"The Anticipation of His Joy Would Kill Him"

Dan Cruver:

I’ve found Martin Luther’s thoughts on how our inheritance as children of God can help us face death to be very helpful. You’ll find his comments here on Gal 4:7 in his commentary on Galatians.

We are not the heirs of some rich and mighty man, but heirs of God, the almighty Creator of all things. If a person could fully appreciate what it means to be a son and heir of God, he would rate the might and wealth of nations small change in comparison with his heavenly inheritance. What is the world to him who has heaven? No wonder Paul greatly desired to depart and to be with Christ. Nothing would be more welcome to us than early death, knowing that it would spell the end of all our miseries and the beginning of all our happiness. Yes, if a person could perfectly believe this he would not long remain alive. The anticipation of his joy would kill him.