God loves us, we are His own, he has known us since the day that he created us! Please read again the most beautiful story of the Bible, The Prodigal Son.
This parable was told by Jesus, therefore the words are 'red'. The parable is to explain what the kingdom of Heaven is like, and the nature of God.
Luk 15:11ķAnd he said, A certain man had two sons:
Luk 15:12And the younger of them said to [his] father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth [to me]. And he divided unto them [his] living.
No argument, no lectures! Although God knows what is best, God also knows the value of experiance.
Luk 15:13And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
Luk 15:14And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
Luk 15:15And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
Luk 15:16And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
Luk 15:17
And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
Luk 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
Luk 15:19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
How completely the prodigal son had fallen from his high estate. The prodigal son condemned himself, but basically our sin is being ignorant of our true nature and relationship to God.
Luk 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
The Father could have let his son crawl the last mile in self-condemnation, but He has great compassion, and runs to meet him.
Luk 15:21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
Luk 15:22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put [it] on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on [his] feet:
Luk 15:23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill [it]; and let us eat, and be merry:
Luk 15:24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
From sorrow and desperation to complete joy, this is our Fathers house!
Luk 15:25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
Luk 15:26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
Luk 15:27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
Luk 15:28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
Recognize some fruits of God's Spirit, 'patience' kindness, long-suffering, displayed by our Father?
Luk 15:29 And he answering said to [his] father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
Luk 15:30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
Luk 15:31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
The other son could have had anything he asked for, but he didn't ask.
Luk 15:32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
How easy it is to get to Heaven, just ask, like the thief on the cross next to Jesus ...
Luk 23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
Luk 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Luk 17:21Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
Because the 'KINGDOM OF GOD' is established within each of us children of God no matter where on Earth we may be isolated, or how severly we may be religiously persecuted, or how emotionally discouraged we may be, or how primitive may be our society, or what race, creed, or religion, if any, we may belong to, guess what?!! Jesus is knocking on the door to our hearts, (Jesus is ONE with GOD) His is the still small voice within us, telling us to "help that lady" "guide that child" "be kind to our neighbor" "encourage that family" "Visit a sick neighbor".
Jesus is also ONE with each of us, He is our higher power. When we listen and do the 'good' advice, we ARE following Jesus, when we commune with Jesus, we are ASKING to be one with Him, and indeed already are.
If the bad in us outweighs the good, (or in any case ) Jesus will patiently wait for the law to perfect us, and the law WILL perfect us, because.. the law is that we must reap everything that we have sown, in exactly the same manner that we have sown it, in this lifetime, or another lifetime, ( See Reincarnation, Bible proof, here )
Eventually we will all learn to treat our fellow mankind as we want to be treated, so that we can be blessed by our own actions, instead of cursed, by our own actions.
But are we saved? Of course we are!
|