The Other Side

Have you ever thought back on the wasted years you spent before the Lord came into your life and you were born-again?  Sometimes I think it is good to take a look back and remember how far you had fallen and the mess you were in.  

Right now I am thinking about the prodigal son and how he left the confines of his home and his family because, as we might say today, the grass looked greener on the other side of the fence.  How many times have people been in good situations and for some reason or other they become discontented and wanted to wander away on their own, thinking that they knew what was best, forgetting how they had it made with loving parents that showed them love, support and encouragement and tried to raise them up in the love and admonition of the Lord, but as they grew older they rebelled and went their own way that led them down a path of devastation, pain and guilt.  

Maybe you took another path, you stayed in your home and wished you had the nerve to leave but didn’t so you went through the motions, not wanting to rock the boat, so to speak, but inside you were always discontent, always wishing you were in a different place and situation.

Then there is this scenario, you were in an abusive home, whether it be mentally, physically, psychologically or emotionally, and you just wanted to get away and be set free of that situation and when the opportunity came along you jumped at it, but the result was just a wasted life.  Whatever your situation was, each was in a hopeless mess, not knowing what to do.

Then there was a time when you had an encounter with the Master and your life changed and you had a different outlook on life because Jesus Christ came into your life and you became a brand new person, the old things were passing away and the new was taking place, in and through your life.  The problem is that as time goes on we can even become discontented in our Christian walk because of the struggles and disappointments we face, sometimes on a daily bases, then we may think about striking out on our own, just like the prodigal son did in Luke 15:1-32.  Think about this young man and how he dishonored his father by initiating the division of the estate, showing disregard for his father’s authority.  He not only dishonored his father in that way but he took his inheritance and left, going into a far country and wasting it all with riotous living or what we might call today a sinful lifestyle.  He sank into a depraved state, wallowing in the muck and the mire of sinful humanity, seemingly completely void of common sense.  It seems to be without any rationality; he spent all his money and began to be in want, more than likely very hungry.  It seems he was so depraved that he actually hired himself out to feed pigs, which would have been very humiliating to say the least.  

According to Moses’ law, Jews could have nothing to do with pigs, they were unclean animals and forbidden for the Jews, read Leviticus 11:2-8, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘These are the animals which you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth: Among the animals, whatever divides the hoof, having cloven hooves and chewing the cud—that you may eat. Nevertheless these you shall not eat among those that chew the cud or those that have cloven hooves: the camel, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you; the rock hyrax, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you; the hare, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you; and the swine, though it divides the hoof, having cloven hooves, yet does not chew the cud, is unclean to you. Their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch. They are unclean to you.”

It also says this in Deuteronomy 14:8, “Also the swine is unclean for you, because it has cloven hooves, yet does not chew the cud; you shall not eat their flesh or touch their dead carcasses.”

Then, in this story it says this boy ‘came to himself’ and said this in Luke 15:17-20, “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.’

And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.”

Did you notice he started thinking back and it helped him to come to a better conclusion and suddenly he was thinking sensibly again?  Sometimes it takes getting into a crisis situation before a protocol gets desperate enough to repent and confess, and that is where this young man was at.  I don’t know what this young man was thinking on his way home, but he may have been thinking what if my father rejects me or what kind of punishment will I get or I wonder how mad he is and if he will ever forgive me, maybe he was thinking all these things and other negative things I haven’t mentioned.  

This is the way his father responded, it says this in verses 21-24, “And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.”

His father was waiting with open arms and a glad heart and he rejoiced at the return of his son.  This father represents our heavenly Father and if you are a prodigal, know this, your heavenly Father loves you and is waiting for you to come home.  This is the Lord’s response to the prodigal it is found in Luke 15:7, “I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.”

If you are a prodigal, repent and ask the Lord to forgive you and cleanse you from all un-righteousness.  Like I said, your Heavenly Father is waiting for you to return so don’t put it off.  Something to think about and may your day be blessed along with you and yours!!