Category: Forgiveness (Page 1 of 3)

In many ways, I am the prodigal son, not in how I treated my earthly father, but in how I treated my Heavenly Father.

For a long time, I abused the grace and blessings our Heavenly Father gave me. I understood His love for me and attempted to take advantage of it. I treated God as if His Will for me was unimportant. I wanted what I wanted, even though I knew it went against God’s will.

I wonder how many others find themselves doing the same.

I decided to ignore my understanding of God’s intent, God’s will. Instead, I willfully ignored God and foolishly hoped for heaven if I died mistakenly, banking on the idea that I could plead ignorance, that God would forgive my purposeful attempt at ignorance because I was, in my mind, a “good person.” God, however, is not a respecter of persons. Therefore, like everyone else, I was equally responsible and accountable for learning, studying, and following Christ according to God’s Will—in fact, even more so, as I was a baptized believer choosing wrong over doing God’s will. We are each responsible for our own salvation, and claiming ignorance is no excuse.

During those years, I stupidly tried to gamble with the eternity of my soul. It was never meant to be a conscientious rejection of God; however, in retrospect, it’s clear my faith at that time was built on sand. I allowed myself to slowly get caught up in my misconceptions of the “good life” to the point that God was barely a thought. It was not a true gamble; my soul would’ve been lost. I had turned my back on God and did not realize or even consider the depth of how my choices would trickle down into the lives of all those I love. I did not realize the importance of missed opportunities. Opportunities to be an example to those around me as someone who puts God first!

I realize now that I hurt God. Rejection hurts. God knows what’s best for me and what’s best for all of us, so much so that Jesus gave His life for me and for all of us! My selfish choices had consequences. I had slowly rejected God’s sacrifice and love. Eventually I came to the realization I was pursuing nonsense (Vanity) in my desires, and it was costing me significantly.

By the time I realized how broken and lost I was, my years of fun-filled actions were riddled with regrets. It was then that I returned to my only real hope, and just like the prodigal son’s father, our Heavenly Father was there with wide-open arms, willing to forgive, willing to forget how lost I had become. According to Scripture, I was dead, and now I’m alive; I was lost, but now, I have been found, and heaven rejoiced! (Luke 15:7–10)

I wonder how many other prodigal sons or daughters are out there ignoring our Heavenly Father as I once did. Jesus’s arms are always outstretched to embrace the repentant heart and offer eternal life for those who will change direction, follow Christ according to God’s will, and keep His commandments. The God of all comfort wants us to repent and come home.

If you realize, upon reflection, that you have drifted away, won’t you change direction and come home?

When we truly live according to God’s will, there’s nothing to regret, as the best life is a God-first life!.

• Luke 15:7, Ephesians 4:30, Isaiah 63:10, Matthew 7:26–27, John 3:16
• Philippians 2:12–13 (your own salvation)
• Romans 2:11–16 (respecter of persons)
• Hebrews 10:26–31 (willful sin)
• Luke 15:11-32 (prodigal son)
• John 3:16 (God so loved…)
• Luke 15:32 (Lost but found)
• 2nd Corinthians 1:3-5 (God of all comfort)
• James 4:8 (Draw close to God and He will draw close to you)
• John 14:15 – “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
• 1 John 2:3–4 – “And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says ‘I know him’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar…”
• Acts 3:19 – “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out…”
• Ecclesiastes 1:2 / 12:13 – the emptiness of vanity and the call to fear God and keep His commandments.

God First!