God confronts His children in the book of Isaiah.
“‘Come, let us reason together,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they be red as crimson, they shall be as wool” Isaiah 1:18.
This is not an accusation. God states it as a given: ‘sure your sins are as red as blood, but come to Me and I will wash them whiter than snow.’ These are words of forgiveness.
But we’re not convinced our sins are as red as blood. We were never THAT bad, right? I live a good life. I don’t cheat as much as my friends. I give a little money to the church. I don’t drink like him or carry grudges like her. I try to be a good person. Pretty soon you’re thinking, ‘Sin? What sin?’
When you hear the parable of the Prodigal Son, do you relate to the older brother? He was obedient all those years—yet dad barely noticed. Do you ever feel that way? You have served God faithfully for so long. When is He going to give you a party? Luke 15:29.
Do you ever think, BUT I’M A GOOD PERSON!
No, you are not—and neither was the older brother. He did the right things, but his heart was WRONG. He did NOT share his father’s burden for the lost brother (do you?). Instead, he was envious of his brother. His heart was as foul as that of the Prodigal Son.
But the Prodigal’s repentance set a standard the older brother would never meet.
Interestingly–and just like us–both brothers focused on outward actions, thus both condemned the Prodigal.
But Jesus is interested in our hearts—and some of us who live as cleanly as the older brother have nevertheless daydreamed ourselves into every kind of evil: lusts, jealousies, hatred, even murder.
The Bible says “all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory” Romans 3:23. “What about the good things I have done?” you ask. God says your good deeds are as foul as things we flush down the toilet, Isaiah 64:6.
The secret to spiritual growth is to OWN your sinfulness. I don’t mean to beat yourself up over it. But you must face it honestly. Only when you see the depravity from which the Father saved you will you begin to love Him and live a life devoted to Him. As believers, we walk in grace. We refuse to feel guilty over our past. But we must also refuse to stop feeling gratitude for what Jesus did for us. How can we “neglect so great a salvation?” Hebrews 2:3.
God, give us a heart of repentance and gratitude like the Prodigal Son’s.
ΑΩ
Household Words: 