All Things New

I have a Father, and He is the highest king of the land.  I also have a big brother, in line to reign and receive the inheritance of the entire Kingdom when my Father chooses to pass it on.  It is his birthright, and I love my brother like any sibling should.  However, as time went on, my big brother went astray.  He kept leaving our kingdom to mingle with the lesser, wicked kings.  He began to scorn our Father and his birthright inheritance…and began to show that clearly if he should reign, it would not be responsibly.  He would bring ruin to the Kingdom and its people.  In a way he had turned from the family name and disowned us.  How I watched my Father’s heart break!  His firstborn child, His pride and joy, the one to carry on His reign…throwing away his inheritance.  But there was a flicker of hope in my Father’s eyes yet.  When my brother refused to come home, my Father came to me.  Putting a ring on my finger, He told me that now the inheritance had passed on to me.  He even slaughtered a pure white lamb to seal the covenant with blood.  Of course I melted in complete gratitude and amazement, for it is something that never should have come to me.  An honor that was never really meant to be mine.  At the same time, my heart still ached for my brother to come home, to be restored to the glory of our family name.  It hurt me to see him being so low when he had royalty in his veins.  But this I knew, because my Father told me…He hasn’t given up on my big brother, and knows with all his heart that soon he will come home.  Though he may return in shame, we will run to him and put a ring on his finger and he will be restored to our family, our name, and our beautiful inheritance that was meant to be his all along.  However, the great thing is…because of this covenant, I get to keep the ring on my finger as well.  What has been given to me because of his fall will not be taken from me, but instead we shall walk into our inheritance together.  There will be a great party when he returns, with great glory and light and celebration, when he finally decides to arise and shine…when his light comes.  And through this I have learned that my Father is a merciful and just king…He does what is right and keeps His covenants, but is also full of grace.  Should I fall, I know that there is a ring waiting for me as well when I return…