The Apostle describes four excellencies of the heavenly inheritance.

1. It is an incorruptible inheritance.
2 It is an undefiled inheritance.
3 It is an inheritance which does not fade away.
4 It is an inheritance reserved in heaven for you.

In all of these properties, Peter no doubt has in his mind the opposite properties in all earthly inheritances. They are often corrupt and defiled or defiling. They certainly fade away.

The image of fading away may be drawn from flowers. The beauty and sweetness of flowers withers in a moment, and is quickly gone, and then they are good for nothing but to be cast into the bin. So it is with all earthly inheritances, they soon lose their glory and fragrancy. But Heaven is like Christ Himself, evergreen, eternally fresh and always glorious.

Or perhaps the imagery is of stars that appear so glorious for a little while but by day have disappeared. Like comets which blaze so wonderfully but soon vanish away. But not heaven’s glory. That is special for there, “the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof” (Revelation 21:23). In truth all the glory of heaven is like God Himself, incorruptible, undefiled and everlasting.

Let us then find grace to focus our thoughts more heavenward, and set our affections on things above, where Christ sitteth. (Colossians 3:1-2).