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The Beginning

The Bible says that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

In Genesis 1:26-27, God created both male and female in His image and likeness and placed them in the garden of Eden. Daily, He would go to fellowship with them because they knew no sin. This is how God wanted our relationship with Him to be.

The Separation

In Genesis 3:1-23, the devil used a serpent to deceive the woman to disobey God and eat of the fruit that God commanded them not to eat. She also gave some to her husband who ate it with her.

Their sin led to the break in their fellowship with God. As a result, they were sent out of the garden because sin separated them from God (Isaiah 59:2).

Because of their sin, we all have become sinners.

“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12).

The Reconciliation

Because God loves us and longs for fellowship with us, He called us to return to Him (Isaiah 1:18). He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die a very painful death on the cross so that His blood could wash away our sins and restore our fellowship with God (John 3:16).

The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross reconciled us back to God and made God not count our sin against us (2 Corinthians 5:18-19).

In Luke 15:11-32, Jesus shared a parable about a boy who decided to leave his father, disobey his father’s rules, and go his own way—just like we do today. He wasted all that he was given by the father (gifts, talents, blessings, opportunities, etc.) and was left with nothing.

After hitting rock bottom, he decided to return to his father and asked for mercy. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him” (Luke 15:20).

The father held a big celebration because his son was dead (in sin) but was now alive again (through righteousness); he was lost (chasing the things of the world) but was now found through true repentance.

This is how God is longing to celebrate your return to Him. He will receive you just as you are.

Jesus said He will never drive away those who come to Him (John 6:37).

God and His angels are waiting to celebrate you. “Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10, NKJV).

If you desire to come to Jesus, talk to Him from your heart and pray something like this:

“Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner in need of Your help. I believe that You gave Your life as a sacrifice on the cross for my sin. I ask that You make me a new person, helping me to serve You forever as my Lord and Savior. Amen.”

“For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved” (Romans 10:10).

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