The Prodigal Son Experience

In Luke chapter fifteen, Jesus tells a parable of a son who demanded of his father and received his inheritance. Inheritance in hand, he left home to live life prodigally. Life seemed great for a time, but soon enough, money squandered, ‘friends’ gone, and facing imminent starvation, he ended up in pig slop.

How many of us, by choosing to do things our way, have found ourselves in pig slop. 

Like the prodigal son, we receive our inheritance from our loving Father – salvation through Jesus Christ – but then we turn away to live a vacuous lifestyle. Not willing to work out our salvation, instead thinking that our way is the better way, we choose to live selfish, self-indulgent lives without care for God or man. 

The result is always messy. Fortunately, the prodigal son, up to his neck in slop, came to his senses, and in that period of recognition he made the best decision of his life. He returned to his father in utter repentance. 

“Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son” (v 21)

What is it going to take for you to come to your senses? 

Are you waiting to be completely submerged in the mess you’ve managed to create? 

Are you too ashamed to be seen in your present ‘fallen’ state? 

Are you embarrassed by the stench that hangs over you wherever you go? 

With God there’s no need to be embarrassed. Just like the father of the prodigal son, God is longing for you to come back to Him in whatever state or condition that you’re in right now. 

Get up, as you are, and return home to your Father! Your Father loves you passionately. Your loving Father not only forgives but remembers your sins no more (Hebrews 8:12). 

Oh, what a wonderful Father He is! He rejoices in heaven over the one lost sinner who repents and returns to Him than over ninety nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away (v 7).

Amen †

The Prodigal Son Experience ©2014 Shelley Johnson 1-Jun-14