written by Steve Merkel
Jesus, I've forgotten the words that You have spoken
Promises that burned within my heart have no grown dim,
With a doubting heart I follow the paths of earthly wisdom
Forgive my unbelief, Renew the fire again.
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy on me
I have built an altar where I worship things of man
I have taken journeys that have drawn me far from You,
Now I am returning to Your mercies ever flowing
Pardon my transgression, Help me love You again.
I have longed to know You and Your tender mercies
Like a river of forgiveness ever flowing without end,
I bow my heart before You in the goodness of Your presence
Your grace forever shining, Like a beacon in the night.
***Note the first two lines of the 2nd verse:
I have built an altar where I worship things of man
I have taken journeys that have drawn me far from You,
I took one of those journeys today. KNOWINGLY. I know I'm not the only one.
Luke 15:11-20a
11Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
13"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20So he got up and went to his father. ... ."
***
The younger son KNOWINGLY asked for his share of the inheritance WHILE his father was still ALIVE. He left his father's house KNOWINGLY. He squandered his wealth in wild living KNOWINGLY.
On the other hand, his father, who had severe Alzheimer's Disease(loss of memory), didn't know he was giving away HALF his money. He didn't realize his SON was leaving with no intent of coming back. He didn't feel hurt at the fact that his son was asking for his share of the inheritance WHILE he was still alive. Once his son left, the father soon forgot about him. As far as the father was concerned, his diseased mind had no recollection of that younger son.
This is how the story should end:
Verse 20 should read that his father didn't know him and shut the door in his face. The moral of the story would be: "Don't insult your parents and leave with their pension funds, cause once they get old, either they won't forgive you or they'll forget you were ever their child."
YOU WOULD PROBABLY RESPOND with NO PITY for the younger son. He had it coming. He got what he deserved. Padan muka. Justice is served.
***
YET IT DOESN'T END THAT WAY.
ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE:
20"...But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.[a]'
22"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'... ."
WHAT!?!?!? This is supposed to be a real life story. What do you mean his father takes him back? THIS IS TOO HOLLYWOOD!!! HAPPY ENDINGS NEVER HAPPEN IN REALITY!
Well, you know what, God is not only the scriptwriter of HisStory, He is also completes the perfection, despite having only imperfections to work with. Are you not thankful that the parable ends the way it does?
The more I think about it, the more AWESOME it is.
The father KNOWINGLY let His son go, despite knowing his motives.
The father KNOWINGLY gave away his fortune, knowing it would be all gone too soon.
The father KNOWINGLY let His son go his own way.
and now the WOW factor,
The father KNOWINGLY accepts His son back when His son comes back. He didn't even say "Looks like you matured after all!". No! He immediately tells the servants of the house to get the party started. What unmerited, undeserved favour. What GRACE!! This is what grace is, isn't it?
***
Now, where was I going with this?
I just want to boast of the abundance of grace I find in my Redeemer. I know I'll never be too far gone. "
Romans 6: 1-4
1What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
It will always be a struggle for me while I am on this pilgrim journey. Until I am saved from the presence of sin, I can only allow God to work as He molds me into the image of His Son. Today was one of the times where I didn't want to be molded. I wanted to have things my way. I wanted to take a journey for MYSELF, AWAY FROM GOD.
As soon as I got what I wanted (and as soon as the younger son in the parable had spent all his money), the both of us realized that we had ended up with nothing. Resources had been wasted and we had nothing to show for it.
The LORD told Joshua in Joshua 1: 5b, "As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you." Moses wasn't the model Christian either. He slipped and always came back to I AM. I know that though there will be times when I will run to the left and right, I know what He will never leave me nor forsake me. Thank you Lord!
I will gladly say that:
"22Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”-- Lamentations 3: 22-24
May you be blessed by the Lord,
Mark
