You know that story about the prodigal son, the one where the punk kid takes his inheritance from his pop, splits the country and parties like a rock star, goes broke and has to eat pig food, and ultimately runs home to dad where he is welcomed with open arms? You know that one? It's pretty famous. Most of the world knows it or some variation of it. It tends to resonate with people because they can relate to the title character. Not me, though. There has never been a time when I wanted to run away from my spiritual home. I like knowing God, being around Him, and experiencing the blessing of a life that conforms to His will. No, I have never run away and can't imagine a time when I would want to. I simply prefer over-nighters.
See, I'm the "one night stand" prodigal, the part-time prodigal. I don't want to do my own thing all the time, just once in a while, when it feels good. I'm good most of the time, I want to do what's right, I just tend to indulge myself with a little sinning sporatically. This sound familiar? I suspect that I'm not the only believer who tends to take a little detour from the homestead now and again. I suspect that most of us play the role of the part-time prodigal. That's true of even the best of us. Check out this verse...
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. Romans 7:15
Seems like the apostle Paul struggled with the same issue, following God most of the time but having those temporary slip ups where, he admits, he does what is wrong. Uh oh, if this guy struggles with wandering away from Father from time to time, I'm screwed! I mean, what's worse, a one time event of rebellion or continual short term infractions? I suspect the later and it makes me feel like crap. So I find myself echoing Paul's lament from a few verses later...
What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Romans 7:24
Great question! Who is going to fix me, who is going to make me more faithful, change my character so that I am not controlled by the wickedness inside of me? Who indeed. I think we know the answer. Paul confirms it at the end of the chapter...
Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! Romans 7:25
No surprises there, eh? But I think it behooves us to consider this further and apply it to our lives. If it is primarily believers who struggle with part-time sin, than there has to be more to this than just knowing Jesus, right? And that...makes for a good cliff hanger! Answers for ya on the next update!
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