The New Covenant

Like a will that takes effect when someone dies, the new covenant was put into action at Jesus’ death. His death marked the transition from the old plan to the new one, canceling the old obligations and accompanying sins, and summoning the heirs to receive the eternal inheritance that was promised them. He brought together God and his people in this new way.  Hebrews 9:16-17 (The Message).

A will is defined as "a legal declaration of a person's wishes regarding the disposal of his or her property or estate after death; especially : a written instrument legally executed by which a person makes disposition of his or her estate to take effect after death."  Merriam Webster Dictionary.

In the legal system, there are a number of laws regulating wills and trusts. All of them are intended to govern what happens to our money and property after we die. It’s unfortunate but somewhat common for families to fight about the wishes of one of their loved ones. We’ve heard the stories. There may be children disputing their parents' wills or more distant relatives attempting to get a share of an estate. We may not know how the parties got along previously, but it seems pretty clear that they probably won't be having family get-togethers when the matter is resolved.

A will is a covenant-- an agreement or promise between two or more parties.  Jesus Christ made a covenant with us that he would die on the cross for us so that we might have eternal life. As the passage from Hebrews states, Jesus' death put our covenant with him into action. Through him, we are forgiven.  Can you imagine filing a lawsuit to make sure the covenant is followed?  We need to ensure that we are carrying out our part of the agreement, so that we can receive the eternal inheritance promised by Jesus. 

Prayer: Dear God, Your son, Jesus Christ, sacrificed himself for us, and brought us closer to you. We pray you will help us to always remember the covenant.  Thank you for sacrificing your son for our benefit. Amen.

Robin Hadfield