You Can’t Outrun Grace

The church I attend does a powerful three-week series called At the Movies. It’s not really about the movie itself—it’s about the message. They take modern-day films and connect them to biblical truths, and I love how it brings scripture to life in such a creative way. After all, Jesus often taught using stories (parables), so why not follow His lead?

The movie was Catch Me If You Can—the story of Frank Abagnale Jr. (played by Leonardo DiCaprio), a brilliant con artist who spends years forging checks, assuming false identities, and staying one step ahead of the FBI. At the heart of the movie is this theme: You can’t run away from your problems, your past, and ultimately, from God.

This corresponded with the story Jesus told—one you might know—the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–32).

A Quick Recap of the Prodigal Son

Jesus tells the story of a younger son who demands his inheritance early, essentially saying to his father, “I want your stuff, but I don’t want you.” He leaves home and squanders everything on reckless living. Eventually, broke and broken, he decides to return home—not expecting forgiveness, just hoping for a place as a servant. But to his surprise, the father runs to him, embraces him, and celebrates his return. It’s a beautiful picture of God’s grace and how He welcomes us back—no matter how far we’ve wandered.

The Connection

Like the prodigal son, Frank Abagnale Jr. believed if only I could just…—have more money, more excitement, more freedom—then life would be better. But every step forward was a step away from truth. He wasn’t just running from the FBI; he was running from the emptiness he carried inside.

We do the same thing sometimes. We chase something we think will finally make us feel whole, only to find ourselves more lost than ever.

But here’s the good news: It’s never too late to turn around.

As believers, we’re called not only to return home ourselves, but also to extend grace to those who do. That’s not always easy. Forgiveness is beautiful in theory but difficult in practice—because we’re human. Yet Jesus calls us to forgive just as we’ve been forgiven:

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” —Ephesians 4:32

Are You Running or Returning?

God is pursuing you—whether you realize it or not. He’s the Father standing at the edge of the road, waiting to welcome you with open arms. The question is: Are you ready to stop running?

At the end of Catch Me If You Can, Frank’s story shifts. He stops running. He begins working for the FBI, using his past mistakes to help catch the very kind of criminals he used to be. It’s a story of redemption. A story that shows it’s never too late to change direction.

Maybe today’s the day you stop chasing something that won’t satisfy—and start walking toward the Father who’s been waiting for you all along.