Luke 15:11-32
By: Alexander Rico
Then He said: ‘A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. But when he had spent all there arose a severe famine in the land, and he began to be in want. Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed the swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. 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 I 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. And the son said to him, ‘Father I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and I 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. Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what these meant. And he said to him, ‘your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father killed the fatted calf.’ 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 come, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed your fatted calf for him.’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ (Luke 15:11-32, NKJV)
Reading this passage, does it not remind you of someone? To me, it reminds me, or me! I look at this lost son, and I see myself before I accepted Christ. A young man on a pathway to destruction; yet, just as this son in the above verse, it took a situation to bring me to my knees and humbly return to the father who loved me.
Is it not interesting to read and understand what Jesus was illustrating here? He is showing us the extent and happiness that comes with our return to Christ, or our admitting we need a savior. The son who took his entire father’s livelihood and spent it on harlots could be best described as us. We at one time took everything that God had given to us for our benefit and used it in many inappropriate ways, like a man who takes his family’s savings and gambles it all at casinos and slot machines. We take everything God has given to us, and blow it in a momentary split second of pleasure; then, like the son, we are suddenly left in a hole. We find ourselves living in our own mess, trying hard to get back onto our feet again, but to no avail.
You see these prodigal sons everywhere in today’s society. They walk about the street corners, they sit at gas stations waiting for someone to hand them money. Some, trying hard to get back onto the right track, others simply wanting another fix, another drink of alcohol.
I remember when I was a little kid, my dad saw this homeless man holding a sign that stated, “Need money for food”. My dad, though running late for an appointment, decided that he was going to try and help the man out by supplying him with some food. So, he went around the corner to the near by Jack-in-the-Box. He ordered a Jumbo jack meal, and brought it to the guy. The guy angrily replied, “I don’t want that!” and threw it back at my dad.
It’s sad isn’t it? But think for a moment, weren’t we also like that? Someone would attempt to share Jesus with us, and all we would do is toss it back in their face. Fling it back at them. Why? Because, we are like the prodigal son, we want to do things our way, we want pleasure, and we want fun and parties …
But, as we can see here, that all ends. Sure, it may bring pleasure for a time, however, before you know it, that thing looses its ability to bring you happiness, and those friends that you partied with are now moving on to other people. You are suddenly alone.
It is in that time, that many of us are drawn to God. It is in the lowest moment that we come to our heavenly Father begging for him to accept us back into the family.
I know I was at that point in my life. My family was financially secure; however, lost it all when my father and mother were both fired from their jobs. Unexpectedly, we were suddenly pushed into a crisis, and all of those things that brought us pleasure soon turned against us and caused pain. It was in that moment that we came crawling on our hands and knees asking Christ to forgive us.
You want to know the cool part? Just like in the above verses, he did.
He sent his one and only son, Jesus, to die on a cross for our sins, an ultimate gift of love. Sure, my family and I were horrible sinners, but Christ took the burden of those sins when he hung on the cross; and, because of that, on November 17 th, 2000, when I stood up amidst others who wanted to return home to my heavenly father who loved me, there could be heard in heaven a rejoicing party, a great celebration.
If you are like me, and are in an area of your life where you know that you are in a mess (literally); then, why not return to the father who loves you deeply, why continue to put it off? Today is the day of salvation!
If you’d like to accept Christ today; then, all you have to do now is simply cry out to him, and ask him to come and be the LORD of your life.
The Bible tells us in Romans 10:9,10, That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart, God raised him from the dead, you will be saved!! For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved!!
So, what are you waiting for? By all means, please join me in this simple word of prayer asking Jesus into your heart, mind, and soul.
Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner, I take this time to confess all my sins to you, and ask for your forgiveness. Please come into my heart, my mind, and my soul. Lord, take complete control, and be the LORD of my life. In your son’s precious holy name, AMEN.
If you prayed that prayer along with me, I’d like to announce that today, the moment you prayed that prayer accepting Christ into your life the Bible says, … there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner represents. (Luke 15:10)
Just like that, you are forgiven, and adopted into God’s family, no questions asked, no strings attached; although, there are several things that you should do to continue to grow in a relationship with the Lord.
Read the Bible This is God’s love letter to you. It also provides us with a foundation for relationships with others, and tells us about attitudes, motivation and truth. It is important to know, and enlist the principles in the Bible into your life; they keep you on the right way and allow us to make sound judgments concerning people and doctrine.
Pray In any relationship communication is important, priority factor. God desires to communicate with each of us. Prayer is not just a forum for requests. God wants to hear our feelings, hurts, ambitions and joys. Through this he is able to change and refine those parts of us that need it.
Have Fellowship Get plugged into a church or local group that studies the bible. As we begin to share with others what we have learned from the Bible and prayer, we encourage others to grow and ourselves. Fellowship as God planned it is not a clique or special club designed for gossip. We must be careful to keep our conversations with others honest. It’s best described as a fire. One coal alone dies down quickly, but a mound of coals burn white hot, just as one Christian alone will struggle to stay ‘on fire’, while a group together keeps each other hot.
Witness Go into the world and preach the good news to all creation. (Mark 16:15). Jesus gave this as a command, not an option. God has chosen all Christians to be agents of His gospel. We are either missionaries or mission fields. That does not mean that everyone should travel to different countries, but it does mean that no matter where go we should be prepared in life and in word to be ambassadors for Christ. Pray for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given to me so I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel. (Ephesians 6:9)
May God continue to bless you now, as you grow in your new life with HIM!
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