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[By Pastor Wayne Sibrava, Living Water Baptist Church]

There’s a story about a man with two sons. One of them came to his father, eager to get his inheritance before his father passed away. A few days later, the younger son packed his things and left his father, heading to a distant land where he spent all his inheritance in wild living. Then, a terrible famine hit the land, and he began to starve. A local farmer offered him a job feeding pigs. After some time, the son “came to himself,” realizing that his father’s hired servants had it better than he did. He decided to go back to his father and ask for forgiveness. 

Here’s what he said: Luke 15:18–19  (NLT) ¹⁸ “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, ¹⁹ and I  am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”  

What would his father think of him? How would he react? How would he be welcomed? These  were all probably the questions swirling in his mind as he traveled home. But, even though he was far away, we find these words: Luke 15:20–24 (NLT) ²⁰ So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. ²¹ His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’ ²² “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. ²³ And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, ²⁴ for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.” So the party began.  

Jesus shared this story to remind us of God’s incredible love for us. Here’s what Jesus said just before the story: Luke 15:10–11 (NLT) ¹⁰ In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents. ¹¹ To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “Wow, isn’t God amazing? He’s so willing to forgive our sins, but he also has to do it in the way he’s planned for us. This is the simple truth we should remember if we want to go to heaven when we die.  

First, we need to admit that we’re sinners. Just like the son in the story, we need to see that we’re all sinners, including me, and we need to admit that we need forgiveness. Scripture says: 1 John 1:9–10 (NLT) ⁹ But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. ¹⁰ If we say we haven’t  sinned, we’re saying God is a liar, and we’re showing that his word doesn’t mean anything to us. Second, we need to admit or believe that Jesus died on the cross for our sins: 1 Peter 3:18 (NLT) ¹⁸ Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. Jesus never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit. Finally, we need to accept Jesus as our Lord. Thirdly, we need to confess Jesus as our Lord! Romans 10:9 (NLT) ⁹ If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  

I was taught for 18 years that when I was baptized as an infant that I was then born again and  that I was going to heaven because I was baptized. Yet, at age 18 I realized that I was lost and not going to heaven. Finally, I admitted that I was a sinner, I confessed my sin, and I invited Jesus to be my Lord, and now I know for sure that I am going to heaven when I die. My prayer for you and all of Owego and the Southern Tier is that we would all trust Jesus so that we go to heaven when we die.