One Way

"All our survival tactics lead to nothing."

A MAN had two sons, and the younger one wanted what was his. The father loved his son and so gave him his inheritance to do with as he should. The son, however, took himself to a far country and, there, wasted it all in riotous living. We know this story from Luke 15, but what I want you to see are the words “far country.” In Greek, they can be defined as “distant empty expanse” or a distant “empty room.”

There is nothing to satisfy you in an empty room, nothing to purchase, nothing to dine on. To waste your substance in an empty space will never prosper you, never satisfy you, never make you happy. And for the younger son, it did not. He soon found himself in want. The words “in want” can also mean “inferior” or “to fall short.” He came up empty handed in an empty room.

Granted he did the right thing, he got a job, but it meant making a wrong relationship. The one he needed that he had left behind was the one with his father. He saw this in the wrong way, too. Finding himself so hungry he’s willing to eat hog food, he decided to go home and be a servant. His dad will feed him and, at least, he won’t starve.

But here’s the thing. Once you’re a son, you’re always a son. We beat ourselves up for our mistakes saying we’re not worthy anymore. We made errors in judgment, we spoke out of turn, we cursed what we should have blessed, and now, we’re in that empty room, staring at our empty palms. We try to make up for it and get a job. We’ll act better, be responsible, but self-actions only lead to more self-failure.

We need Jesus.

All our righteousness is filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). All our survival tactics lead to nothing. We’ll never be fit enough on our own, never be tall enough or smart enough or strong enough. We simply can’t cure ourselves. In Him is wisdom and the right path, the strength to walk it, and the perseverance to complete the walk. In Him, is safety. Plenty.

“I give up everything this world has to offer so that I might be with Christ and be recreated in Christlike character—not from my own efforts or attempts to cure myself, not by observing some code, but by true re-creation of mind, heart and character that God accomplishes when we trust him.” (Philippians 3:8-9, Remedy)

The younger son did go home but instead of being condemned, found himself celebrated. Our repentance is a good thing, having an attitude of humility because of how we’ve behaved is correct, but to think the Father would give us His entire inheritance then un-adopt us just isn’t how it works. We’re home, now He can take care of us, bind our wounds, pour in the oil.

There really is only one way to walk, one path of righteousness, and we’re on it through salvation because of the Father’s reputation. For His name’s sake, we go forward, restored in mind, will, and emotions. And the room isn’t empty but there’s a table before us and His goodness and mercy behind us, wiping away our missteps. Like they never happened in the first place.

“Christ has set us free from selfishness, free from fear, free from ignorance about God—free to be his friends. So stand firm in the truth about God as revealed in Jesus, and don’t let yourselves be duped back into a system of rituals and works motivated by fear and selfishness.” (Galatians 5:1, Remedy)

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or could ever imagine—according to his life-giving power at work within us—” (Ephesians 3:20, Remedy)

Image by Joshua Woroniecki from Pixabay


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com