VALUING OUR GOD-GIVEN BIRTHRIGHTS
The Bible shows us that God gives us valuable birthrights. But it teaches us that to keep them we must treasure them:
GOD GAVE ADAM AND EVE VALUABLE BIRTHRIGHTS.
The Biblical word of God tells us that when God made the first people, Adam and Eve, God gave them “dominion over all the earth” (Genesis 1:26). But because they did not cherish and secure their God-given birthrights the devil was able to deceived and defraud them out of their birthrights:
The devil or Satan, as a serpent, deceived Adam and Eve and stole their God-given birthright of having dominion over all the earth, and of having a life-long relationship with their creator (Genesis 3, Revelation 20:2). God told Adam and Eve not to eat the fruit of a particular tree in the Garden of Eden less they die. But, appearing as a serpent, the devil led them to believe they would be like God if they ate from the tree. They ate fruit from the tree. They were separated from God and the Garden where they fellowshipped with him. And having been separated from God by the sin of disobedience, they immediately died spiritual, followed by physical death (Ephesians 2:1; Hebrew 9:27).
However, thanks to God, he loved mankind so much that he had planned for their redemption (Romans 3:23; 6:23; Romans 5:8). God would send his sinless and only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to die as an atonement for the sins of mankind (John 3:16). And whoever shall esteem his sacrificial atonement enough to repent and believed will have eternal life with the Lord (John 3:16; Acts 2:38).
GOD GAVE THE CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM VALUABLE BIRTHRIGHTS.
Esau and Jacob were part of a family that was especially bless because their grandfather Abraham had obeyed God. The Lord promised to bless them with choice land; and to bless the world through their “offspring” (Genesis 15:18; 22:18; 26:2-5). However, Esau, a grandson of Abraham did treasure his birthright as an eldest son. He sold his birthright to Jacob, his brother, for a bowl of soup.
Once, when Esau came home very hungry after hunting in the field, Jacob offered him a bowl of soup in exchange for his birthright. Because of a moment of hunger and weakness, Esau disregarded the value of his birthright and agreed to trade it for a bowl of soup (Genesis 25:29-34).
Much later, when their father Isaac was feeble and dying, Jacob was able to deceived the father into thinking he was Esau. Believing he was blessing Esau, his eldest son; Isaac, being senile, unwittingly blessed Jacob: “May God give you of the dew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth and plenty of grain and wine. Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!” (Genesis 27:28-29).
Instead of Esau, God used Jacob to fulfill promises God had made to their grandfather Abraham.–especially God’s promise to save the world through the “offspring” of Abraham. God included Jacob as a parent in the lineage of God’s promised Savior of the world–Jesus Christ (Matthews 1).
GOD GIVES US VALUABLE BIRTHRIGHTS
We have God-given birthright by believing in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior (John3:16, Romans 5:8). Valuing our God-given birthrights above all else, and following God’s instructions, we keep the devil from deceiving and defrauding us of our rights: For “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4). And because of their failure to see or highly regard Christ, the devil is able to deceive some with the things of this world—”For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world” (1 John 2:16).
By repenting and believing in the Jesus Christ, the Son of God we are “born again” into the heavenly kingdom of God by of the Spirit of God; with God-given rights (John 3:3-5; Acts 2:38):
RIGHT TO BE CHILDREN OF GOD. “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). “ Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God (1 John 3:1).
ABILITY TO BE LIKE HIS JESUS. “To be conformed to the image of his Son ”(Romans 8:29).
PRIVILEGE TO COMMUNE WITH GOD. As a child of God we have the privilege of praying: “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever” (Matthew 6”9-13).
RIGHT TO RECEIVE HELP FROM GOD. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth (John 14:15-17). “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
For those who believe in and value Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, he said:
“I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:3). And our Lord God has laid up a crown of righteousness, which he shall give to all who love his reappearance (2 Timothy 4:8).
