Waking up and seeing things as they are

Luke 15:17 NKJV

"But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

This young guy had been living in a fantasy world of his own making - his own meta-verse!

When He left home, he was "living the dream" wearing his virtual reality goggles - no more rules and regulations, no responsibility, no more daily chores - only fun, fun fun from now on.

But it wasn't reality, there came a day when consequences hit him squarely in the face.

Sitting in that stinky pig-pen, he realised that even his father's employees had it better than he did now.

Then he had a radical decision to make - one that entailed eating a huge slice of humble pie.

Luke 15:18-19 NKJV

I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, [19] and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants."'

When we wake up to God after feeding on the pig-swill of what the world has to offer, we too have a decision to make.

Do I throw myself on His mercy and grace or do I stubbornly trudge my own rebellious way to damnation?

It's a matter of free will and choice.

Take Judas, he came to his senses, but chose suicide - a deliberate decision out of his own will.

Even though he'd seen and heard Jesus, he didn't take His words to heart.

In the end he didn't believe in redemption and rebirth - he thought he'd gone beyond that.

Matthew 27:3-5 NKJV

Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that Jesus had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, [4] saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." And they said, "What is that to us? You see to it!" [5] Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.

This reveals the futility of religion - those priests had no words of mercy or grace for Judas: "What's that to us? You've made your bed, now lie on it!"

Seeking redemption and forgiveness via religion can never remove the burden of our sin and rebellious ways.

Only One True Way remains open to us.

Father God, help me to be awake always and live in reality, making decisions based on Your Word.