God never turns His back on anyone
“I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who turns to God from his sins than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent” (Luke 15:7).
The story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) is an example that God never turns His back on anyone . Even a rebellious child is welcome back into the family, if she decides to return home. That is exactly what happened to Lynda Alsford of the United Kingdom.
After months of wallowing in the filth of swines and nothing to eat, she realized there is no place like home.
“When she came to her senses, she said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your daughter; make me like one of your hired servants’. So she got up and went to her father.
(Luke 15:17-20)
Lynda Alsford of the UK was a devout Christian for 27 years. She spent the last six months of 2009 as a church Army evangelist. Nevertheless, her faith in God wavered, and she quit the church, but not forever.
Here, is how she describes her aboutface in her book: “He Never Let Go: The true story of a prodigal evangelist: “I had come to a major crisis in my faith. Doubts about God had been building up over the previous few months and had come to a head while I preached that sermon“. “It is a lie. It is all a lie. Do not believe a word of it”. These are not the words you would expect a Church Army evangelist to be thinking while preaching at a carol service. However, that is what I was thinking on 20 December 2009 as I preached the most evangelistic sermon I have ever preached”.
“By Christmas 2010, I’d realised that if God couldn’t be reasoned into existence then faith had to be involved. Faith, I realised, was an act of my will. It was not a feeling. It was a decision I made.
So, one day in January 2011, I made that step of faith. I prayed to God, telling him that I believed he existed.
All the peace and joy of believing came flooding back. I knew once more that there is a God.
Within a few months, I’d had a dream about Jesus. It led me to wake up knowing God’s love in a far deeper way than I have ever known it.
My faith is now far stronger than it was before – it’s more real, and I am finding freedom from things that have held me back for years. I now know beyond all shadow of doubt that God never lets us go”.
14 Responses to “God never turns His back on anyone”
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I loved this post Noel! There is so much wisdom here regarding what faith truly is. Also, it is always a joy to read how God welcomes us back into His Kingdom, without so much as a, “Why did you do it?” That is the love of our Lord. Thanks for sharing this and God Bless, SR
The guest speaker at the all church bible study was a college professor in Theological studies at Hope University. It was a little difficult paying attention, but the one thing I took away from this look into Romans 9 was that we were chosen by God, and God does not reject those he has chosen.
BTW, I love the book of Romans, but this man was a classic professor in style and I fought to stay awake, especially since I had been up since four o’clock that morning.
Great post, Noel! Inspiring to know He’s always there no matter what! Clinging to that awesome love God bestows upon us!
God Bless You!
Of course God will never let go. It was all His work from the beginning. Everyone is completely DEAD spiritually, unable to do anything at all about their sinful condition. Everyone is guilty, condemned and without excuse, as Ephesians 2:1-3 clearly states, before the triumphant “But God” of verse 4.
God took me out of that darkness and placed me into the light of His kingdom as His blood-bought, adopted child. He showers me with blessings and His abiding presence. He guides me and draws me back when I stray.
What an amazing God!
Thanks so much for sharing, Noel! Your post reminded me of the fact, that the Lord will never leave me, nor will He forsake me! He loves me with an everlasting and unconditional love! Praise God! He is always there with arms outstretched and open wide, to receive us again,unto Himself! Truly, our God is awesome! May the Lord bless you!
Paulette
Great post Noel, and I am so glad that you do not turn your back on friends either. You are an amazing person who brings us remarkable insight, sometimes in ways that you do not even realize. God works through you! I wanted to let you know that I nominated you for the Reality Award and that you may pick it up here if you choose: http://loopyloo305.com/2012/10/11/award-nominations-2/
Thanks for using my story as an illustration of the story of the prodigal son. I so love the story and even more so now I have come back to faith. God didn’t just bring me back to where I was either. Since my return to God I have been set free from the eating disorder compulsive over eating and also am being led back into full time Christian ministry. God is so gracious to me despite my wandering away from Him for that time.