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“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. Luke 15:20

In the parable of the Prodigal Son, there’s a significant moment when the prodigal “comes home”.

He realizes he’s sinned against God and his earthly father.

He’s humbled by his desperation and lack of ability to sustain himself.

He’s struggling through a famine in the land and finds himself famished in the things of God.

He’s starving spiritually and physically.

He’s empty.

The prodigal son’s life has degraded to the point that he, being a Jew, is feeding unclean swine.

And he comes to the end of himself.

But it’s at this low point, his rock bottom, that he stops to realize it’s time for a change.

All the odds seem to be against him.

All hope seems lost.

His position with his father couldn’t be any worse.

He has completely squandered his inheritance.

And completely ruined his life.

By having demanded his share of the inheritance his last words to his father pretty much were, “As far as I am concerned Dad, you’re dead.”

And his broken relationship with his dad shows a deeper brokenness we can have as believers – a broken relationship with God our Heavenly Father.

And when we have a broken relationship with God, we’re actually sabotaging our spiritual walk with Him!

Whatever relationship he had with his brother was destroyed by now as well.

And, his so-called friends abandoned him as soon as his money ran out.

He has no one but the pigs he is now serving.

Then, he realizes where he’s at.

He comes to himself.

He knew he had only one place left to go…right back home.

“We see in this story the graciousness of the father overshadowing the sinfulness of the son.” (www.gotquestions.org)

When You Have Nowhere Else To Go…Go Home!

The prodigal son made so many bad choices, except one.

His plan to go back home and plead for mercy from his father.

He purposed in his heart to do whatever it took because he sinned against God…and his dad.

He would accept the role of a house servant just to be able to come back home.

But his sin remained.

The circumstance for him was still difficult.

The consequences were still being realized.

No one has forgiven him yet.

All he is doing is heading back to his father.

It’s a great picture of true repentance.

His spirit is humbled and he is in shame.

He still has to face his father, confront his spiteful brother, and live with the servants whom he ended up envying.

Then, he has to take the punishment and deal with the ridicule.

What Would You Do to Be Forgiven By God Completely?

“Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.” – Proverbs 16:18

When it comes to facing reality, responsibility and turning our life around, too many of us just cave into our weaknesses and go back to the pigsty.

But when a heart is truly repentant and ready to receive the consequences of sin knowing that Father God is forgiving, then He has someone He can work in and through.

You have come to the realization that it is far better for you to deal with your punishment than live with the pain of your poor decisions.

This is where pride crashes with humility.

It’s a deadly head-on collision.

Because one of these character traits has to die.

And when pride overcomes humility, destruction is sure to follow.

But, when love wins out and a contrite and humble heart dwells within the child of God, something amazing happens… a revival!

“For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.'” – Isaiah 57:15

Your life here on earth can only be lived to its fullest when you abide in Christ.

“By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.” 1 John 4:13

The Prodigal son was the epitome of the flesh:

• temporal
• shallow
• prideful
• weak
• stubborn
• godless
• And selfish.

He acted out against God and his father, took his inheritance, wasted everything, and ended up hanging out with a bunch of pigs!

But his father waited.

Even though his son was far off and consumed with a life of sin, he never gave up on him. 

“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.” V. 20

At the same time, however, the son is also a great picture how love can change a heart as the Father is waiting and watching for his loved one’s return.

The story depicts how the things of the world are no match for the love of the Father.

Oil is to Vinegar, As Darkness is to Light

“In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”  John 1:4, 5

What has darkness to do with light?

To many people, Jesus is just too far away.

Because they love the darkness and want to wallow in their sin, they refuse to accept the truth that He is the only way to heaven.

The world refers to Jesus as “a good teacher” or a “good man”.

But this description is only an attempt to weaken who Jesus truly is and render irrelevant His finished work at the cross.

And to justify the sinful lifestyle they’re choosing to live in.

But when you realize how much God loves you. (See John3:16)

How long-suffering He is.

How forgiving He is.

You are forced to stop and consider God because of His true character.

And this truth of God’s character is why you need to continue praying for your prodigals, and your unsaved loved ones.

Because the blessing is that God never changes! (Malachi 3:6)

He is the same yesterday, today and forever! (Hebrews 13:8)

And He is love! (1 John 4:8)

And when you’re able to come to this truth, you’ll find a loving, longsuffering God with open arms….ready to accept you back home.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]