Falling into His Grace

We are four months from a New Year and with it comes our New Year resolutions. As humans we take January as the time to forget what happened the previous year and start a clean slate with the upcoming year. However, we do not have to wait till then to change our relationship with Christ. Whether it is radiating bright, a semi-flame, or nonexistent we can fix where we stand with God at any time.

Throughout our walk with God we often slip back into our old ways that Christ redeemed us from. We turn away from the things of God and solely rely on our strength. We don’t allow God to be the center of all that we do. Yet, whenever we do His grace reminds us that we can always come right back to Him no matter how far we wander. The story of the prodigal son is a beautiful illustration of our Heavenly Father’s love and grace toward us. In the story the youngest son asked for his inheritance from his father and then left home. As he wandered he spent all the money and soon was down to nothing. The Bible does not say what all the son did as he drifted around town, but we do know that the lifestyle that he was living led him to work feeding pigs and not receiving any food for himself. His boss let him starve. Soon the son came to his senses (Luke 15:17) and realized that his father’s servants were living a better life them him! So the son came up with an apology to say to his father and headed back home. As the son walked back home he felt that his father would disown him after all that he did, instead his father’s reaction was the complete opposite. “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 15:20). When I read that I could not help but be struck in awe of how his father reacted. He loved on his son rather than shoved him away. His father understood that yes his son had gone against his wishes and turned his back on God, but he came back to change his ways; to start fresh. So it only makes since that he would run and be delighted that his son was back. In contrast, how the father reacted to having his son back is exactly how God reacts whenever we come back to him. He is standing behind us waiting with arms wide open. It does not matter to Him how far we think we have wandered from Him or how many times we have messed up, He is waiting with compassion in His eyes.

When we turn back to him it is as if we are hitting restart, beginning again. All the sins that we committed are washed away and our walk with God is restored. All it takes is for us to confess with our mouth. Yes, we feel guilty about walking away from God but Romans 3:23 reminds us that, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” We stumble and fall from grace. There is no reason to ever feel ashamed for what we have done or continue to do. Although 1 John 1:9 states, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” He is faithful to forgive us! No matter how far we fall! Oh glorious day! However we have to do our part in turning back to Him.

What God wants for his children is for us to know that nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:39). Turn around and fall into his loving embrace. He is waiting for you.