Knock Three Times

     I have noticed that when God has a message He wants me to get, He usually sends it three times. Instead of voice mail, text, and e-mail, it might be BSF, church and Christian radio. It's as if God thinks I'm slow on the uptake--which would be insulting if it wasn't true. Lately, what He has reinforced is that our prodigals might not walk close to the Lord in our lifetimes. In three very separate incidents, I have heard Christian mothers of grown children express this, along with their willingness to accept that if necessary. Since we saw God intervene so directly with our prodigal son recently, I am hoping the changes will come before he marries and has children, so that he can make wise choices. But right now it is enough that he has given his drinking, which consumed a large part of his life, to God.
     For the first time in 15 years, our son feels a flicker of faith. As tempting as it is to throw a truckload of theology and large logs of expectations on that spark, trying to make up for lost time, that would only put the flame out. Spiritual fire, just like real fire, begins with kindling and gentle blowing until is it gradually able to handle more. That is what the Spirit continues to do in my own life, and to try to accelerate my son's growth for my own satisfaction, is to put my schedule before God's. God is sovereign and can grow  faith in spite of our interference. He just shouldn't have to. Smothering faith is Satan's job and I don't want to be Satan's little helper.
      So while I wait, I cling to three unshakeable truths from John six:
      1. No one comes to Christ unless the Father draws him.     vs. 44
      2. All that the Father gives Jesus will come to Him.        vs. 37
      3. None of those given will be lost, all will be resurrected.    vs. 39

     I can rest in this because we are not saved by our own volition, but by the irresistible Holy Spirit. Would we even want a God who could begin to draw someone to Christ but not finish? Like it's too hard? Like He didn't know we would be so difficult? God is drawing our son in His time and His way. It's not about Tracy. It's not about me. It's about God. My job is to pray, obey and get out of God's way. I don't want to find out how hard God can knock.