The father lamented when he discovered that one of his sons has despised all he had taught him since childhood. A single dad, who has given all, in order for his children to be morally equipped enough to manage his estate when he dies…
A story is told of a man who had two sons and one of the boys, due to youthful exuberance and abused privileges, chose to turn his back on the mentoring, instructions and teachings of his father. Their old loving dad had prepared his will, and had actually prepared an estate which would be bequeathed to his sons after his demise, but due to the impatience of one of the sons, he decided to throw away all the teachings and fatherly care, with the affection offered to them both of them, even from a very tender age.
The other son chose to be obedient and yielded to all that their father had to impart into them. Life is usually a choice! The father lamented when he discovered that one of his sons has despised all he had taught him since childhood. A single dad, who has given all, in order for his children to be morally and emotionally equipped enough to manage his estate when he dies. But even in this situation, he did not give up on his boy…he said in his prayers… “My son will not be carried away carelessly by the frivolities of life and the trend of the so-called perverted civilised world”. What a touching prayer of a hurting father, who was almost losing a son to the “trendy, less-embarrassing” life-styles of the age.
Lost in the NOW Trend
Eventually, the boy wandered away from home with fortunes which his fathers had laboured and kept for him. After a period of time, within the trendy, lawless and careless atmosphere, which the boy desired so much and got distracted by, he suffered and got trapped into depression, rejection, humiliation and self-pity. He then came to his senses and remembered the teachings and the love his father showered on him as was grew up. Though, he initially despised and threw all these back at his dad, but at that point, he decided to take a step back, think and made amends.
A single dad, who has given all, in order for his children to be morally and emotionally equipped enough to manage his estate when he dies…
Making Every Effort
The Apostle Peter, made it so clear in his epistle… “So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.” (2 Peter 3:14). The way to have peace in this world is to seek to be at peace with our creator. There is no alternative route to having peace here on earth. The notions and theologies of some have spelt out that everything has to be done in civilised ways, but there is still a need to strive to be blameless and spotless before God, if we are to experience fulfilment in life.
We are therefore only required to accept and confess that Jesus is Lord and take a decision to follow the footpath of Jesus. When he leads, you are to follow because He is “the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6). Therefore, you would not have the experience the lost boy in the story above had, because your acceptance, confession and obedience, and making every effort would result in you enjoying the much needed peace with God.
His Patience is Salvation
Even if you have wandered away from your maker or you have been distracted from making the required effort, which leads to entering into the peace of God, God is patient and His patience is based on giving us another chance to come back to the place of the CROSS. “Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation…” (2 Peter 3:15a).
