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the story

“Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.” (From Jesus’ story of the “prodigal son” in Luke 15:11-32.)

Like the son in this story, I too wanted my freedom from home life—parent’s rules, others telling me how to live, what subject to take in school, and what college to attend to achieve success. I wanted to be independent of all authority and live my own life.

the problem

Like the prodigal son, the life I chose became overwhelming and very stressful. I lost all my meaningful relationships with family and friends. I felt empty and confused, with nowhere to go. I tried to fill the emptiness with wild living, which involved sex, drugs, alcohol, and partying. When that did not work, I filled my time by working different jobs, thinking that money could solve the problem. Nothing seemed to give me the life I was seeking. Instead of finding independence, I found hopelessness.

the hope

In Jesus’ story, the wayward son returns home to a warm welcome: “While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him” (Luke 15:20).

I also found my way and my hope in God. The Bible gives us clear instructions on how to live a life of fulfillment, purpose, and peace within, and it starts with Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

God loves us

God loves us and wants us to experience life with Him. The Bible says, “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

but our sin separates us from God

God sees all our faults, and declares: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). There is nothing we can do in our own strength to make ourselves right and make our sins go away. Our sins drive a wedge between God and us. “Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you” (Isaiah 59:2).

Jesus is the way

Our failure and weakness opens the way for God’s power. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

The Bible says, “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Jesus died in our place, suffering the punishment that we deserve because of our sins. When we call upon Him in faith, the value of what He accomplished on the cross is transferred to us, washing us clean and giving us new, eternal life.

making a decision

The son found freedom when he decided to return home, and you too can find freedom when you choose to accept God’s gift of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. It is in Him we find purpose and eternal life with our Heavenly Father.

The Bible says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved” (Romans 10:9-10).

two important steps to live a life with Christ

1. Turn to God in repentance, acknowledging that you are a sinner in need of God’s help.

2. By faith, trust Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, receiving His gift of salvation for you.

a prayer of faith

Dear God, I recognize I am a sinner who needs saving. I sincerely ask you to forgive me of all my sins. I believe you love me and I thank you for sending your Son, Jesus Christ, to endure the punishment my sins deserve. I now trust Jesus to save me from my sin, and I thank you for a new purpose and a new life with you. Amen.

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