My favorite movie is "Finding Nemo" there are so many wonderful elements to Nemo's story. How many times have we heard our parents tell us, "don't do that, don't touch this, or you can't go there"? Nemo's father warned his son not to go swimming out in the ocean, because he thought that his son was not ready for the big sea. Doing just what he was warned not to do, Nemo broke away from his father and started out in the ocean.
The minute that Nemo decided to go swim against his father's wishes he was captured and taken away to a strange land. Alone and frightened this was the first time away from his father's care. Society has given us the ability to choose anything we want, from a hamburger to a cheeseburger, power windows, sunroofs,anti-lock brakes, ,long hair, short hair,good advice and bad advice. But, what if you chose the wrong direction because you didn't want to listen to the voice of your father?
As a teenager my mother told me not to drive my car to a neighboring state because the car was in need of some minor repairs. Needless to say I didn't listen and boy was that a big mistake! One mile from my destination the car stopped on a dark country road with the nearest street light at the local gas station six country miles away. I was terrified, there I was with two of my friends on the side of the road, and at that time we didn't have cell phones. What was I going to do? How was I going to get home? Was I going to die, once my mother found out what happened? If ever there was a time when bad thoughts entered my mind, it was then. Fortunately for me, a nice stranger helped us to get where we needed to go. Unfortunately for me, I messed the car up even worse than before. There are consequences when we are disobedient.
People can be a great asset to have but they can also be a detriment to your life, when we chose to listen to them rather than the voice of God. Often times we can chose ungodly counsel or make a hasty decision that will lead us off our directed path because we do not want to be laughed at or picked on. Just as Nemo found himself on an unwanted path, we as creatures of habit have done some of the same things.
After several days of failed attempts to escape from his capturer's Nemo was finally free and was reunited with his father. In the story of the prodigal son, the Father saw his son from afar off and welcomed him back into his kingdom. (Luke 15:11-32) I can't help but to think what that moment was like for the Father who had been missing his son, I am sure he had been praying for his son's safe return. How did the son feel? In a sense he probably felt like we did when we connected to God for the first time or re-connected to him after leaving his will to follow our fleshly will. It was a sense of humility and relief from the pressure of carrying unnecessary weight.
Luckily for us God forgives us and receives us back to him. "Just as Nemo had to realize he had made a mistake, we too, have to come to the realization that we need to change our course. John 10:27 says "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me." Trust the God in you and listen to what God is saying to you.
There are some simple steps that can lead us off the path, but one step can lead us back to Christ. That step is a repentant heart. If you have strayed from God's path, he is waiting for you to turn back to him, his arms are open to receive you. " I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:9-10.
Yesterday may have been a day of bad choices, but today is the first day of your abundant life...Ask God for his direction and walk into your full God given ability. THERE IS GREATNESS IN YOU, THERE IS A CHAMPION IN YOU!
Additional Scriptures:
John 3:16; Romans 10:9-10
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