What a pitiful story, but it happens all the time to many families. What went wrong? It even happened to the Lord. His children grew up, but they forgot from whence they came. They forgot how lovingly and tenderly He cared for them and took advantage of His kindness and forsook His love. How His heart must hurt. He let them have their own ways and withdrew His presence from them. They were so out of touch with God, that when He manifested Himself in the flesh, they didn't know Him and persecuted Him.
The Bible says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." The book of Romans states: For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. God went out of His way to reveal His love to us and made it possible for us to be adopted as His children. Not only that, but as many as receive Jesus, He gives us power to become the sons of God. Power to be His children. Power to resist the Devil. 1 John 3 states: Little children, let no man deceive you: he that does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. If you call yourself a Christian and still live as a sinner, you should call upon the Lord and repent and turn to Jesus for help from above.
When the Lord made us his children, He quickened us to be alive and aware of His presence. He filled us with HIs Spirit, the Holy Ghost, the Comforter. Jesus filled us with Himself (that is how we can have the mind of Christ). Paul says, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
Born again children obey their heavenly father. They like and love Him. They are sad when He is sad. They have the mind of Christ. They fear Him and honor Him. He is their master and they happily obey. They joy when He delights in them. They say, Thy will be done and mean it. They read His word and pray for His power that His words might be fulfilled in their lives. They desire to be spotless, pure, and without guile at His coming. They delight in Jesus and love His wonderful name. Jesus is their life.