So, yesterday it was the world premiere of the new James Bond film, Spectre and there was a red carpet to greet and welcome the people who had a ticket.
A red carpet sends out the message to the people invited that they are special and important. As you can see from this picture, not everyone is allowed on the carpet, only the specially invited guests are welcome to walk on it. The rest of us just get to watch from a distance.
As I thought about the red carpet welcome, it reminded me of God and his attitude towards us when we turn to him.
In the parable of the prodigal son, a son takes his inheritance and leaves the home only to come back later, poor and destitute. He arrives home in a real state, he is starving and penniless and he is hoping that he can just become a servant in his father’s estate. The father runs out and greets him, he gives him clean clothes and throws a party, now that is a welcome!
When we turn to God, there aren’t angelic bouncers on the red carpet checking if we are good enough or if we deserve to know God. There is just God who longs for us to come to him and who runs to meet us as we are on our way.
God wants you to know that you are loved, accepted and special and that his red carpet is open to you.
All that is needed is to be like the prodigal son, turning from where we are headed towards God and to receive his welcome.
What is stopping us?
You can read more in Do we really believe that we are loved unconditionally by God?
Honest about my faith 