Most of us are familiar with the Parable of the Lost/Prodigal Son. It speaks to God’s forever open arms, wanting us to turn to him, and that when we do, there is a celebration for us-for once we were lost and now we are found.
Lately I’ve been feeling more like the other, older son. I have been a Christian since I was 8, and actively following God for the past few years-since I have begun to understand what that really looks like. I have never had a rebellious phase-as a general rule, I am a rule follower, I do not step out of line, I do not speed, I always wear my seatbelt. I do not even have so much as a parking ticket.
While other people at this stage in their life (21, recently graduated from college, ready to start “real life”) are going out and partying, chasing after the opposite sex, and “living’ it up,” I am spending my 21st year as a full-time missionary, learning to live full out for God, every single day. Sometimes my fleshy nature gets in the way, and I want to rebel. I want to go out and party, I want to do something meaningless, I want to just be silly and stupid and act 21.
BUT God has a bigger, better plan for me. He does not want me to go astray-no need to be a prodigal. He says to the older son who has become angry because he feels his obedience and hard work for his father have gone unnoticed, “My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.”
Everything I have is yours. Because I am in Christ, I am a co-heir with Christ, and therefore, a kingdom-bringer. My life would not be lived for the Lord if I lived it for myself. I don’t know what this looks like, completely. I do know it requires a daily dying to myself, a daily (sometimes hourly) surrender, a giving over to God and letting myself be used, even when it isn’t convenient or nice or clean.
It’s like Mary and Martha-Mary chose what was better-not to work and slave away unnecessarily, but to sit at the feet of Jesus and learn. For me, this means not working for money, and not slaving away at a job I hate simply to pay bills for an apartment I couldn’t afford and clothes I have no business buying. Instead, it means listening to the Lord, following hard after God, and going where He leads.
I’ll be the first to admit I am a work in progress, and that sometimes I do get angry when I see people my age “living it up” as the world does. Then I am reminded that as a Christian, I am to view this life in the LIGHT OF ETERNITY. And in light of eternity, all this shall soon pass-only what’s done for Christ will last.
So that’s where I am at. Dying to myself daily so I can find more-more of God-more of His love, grace, power, mercy, strength and passion. And I will celebrate when the prodigals come home-I will welcome them with open arms, and be JOYFUL they have returned to their loving father and family.
“My son, the father said, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive; he was lost and is found.” Luke 15:31
