It Shouldn't Be Like That
While driving down the road one day I prayed "Lord, why do I rebel against your perfect love!" It just struck me how crazy it is to be forgiven all my sins, given a brand new life in Jesus, be loved like I've never been loved by anyone... and then turn my back on that. And for what? What does this world really offer that won't soon fade away? Most of what we think is so great about this world, and what we think will satisfy us, loses it's sparkle long before we ever leave this place and enter eternity. Sin is barely out the door before it loses it's luster. The attraction, appeal, and pull of this world seem so potent until indulged; afterward it all seems so empty.
I know the parable of the Prodigal Son tells the story of utterly walking away from the Father's house and love to pursue the lure of this world and it's sin. But I believe there's another kind of Prodigal that's much more common; He sits next to you at church, she's your best friend on Facebook. Everything looks good on the outside, but inside they are far, far away from the Father's heart. We Christians know just how we should be, and when were not as we should be, we can be very good at playing the part. As I was finishing this song I came across Revelation 3:14-22, and that's when I realized, "You can be a prodigal and still be living in your Father's house! You don't have to move out to be a prodigal." It was all right there in scripture, but I'd never seen it in quite that way. Here was God telling His people that they were "wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked." They were in the Father's house, but far from their Father.
As I drove down the road that day it just seemed so crazy... so stupid! Here I am a child of God, a child of the King, and I'm living like a pauper. I might be in His house, but is He close to my heart? Do I love Him? Or am I just playing at this game... knowing the right things to say, going through the motions, wearing my Christian smile?
All I know, is whether we're still in His house or whether we've left it for a far off country, our Father wants us to come home. He won't be content until He has our whole heart, and neither will we.
