I think most of us know the story of the "Prodigal Son" from the Bible. That's the one in which a young son leaves his father, taking his inheritance prematurely with him, spends all his money on wild living, and then returns after some time, repentant, but expecting to only be allowed to serve on his father's farm as a servant. He is unaware that his father's love would restore him to full authority and recognition of a sonship that never ceased to be.
What I wonder though, is something I observe in most Christians: they may have had those days of wild living and even returned to their Father. They may even be living in the house again, so to speak. But what I see is that most Christians don't accept the complete and unconditional forgiveness, acceptance, and full restoration with their Father. They are always looking back to those days of wild living with regret and fear, thinking they are destined to mess up again and therefore can never enjoy a true union with their Father.
Not only do they feel as though there is a gap between them and their Father, but also with any siblings in the Church family. "So-and-so is such a better Christian than I am," they might think. "I'll never be able to have the peace and freedom with God they have." "I will always end up messing up again." "I wish I could be like my Christian brother who obeys God so well."
I find this state of affairs tragic, because in reality, they are refusing to believe the greatest of all good news: Union with a Father who doesn't remember sins, Who doesn't record sins, and Who sets free from the effects of sin, INCLUDING its effect of guilt, shame, condemnation, and fear of habitual sin and sinning.
Because they refuse this good news, they settle for relating to God in a "confessionship" as opposed to a real relationship. Such living is inferior and is much like a self-fulfilling condition based on the notion that they deserve punishment and rejection as opposed to qualification and acceptance.
Don't harden your hearts or stiffen your necks. Embrace Grace. Reach out and grab hold of it. Don't reject it. Take it as your own. Lambano!
Grace=Peace,
Jeremy
No comments:
Post a Comment