I listened to an amazing testimony recently. It was the story of someone who has now moved to Australia, but their life seemed to start in darkness and literally got to the very depths of that darkness before YHWH brought amazing changes into the man’s life. Such a very different life to my own – and it got me thinking.
You see, I was born into a believing family, I was raised with Godly principles and was encouraged to read the Scriptures for myself. I never left home until I was married, and had no desire to ever try drugs or rebel against my upbringing at all. When I hear someone’s story where they’ve almost killed themselves through drugs or alcohol or by embracing Satanic forces, I honestly don’t have any experiential knowledge whatsoever. But – I am human just as they are and, strangely, I do understand to some degree. Ultimately, sin is sin, and all paths lead away from YHWH except for one!
All of this reminds me of a time in Yeshua’s life. You can read about it in Luke 7:36-50, and it’s the story of Yeshua being invited to Simon the Pharisee’s house for a meal. A woman, who was considered a sinner and an outcast, came in and washed Yeshua’s feet with tears, dried them with her hair and anointed them with ointment. The story ends with Yeshua declaring her sins forgiven and telling her to go in peace. But, it’s the interaction that Yeshua has with Simon that is of particular note to me.
Simon the Pharisee was not impressed by the woman’s actions or by Yeshua’s acceptance of her presence. She was, after all, known as a sinner (probably a prostitute)! How could Yeshua possibly allow her to touch Him!? In response to this attitude, Yeshua uses a parable to push Simon to think about the events in a different way. After hearing the parable, Simon admits that the one who is forgiven the most would also love the most. And then Yeshua concludes that the woman who anointed his feet has been forgiven the most and has, thus, loved the most.
Just as the testimony I mentioned got me thinking, so does a story like this. They seem to be speaking very much on the same thing and, on the surface, it could be easy to conclude that someone who has repented from a life of sin and rebellion would love YHWH more than someone like me, who has lived in the faith from childhood. But … I don’t want that!! Please don’t get me wrong here. I’m not saying I deserve something different than anyone else. I’m not saying I’m better than anyone else (like Simon the Pharisee appeared to believe). I’m simply saying that I want to love my God just like anyone else does, no matter what our past has looked like.
This story in Luke has some important lessons for someone like me, though. In the end, you’ll see that they’re lessons that are important to all who follow YHWH. Remember – He has no favourites.
I think we can assume that Simon the Pharisee had grown up “in the faith” and not gone into a “life of sin”. He had lived a good life and done what was expected of him. But read through the passage in Luke and you’ll notice that there is nothing positive said about Simon, except for the fact that he answered Yeshua’s question correctly. That is simply not enough! There were no actions that displayed a true faith here.
I could be wrong, but it’s my conclusion that Simon showed no true love towards Yeshua because he was of the opinion that he was basically good enough already and, therefore, didn’t believe he was in need of much (if any) forgiveness. If this was indeed his attitude, then he was dead wrong! “There is none that does good, no, not one.” (Ps 14:3b) Simon needed forgiveness, just as I need forgiveness, and just as you need forgiveness.
This is where the lessons from this story should hit home. This is a huge warning to those of us who have grown up with a Godly heritage. A Godly heritage does NOT mean that entry into the Kingdom is automatic. It does NOT mean that sin isn’t existent or doesn’t have to be repented of. And, as a result, it does NOT mean that our love for YHWH should be any less. Otherwise, there would be a slightly legitimate reason for us to go off into the world of sin for a season, with the aim to return with a greater love for our God.
YHWH’s ideal is laid out in the Torah. Children are to be raised in the faith and taught from a young age to live a righteous life. The nation of Israel would be blessed when this was carried out in obedience and faith. When the nation fell into the sinful ways of the world around them, it was definitely not a positive that led to a greater show of love toward their King! This obviously remains true for us who live in the modern era. To have multiple generations with a Godly heritage should truly be a blessing, not a detriment to loving our God.
But the warning remains. I think it is easier, or more natural, for someone who has had their life utterly transformed from a hopeless world of darkness into one of light, joy and eternal hope. It is easier to love their God and Saviour almost automatically. They have such a clear reminder whenever they look back at where they have been before YHWH entered their life. For those who grow up in the faith, their love may not be quite as automatic. We may need reminders of our true nature and how much we need YHWH. We may need to hear a testimony of how great our God is through the lives of those around us. The fact is, we need Him just as much as anyone who has ever lived. There are no differences to this reality.
The parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) highlights these thoughts so well. The younger son who rebels and almost kills himself with sin, returns to his father in repentance. The story actually highlights the love the father has for his returned son, rather than the son’s love, but we can assume from the things we’ve already discussed that the son had a deep love for his father upon his return. The end of the story, though, clearly portrays the lack of love the older son has in his heart. Yet, the father makes it clear that this older son actually has lived with the same blessings the whole time! Is that me!?! Is that any generation that grows up “in the faith”? Let it not be!
When I listened to the testimony I mentioned at the beginning, it highlighted to me just how amazing and loving our God truly is. This is my God! He loves His people and we should love Him too. It’s easy when we see who He is and what He does for all sinners. I’m no better and I’m no worse than the man who spoke of his transformation, but what a blessing it is to have people like this as our brothers and sisters and live together to bring glory to YHWH!
What an example the woman gave us in the days of Yeshua. Let’s love YHWH with the same heart that she had. Let’s show our love with all we have by our actions and obedience. Let’s thank Him for the amazing testimonies that display His own love and power. And let’s then raise together a new generation that doesn’t have to deal with the excess baggage of an early life of destructive sin.
But never forget the example of the prodigal son’s older brother, so that we remain humble and focused on the goodness of The Father. Always nurture that love for YHWH, for it is He alone that brings every single person into His eternal Kingdom.
