“Chad, Titus, come—pizza’s ready—Time for supper!” I yelled from the second-story porch just off the kitchen. Since arriving in Papua New Guinea as missionaries, we had tried to set aside Fridays as family nights. My wife Joy would use her creative missionary culinary skills to invent wonderful pizza, often substituting local ingredients in place of those items one would typically expect on a pizza. The results were never a disappointment, and, when combined with games or a video, family night became (and still remains) the highlight of our week. This particular Friday it was already getting late and two of our boys, Chad and Titus, were still outside playing.
Running around the corner and up the stairs was Chad, the oldest. “Where’s your little brother?” I inquired.
“I dunno—but I think he’s got a problem!” He hollered over the slamming screen door.
Typically the two would race inside, jockeying for the lead. I figured I ought to go investigate Titus’ whereabouts. No sooner had I reached the bottom of the stairs when from behind the banana trees (where earlier I had told the boys NOT to play) there came the familiar distressing cries of my three-year-old. My ears followed his hysterics until I got close enough for my nose to be clued in to his predicament.
There was my son Titus, shirtless and barefoot, with tears streaming down his distraught little face. The “problem” Chad alluded to was that he had stepped in a massive, fresh, steaming dog pile—with both feet. He stood frozen in the muck of his gross dilemma, but frozen also because he had been caught in his disobedience. Titus had worked himself into such a fit by this time, stomping and crying, that for me to intervene would only get me covered in the same mess. So I stood close by (but upwind) from my son, waiting patiently for him to settle down. Eventually his tantrum slowed. He wiped his tears with one hand, while continuing to plug his nose with the other. Titus opened his eyes, turned, and looked up at me. With a small voice, between sobs he said, “Daddy, I was playin’ over here and stepped in doggy poop… (sniffle)…will you please help me get … (snuff)… cleaned up? I wanna go upstairs with you for pizza.”
So what do you think I did? Of course, I carefully scooped him in my arms, carried him over to the hose and began washing his feet. I removed the consequences of my son’s disobedience so that we could go upstairs and have family night together. Our fellowship was restored, but our relationship was never in question…no matter what he had stepped in.
The illustration was evidently clear to Shirley, as a smile joined her tears. This is truly Good News! I was able to assure her that as we wrap up our study in By This Name, we will look at more examples in the Bible that illustrate our position as children of God.
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”—1 John 5:13
“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
“… [nothing] else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord”—Romans 8:39
The Heavenly Father sent Jesus to die on the cross not only to deal with our sin and its gross consequences, but also to establish a place for us in his eternal family. Regardless of what we might “step in” on this earth, as His children (relationship) we can be certain that our fellowship with God can be restored.
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