THE WAY HOME

by Jim Corner

He was 12 years of age and the leading scorer on his basketball team. An opposing player was attempting a shot and he blocked it without touching the player. The referee, however, saw things differently and called a foul. The young man took the ball and slammed it to the floor and a technical foul was called. His coach took him out of the game and began to talk to him. He did not scream or holler but instead told the young boy how ashamed he was of him. Tears came to the boys eyes because he had disappointed the coach that he wanted to please.

I am reminded of another young boy in Luke 15. He had left home, wasted his inheritance and lived an immoral lifestyle. When he finally 'woke up', he returned home. He had decided that he could not do anything more than become a servant in his father's house because of the shame that he had brought on his family. Instead, the Bible says the father ran to him, gave him many gifts and threw a party on his behalf. He had an older brother who was upset at the way his father treated him. He believed that the younger brother should be punished but instead was being treated like royalty. The father made this remark in Luke 15:32: "We had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found."

If you are a child of God, this is the story of your life. At one time we all were away from God and living as we desired. The Lord, however, had grand plans for us. Plans of heaven, plans of salvation, plans of eternal life. We read in Romans 5:8 that "God demonstrates His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." If you are a faithful Christian, the Bible clearly teaches that you are saved. Our salvation is not the result of anything that we have done but because of what our Lord has done.

If you are not a child of God, this story can become your story. The Bible clearly teaches that if one believes in Jesus (John 20:31), turns from sin (Acts 17:30), confesses faith in Christ (Matthew 10:32, 33) and is immersed in water (Acts 22:16) they will receive salvation.

There are so many today who tell us that we simply need to pray the sinner's pray and accept the Lord into our heart and we will be saved. That teaching is foreign to the scriptures. If you have never become a child of God or if you have questions regarding salvation, please email us. The Lord wants to save you and He will if you do His will.

©2001 Buckingham Road Church of Christ