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Growing up, my family didn’t have much. My dad was a car mechanic for over 30 years, and my mom stayed home to raise us. We didn’t travel far—groceries here, maybe a trip to the mall there. I know a lot of people hate malls, but for me, they’re wrapped in nostalgia. Some of my best childhood memories are of hanging out with my family in the food court, getting hyped over the San Francisco Cookie Co.’s mystery bags of 2-3 day old cookies sold at half price. Those were the days. But I also remember watching my parents buy lottery tickets—scratchers, mostly—hoping for a big win. The most they ever got was a few hundred bucks. As a kid, I thought winning the lotto would be the ultimate freedom. It meant vacations, a nicer house, liberation from all our limits. Little did I know back then that lotteries were often just a tax on the poor, but that’s beside the point. The idea of hitting the jackpot felt like the answer to everything.

When I became a Christian in college, I was told the Gospel was the best thing that could ever happen to me. And it is. It’s so good you wouldn’t want anything else. But in my head, I equated it to winning the spiritual lottery. I thought accepting the Gospel meant three things would happen instantly: my status would change, I’d be overflowing with joy and stellar character, and I’d suddenly be obedient. It sounded like a one-and-done ticket to power, success, and an easy life. But here’s the thing: I was dead wrong. The Gospel isn’t a lottery ticket. It’s an invitation to become an heir—a child of God. And that’s a whole different ballgame.

The Anchor of Our Identity

The Bible puts it powerfully in Galatians 4:7 (NLT): “Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.” This verse isn’t just a feel-good promise; it’s a radical shift in who we are. We’re not just freed from sin’s slavery or upgraded to “friends” of God. We’re adopted into His family as heirs. Think about that: the God of the universe, perfect and all-powerful, looks at broken, undeserving people like us and says, “You’re mine. You get it all.” That’s mind-blowing. No institution on earth would take someone so flawed and give them everything, remaking them from the ground up into a new creation. But God does.

What does this tell me about God? He’s generous, kind, and radically forgiving. He’s not just willing to save us; He’s committed to transforming us into vessels worthy of His glory. And what do I learn about myself? I’m a mess right out of the box—undisciplined, rough around the edges, and way more prideful than I’d like to admit. I thought I knew it all, but I’ve got a long way to go.

The Process of Becoming an Heir

Here’s where the lottery analogy falls apart. Winning the lotto changes your bank account overnight, but it doesn’t change you. Studies show 70% of lottery winners lose their money within five years, and a third end up bankrupt. Why? Because a sudden windfall without personal transformation often leads to ruin. The same goes for tribal inheritances—research from the Native American Rights Fund shows 60% of recipients face financial trouble within three years without proper guidance. Even secular wealth transfer, like the Rothschild family’s banking dynasty, shows that maintaining inheritance takes discipline, wisdom, and constant adaptation.

The Bible makes it clear that becoming an heir of God isn’t just an instant status change. Yes, the moment we accept Christ, we’re adopted into God’s family (2 Corinthians 5:17). But the transformation into who God calls us to be? That’s a process. Scripture is full of examples of people who didn’t just get handed their calling—they were refined through trials:

• Joseph: From favored son to slave to prisoner to Egypt’s second-in-command, a 13-year journey of humbling and growth.

• Moses: A prince turned shepherd for 40 years in the wilderness before leading Israel.

• David: Anointed king but chased by Saul for years before taking the throne.

• Paul: Spent three years in Arabia post-conversion, preparing for his world-changing ministry.

Even Jesus, the perfect Son, “learned obedience through what he suffered” (Hebrews 5:8-9). If the Son of God went through a process to fulfill His purpose, how much more do we need it? The Christian life isn’t about instant perfection; it’s about an undisciplined heir becoming worthy of their calling through God’s refining fire.

The Discipline of a Loving Father

This brings us to a tough but beautiful truth: God doesn’t spare the discipline for His kids. Hebrews 12:6 says, “For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” The Greek word for “punish” here, mastigoō, means to discipline or chastise like a loving father, not to harm out of anger. Unlike human parents, who can mess up or overreact, God’s discipline is flawless. He knows exactly what we need to grow.

This discipline isn’t pleasant—it’s painful (Hebrews 12:11). But it produces “a harvest of righteousness and peace” for those who let it shape them. God’s not just handing us a spiritual trust fund and saying, “Good luck!” He’s committed to finishing the work He started (Philippians 1:6), crafting us into His masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10). And sometimes, we don’t get it. Like kids who don’t understand why they can’t have candy for dinner, we wrestle with God’s ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). But later, we’ll see clearly (1 Corinthians 13:12).

Not a Lottery, but a Legacy

I used to think becoming a Christian meant I’d hit the jackpot and instantly be skillful, joyful, and obedient. But I was more like a spoiled heir, abusing God’s grace, spending His “forgiveness coins” on myself instead of the world. I’d feel guilty, trapped in old habits, wanting to change but not knowing how. That’s when I realized the Gospel isn’t a lottery ticket—it’s a legacy. It’s not about getting everything upfront; it’s about growing into the responsibility of being God’s heir.

Think about the Navy SEAL training process: 1.5 to 2 years of grueling preparation, with only 25% making it through. Or look at films like The Lion King, where Simba’s journey from exiled cub to king requires loss and mentorship. Or Black Panther, where T’Challa faces trials to prove he’s worthy of Wakanda’s throne. These stories echo a biblical truth: true inheritance—spiritual, professional, or personal—demands transformation. God’s design for us mirrors this, using trials, mentorship, and discipline to shape us into vessels that reflect His glory.

Living as Heirs, Not Lottery Winners

So, what’s the takeaway? Receiving the Gospel isn’t a one-and-done ticket to an easy life. It’s an invitation to become God’s heir, and that comes with great discipline because great inheritance requires great responsibility. As with any great movie or story that demonstrates this truth—it must value the journey. The heir must be whipped into shape. They cannot stay the same and must be made worthy for the inheritance that is to be theirs. Our suffering isn’t random—it’s God’s tool to make us worthy of His calling. As Paul says, “Our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

Understanding this shifts how we see life’s highs and lows. When we grasp that God’s goal isn’t just to make our lives easier but to form us into vessels of His grace, we can embrace the process. We’re not lottery winners squandering a windfall; we’re heirs being shaped to bless the world with His love and life.

So, let’s go live not as people chasing a quick win, but as God’s children, growing into the fullness of our inheritance.

Let’s go love our neighbors.

In Christ,

David & Reagan

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