The Prodigal Son

Maybe this could have been called the two prodigal sons.  God is depicted, or eluted to, in this story which speaks about His love, mercy and grace towards the human race because we all started as prodigals; born with a sin nature, cherished by God but running in the other direction.  This story took place in the middle east, from my understanding, and is a story of rebelliousness, jealousy, arrogance, pride, humility and unconditional love and, like I said before, mercy and grace and something I didn’t mention, patience.  These two boys were raised in the same house experiencing the same compassion and love but the younger one wasn’t satisfied and wanted to strike out on his own, so he asked his father for his inheritance which is not the norm; but he must have thought that the grass looked greener on the other side of the fence, so to speak.  

His father did give him his inheritance and he went away happy, but that joy was short lived, which normally happens when children think they know better than their parents.  This boy soon squandered all his money on wild living and he was very hungry because there was a great famine in the land.  So, he went and joined himself to one of the citizens in the country he was in.  He wanted to fill up on the food that the pigs were eating but no one would give him any.  Finally, he came to his senses and then he had an idea.  He said to himself he would go back to his father’s house and confess his sin before him and ask him to treat him like one of his servants, which he did.  But while he was still far off his father saw him and had compassion on him, running to him he fell on his neck and kissed him.  Then the son confessed his sin to his father and said I am no longer worthy to be your son.  But the father’s compassion was overwhelming, and he said to his slaves quick bring out the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.  He also said to bring out the fatted calf and kill it; let’s celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead but now he has come back to life, he was lost and is found.

Now read the older brother’s response in Luke 15:28-30, “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’”

He was so angry and put out that he couldn’t even call him his brother saying, but when this son of yours, the one who squandered your wealth with prostitutes, for him you killed the fatted calf.  Jealousy and pride are an evil combination.  I think at that point they were both prodigals.

Now think about this, from my understanding, for the father to run to the boy he would have had to pull up his robe and expose his legs which the people in the middle east didn’t do.  And I don’t think the father would have run to the son, he would have had to come to him.

Now let’s look at some comparisons between the Lord and the father in this story.  First the Word of God says that we were all dead in our trespasses and sins; there is non-righteous, no not one.  We all deserved God’s wrath and judgement, for the wages of sin is death.  We were all born with a sin nature and we all deserve to go to hell.  But like the father in this story, God provided a way of escape through His Son Jesus.  In all the other religions of the world you need to do something, or work your way to the end result, only in Christianity can you get to heaven without anything performed on your part.  God has made it available for every person to be forgiven and put right with Him.  The only thing we can do is repent, and without the conviction of the Holy Spirit that God provides, that can’t take place either.  Jesus said no one can come unto me unless the Father who sent Me draws him and I will raise him up on the last day.  So, you cannot truly repent without God’s help.  But even with His help, not everyone will believe.  

So, like the story, the father ran to the son and granted him forgiveness.  When we repent, and take action, and turn from our sins and turn to God making a conscious decision to live for God, forsaking our sinful ways, God will forgive us also, Praise His Holy Name.  

Then God’s Word says that there is rejoicing over every sinner, read Luke 15:3-10, “So He spoke this parable to them, saying: ‘What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 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. Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

It sounds like a celebration in heaven to me also, like the father in the story.  Just like the father in the story was willing to forgive both of his sons, God also shows His love and compassion towards all who will truly repent and put their trust in Him.  Read John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

I think you got the message and I pray that you will have a super, super day and that the good Lord will bless you and yours with His perfect peace, love and joy and health and happiness!!