Do you ever have one of those “aha!” moments when something just clicks like never before? This Sunday night at Tunkhannock Baptist Church we begin a 6 week series in Tim Keller’s The Prodigal God. Last night my wife and I sat down and watched the whole 38 minute video of Tim Keller’s presentation of the message of The Prodigal God intended for use in studying the book.
I have to say, first, it was one of the clearest, boldest, presentations of the Gospel I had ever seen or heard. Keller has a knack for speaking clarity into the profound riches and the incredible simplicities of the Gospel with such a pastor’s heart. I had to remind myself as I grew envious of Keller’s abilities that I was not Keller nor should I try to be him. I am me and should preach as God has made me to do so!
Yet, when considering the discussion about the elder brother, I was blown away by the thought that Jesus not only wants us to contrast the younger brother with the elder brother but to “long for our true elder brother” (in the words of Keller). We are to see the Pharisee’s in the elder brother and long for the true elder brother, Jesus Christ, who came from heaven to find us and bring us back home with great cost and sacrifice on His part. This thought simply blew my mind last night. I had never made this connection before (and yet it seems so clear) and I was just simply amazed at the lengths God went to bring me home. It is utterly amazing at the grace God granted through Christ to redeem me and bring me into fellowship with God once again. I wept at the reality and I don’t often weep like that! But when confronted with the profound truths of the Gospel and the implications of it for my life, it blew me away, and forced me to my knees weeping over grace undeserved. How much we need to be refreshed by that amazing grace!
Speaking of grace, Sinclair Ferguson has a great book out now dealing with making grace all the more profound as often we find grace, not so amazing after awhile. Make sure you check out his, By Grace Alone: How the Grace of God Amazes Me.
Working out Salvation with Fear and Trembling 