Onw[e]rd

Did you ever play Red Light, Green Light as a kid? We always played that game at recess. After a few tries, you learn very quickly that if you want to move forward and win, you have to listen closely. You can’t anticipate what you think will be said because you’ll lose. You can’t get cocky. You have to wait for the green light. If you moved ahead of time, you had to go back and start again which usually meant that your chances of losing increased because everyone was so far ahead.

Just like in this game, in life, think of going back to start again as a blessing instead of a consequence. Often times we feel like we aren’t where we should be spiritually because we’ve had to go back so many times. But God is sending us back to move forward.

Going back to move onward. What a crazy concept, right?

So one of my favorite parables is the prodigal son. To me it outlines the Gospel so well. A son wants his inheritance early and because of his selfish ambitions, he separates from his father. Kinda like how our sinful desires lead us to separate from our Father.

The son enjoys the life away from home, but eventually his resources run out. Probably because he was disconnected from the source. The son finds himself eating with swine, an unclean animal. Funny how our guilt and shame leave us feeling dirty as if we only deserve the fill of pigs.

Then suddenly, the light bulb goes off. The son thinks that if he goes back to his father’s house to live as a servant, he would at least have a decent meal. Praise God that when we repent he welcomes us back, not as a servant but as a son or daughter.

Going back meant growth. The truth is we are hard headed and God knows this. He knows that after we go through a time away from him, we pick up some things. The son learned that his father was right. He learned that he couldn’t handle life on his own. He learned that in his father’s house, he had everything he needed.

In my own life, I have been at the pigs pen a few times. Trying to trace my steps to figure out how I ended up there. Replaying moments over and over again in my mind of poor decisions. If I would have just listened instead. If I didn’t think I knew everything at 18 or 21 or 26…ha! God did not cause me to deter from Him, but He used it for my good. He used it to show me salvation and redemption. He used it to show me grace and mercy. He used it to show me that I cannot live another second without Him.

So after going back, what have you learned? What lessons did you take with you? How have you moved onward?

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. Hebrews 12:1-2

Throw aside the weight and sin that has prevented you from running this race, go back to the Father’s house and move onw[e]rd.

Want this tee?

I got this cool tee from Onwerd. Check out her site!