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How Could God Love Me?

“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'" - Luke 15:21


I messed up even though I was raised to know better, and yet I still made a mistake. Actually, I made several mistakes. Mistakes too embarrassing to share in detail and some deemed unforgiveable.


It started when I asked my dad for what I thought I deserved. I knew one day he would give me money from his estate. I just wanted my portion sooner than I was capable of handling that kind of responsibility. What was I thinking?


I took my money, left home, and wasted it. I partied every night, bought luxury cars, and tried to drink away my problems. Growing up, I always thought rich people were void from experiencing pain. I assumed money took away all their sadness. Then, I remembered a verse my dad taught me as a child.


1 Timothy 6:10, filled my mind, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." Greed became my idol. I constantly wanted more. Greed took its toll on me.


When I looked in the mirror, I saw someone I did not like. I was useless. Left without purpose. Jobless. I lost everything my dad's riches could afford only to watch myself become penniless. I was starving and became homeless. I was in a place of desperation.


Fortunately, I was able to find work. Feeding pigs. I used to sleep in a palace where servant's provided for me in every way possible. Now I slept with pigs and could be found on the ground eating their slop - pods. I went from feasting on a seven-course meal to sucking on a bean pod. My life was in ruins.


But then I remembered my father. So, I devised a plan to return home. I would beg and plead with him to let me take on the role of a servant, because I knew I was no longer worthy to be called his son. I prayed he would accept me.


As I began the long trek home, something happened. Just when I thought he would turn his back on me, my dad started running toward me. He didn't turn his back on me. Instead, he simply held out his hands and drew me into his chest while holding me tight.


I gave the speech I rehearsed a thousand times. "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son" (Luke 15:21). As I waited for him to scold me or say I told you so, and yet he acted as if he didn't hear me. Instead, he called his servants to bring out the best of everything he had: a robe, ring, sandals, fattened calf. He announced to everyone within earshot, "This son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found" (Luke 15:24).


Tears filled my eyes. Just when I deemed myself too unworthy to return home, my father treated me like a prince. My friend, it is the same for you today.


Jesus stands waiting to hold you again. Jesus loves you unconditionally and there is nothing you did or will ever do that can separate yourself from this love He has for you.


Romans 8:38-39 says, "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."


But just like the son in the story of The Prodigal Son, it may be time for you to come home and ask your great Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, to forgive you. 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Then, "if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9). I came to know Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior at the age of 19, and it was the best decision I ever made. Accepting Jesus Christ is only the beginning.


The son in this story returned home to the palace. As believers of Jesus Christ, we get to spend an eternity in "A building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens" (2 Corinthians 5:1). I would love to see you seated at the table next to me.


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