Branch On The Vine

By: Alli Matthews

I will be quick to admit that I have been here multiple times throughout my faith journey.

I actually had a period of time when I was running from God within this past year. On the outside, it looked like I was doing “all the right things” like going to church and leading a small group with my husband. However, on the inside, I was allowing anxiety to rule in my mind. I was not making time for God in my days but instead turning to numbing myself on social media. I knew God was calling me to share about him on the internet somehow, but I wasn’t listening. 

We have all run from God in some way throughout our lives. We have all chosen the short satisfaction of sin over the abundant life that comes with obedience to God. Before I get too blunt here, I want you to know you are not alone. We have all sinned. We have all chosen a wrong path in our journeys.

That is why we need Jesus. He was able to overcome all temptation and take your sins and the sins of the world to death on the cross. He rose from the dead and ascended to heaven to make a way for us to be freed from sin and have a relationship with God.

Now that you know all of that, I will explain the two options of what you can do next:

1. Change course – run back to God
2. Stay on your path – keep running from God

You might be thinking, “Wait, what? Why are there only two paths? Isn’t there some kind of in-between?” 

Well, my friend, I would argue that there is no in-between. We either choose to live for God or choose to live for ourselves.

So, ask yourself right now: who are you living for?

I’ll start by painting a picture of Option 1.

1. Change course – run back to God

Let’s look at an example of running back to God from the Bible. Luke 15:18-20 says, “‘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 son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.’” 

This is the story of the prodigal or lost son. You can read the full story in Luke 15:11-32 which I would highly recommend. This was a parable told by Jesus. The lost son had chosen to dishonor his father and to live for himself, allowing sin to rule his life. 

When he finally came to the end of himself and wasted all of his money, he realized he had made a huge mistake. He felt so guilty and was so desperate that he decided to return home to his father. His plan was to come with an apology and ask to simply be a servant of his house so that he would have food and shelter. However, at the first sight of his son in the distance, his father sprinted out to him and welcomed him home with love and celebration. 

Jesus told that story to illustrate how God views us when we repent and run home to him. He welcomes us. He has compassion for us. He throws his arms around us. He celebrates. 

It is never too late to choose God. He freely offers forgiveness when you confess your sins and choose to live for him.

2. Stay on your path – keep running from God

What does the Bible say about continuing in sin? Romans 6:1-2 is pretty clear when it says, “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?”

If you believe Jesus is Lord and Savior of your life, then you have died to sin. You no longer identify with sin. You are set free from sin. You are free to choose to live in obedience to God.

But if you are convinced that your own way of life is better, let me warn you that Romans 6:23 states clearly, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” This means that what we earn by sinning is spiritual death. If you’re not choosing to run back to God, then you are not choosing eternal life.

That is a difficult truth to comprehend, but I would be lying to you if I didn’t include it here. You need to know what the cost of continuing to run away from God is before you make that decision. 

I could write a whole book trying to convince you of this, but for now, I will instead leave you with James’ description of what happens when we let our evil desires rule our lives:

“When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” James 1:13-15

So what will you do?

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness,” 1 John 1:9.

Let’s unpack that. God is faithful, meaning he keeps his promises. He is also just, meaning he doesn’t let evil go unpunished. And yet he forgives us when we do wrong. How does this all work together?

If we choose to apologetically confess our sins to him and trust that Jesus paid the cost of our sins by dying on the cross, we will be washed clean. God will forget our sin because he will see us through the lens of his perfect Son, Jesus. He is able to be just because Jesus took our place of guilt, even though he was innocent. Praise the Lord!

I thank God for his grace and that he led me back home to his arms. There was still a lot of damage done in my time of stubbornly running from God. I started taking medication to help me deal with my anxiety. Over time, with God’s help, I have been able to heal. Anxiety is still something I struggle with, but now I battle against it with God’s help through scripture and prayer. Fighting anxiety this way has been life changing, but that’s another story for a future blog. 

The choice is yours. Choose God’s way or your own way. I pray that you would run back to God, if not today, then someday soon. He is patiently awaiting your return with loving, welcoming arms, ready to forgive those who repent of their sins.

~

"Blessed is the one
    who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
    or sit in the company of mockers,
  but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers."  Psalm 1:1-3