in stories or seen representations of those days in movies. I certainly confess that I have been occasionally tempted toward envy of the material wealth and earthly position of noblemen portrayed in stories and movies. But...

God has spoken. His Word gives us a greater perspective on such things. As the Word promises, our minds are renewed. The people of God have no reason to yearn for earthly rewards. Peter says that we are of "incorruptible" seed. Spurgeon paraphrases Peter by speaking of our "noble birth, our pedigree as descendants from God through the new birth, our truly immortal destiny." Peter's exhortations are buttressed by this simple reminder of our good inheritance (which I recently mentioned here). For the Christian, royalty is part of our inmost nature, as Spurgeon wrote. We avoid every appearance of evil, not because the tabloid press might expose our problems, but because our inheritance demands holiness.

To paraphrase the end of Psalm 17, let us pray that God will deliver us from those who have their portion in this life; our satisfaction ought only to come when we awake in His likeness.