(from Ken Sapp’s Creative Youth Ideas)
A man came in deep distress to see me: “No matter how much I pray, no matter how hard I try, I simply cannot seem to be faithful to my Lord. I think I’m losing my salvation.”
I said, “Do you see this dog here? He is my dog. He is house-trained; he never makes a mess; he is obedient; he is a pure delight to me. Out in the kitchen I have a son, a baby son. He makes a mess, he throws his food around, he fouls his clothes, he is a total mess. But who is going to inherit my kingdom? Not my dog; my son is my heir. You are Jesus Christ’s heir because it is for you that He died.”
We are Christ’s heirs, not through our perfection but by means of His grace.
(of course it wasn’t me, but it continues the heritage of good story-telling my personalising it)