How much does God love me?
Dying to See You! Only in Jesus, Part 13
A family in Texas was facing unimaginable odds. Mom was expecting a baby in two
weeks, but dad was dying. The year before he had been diagnosed with colon
cancer, and although surgery and chemotherapy were considered successful, ten
months later he began experiencing a breathing problems, and two months after
that, he was so sick that he was admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with
pulmonary fibrosis. The cause? More than likely, the very chemotherapy that had
saved his life.
Thirteen days later, the news grew even grimmer. His condition was fatal, he had
only five to six days left to live. His baby wasn't
due for another two weeks. He would never get to see his baby girl.
Dad had only one wish, a wish so dear to him that it touched mom's
heart: "I'd like to see my baby".
Mom requested to have her baby induced two weeks early, and the procedure was
scheduled. Dad and mom lay next to each other during the delivery, dad in one
bed, mom in another. As soon as the baby girl was born, she was placed in her
father's arms. He wept as he held her, and the next
forty-five minutes must have been the most special in his life. But then
exhaustion stepped in, and he had to relinquish his baby.
Due to his weakened condition, dad was only able to hold the baby twice over the
next two days, and then, only for a few minutes each time. Sadly, when the tiny
baby was just two days old, dad slipped peacefully into a coma and passed away
two days later.
There was another father who was dying to see his child. In this case, his child
had wandered away from home with his part of his inheritance. Dad had no idea
where his son was, but he walked up the hill daily to scan the horizon.
"Maybe today will be the day when I will see my son
again!" He never gave up to this ardent wish, and
year in and year out, he scanned the horizon for this prodigal son.
Meanwhile, his son had come to his senses. "How many
of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!"
(Luke 15:17 NIV)
After spending all his money on wild living, he found himself feeding pigs,
longing to be able to eat even the pods these pigs were eating.
"I will set out and go back to my father . . ."
(Luke 15:18a NIV) He is my father after all! ". . .
And say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. . ."
(Luke 15:18b NIV) I truly have missed the mark! I thought I had it all in
control. Look at me now: feeder of pigs! What kind of control did I truly ever
have? My waywardness was truly a rebellion against my dad and his reign.
Wow! Have we ever realized that ourselves?
"I am no longer worthy to be called your son . . .
" (Luke 15:19a NIV)
None of us truly are! Even our meager sacrifices are insignificant compared to
what Jesus did for us on the cross!
". . . Make me like one of your hired men."
(Luke 15:19b NIV)
Even if I could be just a fly on the wall in my Father's
kingdom, I would be truly completely satisfied!
Sooner or later we all realize this fact: We may imagine that we are in total
control, but our controlling nature is really a rebellion against the authority
of our Father in heaven! We are either a Christian who gives all authority to
God, or we are wasting our time performing our weekly pew-warming activities.
We cannot just accept Jesus as our Saviour without accepting Him as our Master
(Lord) as well. Just like we can't drive a car without
gasoline (or other technical advances in this aspect)! The
"It's MY car!" philosophy will not help keep
the vehicle moving. We have to accept the fact that it can only function with
gas.
What can we expect, when we give ourselves, just as we are, with all our
imperfections, over to the will of God?
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw
him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms
around him and kissed him." (Luke 15:20b NIV)
There was a great celebration right then and there! The only thing this wayward
son had ever done right was to simply go home! Going home means we accept the
sovereignty of our Father. We understand that He truly cares for us, despite
what our opinions may have been during our wilder days.
Let's remember that this same son had turned his back
on his dad in favor of wild living, a living that was diametrically opposed to
his father's wishes. However Dad never opposed him.
Opposing would only have made matters worse. Instead Dad kept on praying for his
wayward son to come back home. And after years of patient waiting, His prayers
were, indeed, answered.
Your loving Heavenly Father is also scanning the horizon from His hill, looking
for you. His only wish is for you to come back home and hold you in His arms.
How much does He love you? So much that He was willing to die for you on a
cross.
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life,
neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to
separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
(Rom 8:38-39 NIV)
He is dying to see you! Will you consider going back home to Him?
Rob Chaffart
