Luk 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
Today there are several winds of doctrines sweeping over the world. The predestination doctrine is one of them. It was the famous reformer John Calvin that started this doctrine. Teaching that God is the one deciding who will be saved or not. They teach that if and when we choose to give our life to God, is because God made us to do it. It has nothing to do with us at all.
We have been reduced to puppies, that no matter what we do or don’t do, God is in control, and will have his way. He will make sure that them he wants to save, will be saved.
But in the story of the prodigal son, we see another picture painted. We see a Father walking and waiting for his lost son. He was ready and prepared to forgive him. To restore him. To love and embrace him. But he would not and could not make the decision for him. Just as much as he couldn't stop him when he left him. He did not run after him, or come to him where he was eating with the pigs. No, he stayed home waiting.
It is true that we cant save ourselves. It is true that we don’t deserve salvation. It is true that there is nothing we can do on our part that would make us deserve anything. It is all the unconditional love of our father. But the decision have to be made by us. Somewhere, somehow we have to stand up, and start our walk to God. And, just like in the story, at a certain point, God will come running towards us, embrace us, forgive us, and walk us all the way home. Note that the Father didn’t wait till he was clean and perfect. He embraced him, and gave him his unconditional love while he was still dirty, and still was a sinner. He told him all the things he was GOING to do. And then he walked him all the way home.
The gospel is to "who so ever will, let him come"
IF God was to choose, then all would be saved, because he doesn't want that any perish, but that all come to repentance. He wish that all would make the way home like the prodigal son. Thats what he is waiting for.
