In his drama, “Hamlet,” William Shakespeare penned the line, “to be or not to be, that is the question”. Though we have no great regard to Shakespeare or his writing, this statement, is one which we could use to describe the difference between the children of GOD and the children of the wicked one. The manner in which the sons of GOD are made manifest in this world is that they are “made –meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.”
When the LORD made the woman from the rib of Adam, HE said that HE would make her a “help meet” for him. The meaning of that word “meet” is that she would be his (Adam’s) counterpart or that one which was particularly suited to his need. HE made her specifically for Adam’s benefit and enabled her to be exactly what he needed in order for him to be complete. “Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.” (1Cor 11:11-12) So they have a symbiotic relationship.
So too here when Paul uses the word “meet” he means that those who are “born again” are enabled to partake of that inheritance which is reserved for those who have been appointed to receive it. The word “saint” literally means a “sacred one”, a “sanctified one” or “one set apart” unto GOD.
The scriptures clearly teach that the LORD has a “sacred people” which are called the “elect”; the bride of CHRIST, and a peculiar people; among other names for them. They are appointed and created to receive or be fitted for that “inheritance” which is laid up for them. The manner in which they “partake” of this “inheritance” is by being given the gift of faith, whereby they lay hold of HIS precious promises and receive the benefits of those who are ordained unto eternal life. “And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.” (Acts 13:48)
This “partaking” of this inheritance proves that they are predestinated according to the purpose of GOD, for no others but those so set apart shall benefit from that inheritance. “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.” (Eph 1:11-13)
This gift of faith is exercised only by those “made meet (i.e.; enabled) to be the partakers of the saints in light”. Thus we see the purpose of the preaching of the gospel to be primarily that of proclaiming the glory of the finished work of CHRIST, and the work of the SPIRIT is to cause those who are thus appointed to be brought into that light. The gospel is the means whereby that “light” is brought to those who are given faith to believe it. “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” (2Tim 1:9-10)
Paul says that by this process of being “made meet”; we are “delivered from darkness” by the same ONE who has enabled us to be partakers of the inheritance which was ours according to HIS purpose. This is the same place that all men are in by nature, without light, blind, and perishing in that darkness. We were not even groping for the light because our deeds were evil and we loved darkness, having no concept or understanding of the beauty of the LIGHT.
Apart from this “deliverance” we would have been content to dwell in that darkness even as a mole prefers the damp and dark burrow in which he lives his entire life. Yet this deliverance from darkness was not just a taking of a creature who loved darkness into the light, like snatching a mole from its subterranean lair to suddenly dwell in the brightness of noonday. Rather this deliverance was accompanied by a transforming work which caused us not only to delight in the “inheritance of the saints in light” but to hate and fear the darkness from whence we were delivered, even as a child taken from his mother’s womb and brought to live outside of its confines, which, though comfortable to an unborn babe, are not suitable for the one who is born alive from that womb. “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3) “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2Cor 5:17)
Thus those who are lost in darkness are enabled to be partakers of that which was prepared for them from the foundation of the world. (see Mat.25:14) Yet they are by nature the children of wrath even as others and in no wise “speak” the “language” of that kingdom, therefore a “translation” must take place.
The word “translated” literally means “exchanged, removed, or carried away.” Such is the work of the SPIRIT of GOD, who at the appointed time, does perform this work in the sons of GOD, thus fulfilling the promise of GOD, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.” (Eze 36:26-28)
They are not simply taught a few doctrines by a competent teacher but rather they are “immersed in the culture” of the kingdom of GOD, not outwardly, but by a “translation”, not by a reform of their mind but by the “renewing” of it. They are made new creatures who now think in the “language” of that Kingdom into which they are brought.
This is no longer a “strange land” unto them, but they are made to love it as one loves the land of his nativity. They who were at one time enemies of this kingdom in their minds by their own wicked works are now made “fellow citizens” with the saints. That Kingdom which they once sought to overthrow, has now become the realm before whose KING they desire to bow and pay homage. “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God.” (Eph 2:19)
This Kingdom is under the absolute rule of the ONLY BEGOTTEN SON of the LIVING GOD. “Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” (Psa 2:6-12)
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