A Tale of Two Sons
Do you believe that God wants us to live the good life? Many people doubt this because they feel that God's laws restrict their freedom. But what if God's laws are not about restricting our freedom but, rather, about protecting us from hurt, alienation, broken relationships, addiction and every other kind of enslavement that undermines the quality of life? In addition, what if God has an open door policy for anyone wanting to come home?
"How can I have the good life?" you ask. Well, in short, you must turn toward the good father of heaven. The story of the lost son is humanity's story! The story of the lost son captures the way in which we have all rebelled against God's laws thinking that living without His requirements will bring ultimate freedom. In reality we find ourselves in over our heads, at the end of our finite resources. More importantly, we see the grace of god in the story of the lost son. Our heavenly Father stands ready to welcome anyone home should they choose to return. The parable of the lost son definitively answers the question, "Does God value me?" Yes, beyond what you can possibly comprehend.
The story of the two sons confronts the reality that the secret to surviving rock bottom is to look outside of ourselves to the goodness and mercy of God. The definition of rock bottom is not necessarily the lowest place you can sink to before death itself. Rather, we can think of rock bottom as the place where we realise that our own resources are finite and we must turn toward God and rely upon His resources. This can happen for different people at different points on the slippery slope. Reaching the lowest point one can possibly fall to is reserved only for the most stubborn amongst us. Finding rock bottom is essential in that it's the turning point toward God and away from self reliance. The quicker we learn this lesson, the less severe the journey toward rock bottom needs to be. Wherever we personally find our rock bottom experience, the good news is that the grace of God is waiting there to pick us up and bring us home to the father. Thank God, that grace isn't fair! If it was, we could get what we deserved. Instead, grace is God treating us with kindness we do not deserve and we did not earn! Jesus has taken care of the justice part through his life and death. Now the door is open for the grace of God to heal us and reconcile us with the family of heaven.
This video was produced in partnership with Hope Channel New Zealand and originally aired on television under the title "More than a Story: Trouble in Paradise" (episode 14 of 24).
