Once upon a time there was a boy living in ignorance and enslaved to those who were around him. But the boys Father had been watching over his son for some time. And finally one day the boys Father came to save him from all those he was enslaved to.
After redeeming the boy and bringing him back to His house, the Father gave the boy a list of chores. To teach the boy who had lived apart form his Father for so long how to once again live with his Father. He then promised the boy that as long as he did the deeds on the list he would have a happy and long life. But if he ignored the list and went against his Fathers Will he would have a hard life indeed.
The Father did not make the list to easy to follow, in the intention that it would show the boy all that he should be doing and wasn’t. Also, it was to remind him that he couldn’t actually accomplish it on his own. To show the boy that he needed his Fathers help.
The boy immediately took the list and jumped for joy at the idea of not being enslaved, and for being able to move into his fathers house. He agreed immediately to do all the chores on the list. The next day the boy went to work, and for awhile he tried his very best to complete the list. Then it hit him, the list seemed to mock him and show him all that he had failed to do in his life so far. He tried his best but did not finish the chore list. The boys father came to him at the end of the day and told him how very proud he was that he took such initiative. And told the boy that the list was to assure him a good life in his Fathers house. But as a gift given in love, the Father would be giving him a great reward even tho he didn’t earn or finish the list completely.
The next day the boy awoke and grabbed the list his father had given him the previous day, and started to work it again. And altho there were many of the chores that he couldn’t do on the list the boy did as many as he could. When the boys Father realized what his son was doing he stopped the boy and reminded him that the boy had already gained the reward, and to most it would seem that what the boy was doing was not necessary. But the boy replied to his Father that altho he understands that the great reward never depended on him doing the chore list, he still wants to complete as much of the list as he can as often as he can. Because he loves his father so much and appreciates all that he has done for him. The Father replied that he was proud that the boy finally understood the purpose of the list.
The question is would you consider the boy to be a sinful son for continuing to follow his Fathers list?
