In an unassuming town there lived a wealthy man with a huge estate. The estate sat upon a hillside overlooking the town below. Each morning he would rise from his slumber and think of how he could spend his fortune. He wanted to give settlements to those that would ask but no one ever did. The town dwellers cowered in his presence, intimidated by his grandeur. They would rather stay in their weather beaten shacks than approach him for anything. The town beggars didn’t dare ask for a penny terrified he would belittle them. They spoke in whispers when he was near, the boisterous voices of the town crier hushed when he walked by . Wherever his presence went the townspeople kept their distance. The reason being the townspeople were ashamed of their rags and self conscious of their lack. When the wealthy man entered a shelter one day he gave great portions of food away. All the men were satisfied with their portion. All the women were satisfied with their portion. All the children were satisfied with their portion except for one. “May I have more please?,” she asked. “I’m still hungry.” The others scolded her in disdain. “You are an embarrassment . How could you ask for more? Don’t you know what you are? You are a filthy urchin. You get what you get! Don’t you know who he is? He is too glorious for you to approach. You get what you get! But the wealthy man turned to the child with a broad smile. He had been waiting for this little interruption from normalcy all along. “Take it all” He gave her what was left over. He began to walk away and heard her speak again, “May I come live with you?” The people gasped, their faces decorated the room in a horrid fashion. Then silence fell on their upturned mouths when the wealthy man approached the little urchin dressed in rags . He took her hand and leveled his eyes with hers. “Not only will you live with me dear child, you will receive my inheritance . You will become a heir to my estate because you had the prowess to ask. All the townspeople gaped in astonishment as the little urchin took the wealthy man’s hand and walked out of the shelter ,up to the hillside, where inheritance waited on her.
This is my parable of the week. It answers the question, how can we approach God? Before Jesus we couldn’t approach God at all. If a person wanted to speak to God they would have to go to a priest and bring a sacrifice for their sins. Before Jesus salvation was only for Jewish people; a select few. After Jesus salvation is offered to all people. It doesn’t matter where you were born, what you have done, what family you have, how many people like you, or how much money you have. All you have to do is accept Jesus into your heart and walk boldly before him. Be like the urchin girl and speak up and ask for what you need and what you desire.
“So let’s walk up right up to Him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.”
-Hebrews 4:16
There is no barrier between you and God. He desires and delights in our need for him. When we approach God boldly he shows us grace, mercy and favor. He forgets what we have done in our past and ignores how the world sees us. God is not like people he won’t hold us in contempt or judge us by how much money we make or how many followers we have. He just loves us. It is not complicated. Love covers a multitude of sin. Just like the wealthy man wiped away the filth that was holding the girl in bondage. Jesus sets us free to live the lives we were always meant to live. Just like the wealthy man released the girl from a conceptual prison, God releases you from what holds you back. He is saying , “Come to me, I have set you free from guilt, shame, fear, lack and negative people. Come to me. Walk right up to my throne without fear and I will get on your level to bring you where I am.”
Isn’t that what Jesus did for us? He came down to cleanse our tenement hearts so we could walk boldly into our estate and live with him for eternity.
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