Faith for Lost Loved Ones - UBM [David Eells]

Some parents feel very guilty that though they did the best they could, their children seem to be going the wrong way. The following teaching is not against those who have faithfully served the Lord from their youth, but rather for those who feel that the Lord has passed them or their children by.

Walk by faith for them, not sight. Believe in your prayers, expect miracles, but be patient. God has a plan for them. Give some deep thought to this. It will free you from worry, strife, and self effort to bring about Gods will in them. They will have to be saved after tribulation and failure of their worldly expectations, probably like you were. Children raised knowing about the Lord are sometimes very self righteous. They think they deserve what they have and don't understand grace. They will also have to see themselves as sinners in order to be the dirt that the fruit can be born out of. God only saves sinners. Have you been one? This is a necessary revelation in order to appreciate the great value of salvation and be saved by unmerited favor. I remember my oldest daughter when she was three years old going around our lost friends and relatives saying, "God don't like that". Of course we told her that but she quickly deflected the responsibility. We thought, "you little Pharisee".

Our heavenly Father has had many prodigal sons just as Jesus' parable shows but that does not make Him a bad Father (Lk.15:11-32). In this parable the "good" son who never left was self righteous, judgmental and merciless. On the other hand the younger son who spent his inheritance on riotous living realized his low estate and came to his father very humbly saying, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight: I am no more worthy to be called thy son (21)". In other words the once rebellious son now understood mercy and grace and was a much better man for it. Prophetically the firstborn son who never left the Father was the righteous among Israel, but they did not understand grace. The younger, second son of the Father who fell away through the dark ages for two thousand years is the Church who is returning in these days to understand the grace of God. Father said to these, "Bring forth quickly the best robe (The robe of righteousness - Isa.61:10), and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand (symbol of authority and of the Bride), and shoes (The walk of separation from the world) on his feet (22). The Prodigal son will have more of everything than the first son.

Those who have been sinners know their need of God but many times those who are raised as Gods people do not. (Mat.21:28) But what think ye? A man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to-day in the vineyard. 29 And he answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented himself, and went. 30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I [go], sir: and went not. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father? They say, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not; but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye saw it, did not even repent yourselves afterward, that ye might believe him. Many times it is not the son who says he will go to work in the Fathers vineyard who actually goes, but the son whose first inclination is to not go. Many career Christians are bored with the work of God and distracted by the world. The publicans and harlots are so appreciative of a place in the kingdom that they throw their whole heart into it, willing to be servants rather than be served.

In the last days of the Gentiles it will be the same as it was in the last days of the Jews. There are many self righteous "Christians" today who are not the creation that the Father desires. Those of you who have been raised in the Church should humble yourselves to the Word of God and not religion so that no man take your crown (Rev.3:11). (Luk.18:9) And he spake also this parable unto certain who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and set all others at nought: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I get. 13 But the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote his breast, saying, God, be thou merciful to me a sinner. 14 I say unto you, This man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled; but he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Jesus told the Pharisees that He did not come to call the righteous but the sinners. (Rom.11:32) For God hath shut up all unto disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all. (Rom. 8:20) For the creation was subjected to vanity (the fall and corruption), not of its own will, but by reason of him (God) who subjected it, in hope (firm expectation )21 that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. (Gal.3:22) But the scriptures shut up all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. He chose us in Christ before Adam even fell. (Eph.1:4) even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love. Meaning he knew we would need a savior before the world was made. From this you can see that the fall was in his plan. Children who are raised with Christ most often take Him for granted and do not really understand grace. God has a plan for them that may involve the temporary lifting of His grace that has been taken for granted.

Peter was Jesus' little one, who He raised up to be a disciple. He was very self confident declaring to the Lord that he would never be offended and deny Him, but would go with Him to death (Mt.26:33-35). God hates self confidence but loves God confidence. So how does God deal with this sin? (1Co.10:12) Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. Failure is the best treatment for self confidence. (Luk.22:31) Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat: {32} but I made supplication for thee, that thy faith fail not; and do thou, when once thou hast turned again, establish thy brethren. {33} And he said unto him, Lord, with thee I am ready to go both to prison and to death. {34} And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, until thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me. Jesus prophesied failure for this proud man. Notice that Jesus, who had authority over Satan did not forbid him from sifting Peter. Satan sifts to get what belongs to him. In this case it was Peters pride, self righteousness and self confidence. What fell through the sieve was what God wanted, the humbled Peter. The sifted Peter who had "turned again" or been converted, could now "establish the brethren". Before this failure, he would have been a good Pharisee.

(Luk.7:40) And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Teacher, say on. {41} A certain lender had two debtors: the one owed five hundred shillings, and the other fifty. {42} When they had not [wherewith] to pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most? {43} Simon answered and said, He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. {44} And turning to the woman, he said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thy house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath wetted my feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair. {45} Thou gavest me no kiss: but she, since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet. {46} My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but she hath anointed my feet with ointment. {47} Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, [the same] loveth little. Big sinners make bigger saints.

God wants people who are forgiven of their many sins and saved by grace so that they love and appreciate Him much. This is the creation that He wants, not Adam before the Fall. The creation that springs from the last Adam, Jesus Christ. Don't worry about them becoming sinners, just "hold fast the confession of your hope that it waver not, for he is faithful that promised". Gracefully sow seeds of truth as you can without frustrating them. They cannot be convinced without grace. "God works all things after the counsel of His own will" and "a man can receive nothing except it come from heaven" and "no one comes unto the Son except the Father draws him". God will do it when the time is right and He will use your faith. "Faith is the substance of the thing hoped for". I think you can see why some times God does not save people until they are a little older and have tried the world and found it wanting".

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