Before You Leave the Room: The Unclaimed Inheritance of Forgiveness

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There was once a rich man who had a son who left home to live a life of crime and immorality, bringing disgrace and shame upon his family and father. Despite the pain, the father loved his son deeply and mourned his absence for years. One day, the son received a notice that his father had passed away and his final wish was for the son to attend the reading of his will. The son decided to honor his father's request and went to the lawyer's office.

    As the lawyer began to read the will, it started with a list of the son's moral and ethical failures, systematically detailing the actions that had hurt his father deeply in his life. Agitated and unable to sit through the painful litany of his sins being read out, the son stood up and left the room before the lawyer could finish reading the will.

    Sadly, he left too soon. The will concluded with the father's expression of love and a declaration that he had forgiven his son for everything he had done. The father had left his son a large sum of money, a significant inheritance. Because the son refused to hear about his sins and refused to confess, his father's love, forgiveness, and the large sum of money went unclaimed.

    Spiritually speaking there are many in this world that has done exactly what that wayward son had done. There are countless people who, like the son, refuse to entertain the idea that they are sinners in need of God’s forgiveness. When confronted with their own moral failures, they become upset and, in a sense, "storm out of the room," demanding tolerance instead of seeking repentance. Refusing to listen or believe that what they are doing is sinful. By refusing to confess our sins before God, we miss out on one of the greatest blessings we can ever receive. A blessing that is not a large sum of money but an inheritance in the kingdom of God for all eternity. 

The apostle John, writing to believers, offers a promise that is both simple and profound:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9, ESV)

    This verse reveals that confession is not something God forces upon us; it is a choice we must make. We are free to continue living our lives apart from God and in rebellion against Him. However, it is through confession and repentance that we receive the promise of forgiveness and cleansing.

    The story of the wayward son is a sad one, but a far greater tragedy is the story of all those who refuse to confess their sins before God. They will one day realize the great tragedy that their sinful pride has caused when they are cast into hell for all eternity. All because they refused to receive the gift of salvation—a gift freely given and purchased by Jesus Christ with His own blood.

    Now to be fair confession is not easy; it’s not easy to admit when we are wrong. For those who have yet to trust in Jesus Christ for their salvation, a refusal to confess will lead to an eternity separated from God. For those who are saved, a lack of confession will hinder our spiritual growth and disrupt our fellowship with God. Confession is not easy, but without it there is no blessing. 

    Confession is not about earning forgiveness; it is about receiving it. It's an act of humble surrender that opens the door to God's grace and restoration. As the great reformer Martin Luther once said, "For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation." Confession is good for the soul because it brings us out of the darkness of our pride and into the light of God’s mercy.

Practical Applications:

  1. Examine Your Heart: Take time this week to prayerfully reflect on your life. Are there sins you've been holding onto, refusing to confess? Acknowledge these before God, not with a sense of dread, but with the confidence that He is "faithful and just to forgive" you.

  2. Confess to a Trusted Brother or Sister: While our ultimate confession is to God, there is often great power and healing in confessing to a trusted Christian friend. As James 5:16 says, "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed." This can provide accountability and genuine support on your journey.

  3. Don't Walk Away: If you are a non-believer reading this, please don't walk away from the truth. The same wayward son left before hearing his father’s forgiveness and love, many people today turn their back on God when confronted with sin. God’s great message to you is not just that you are a sinner, but that He loves you and sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the price for your sins on the cross. Don't leave the room before you have received the free gift of salvation and forgiveness He offers you today

Location: Ashmore, IL 61912, USA

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