The Prodigal Son:
Father-I am Lost Help Me
I wonder if the prodigal son spent any time with God.
The prodigal son is a metaphor for God and His love for us. It’s also a metaphor for backsliding, rebellion, and redemption
If you read any psychology papers at all children view God’s love the same way as they view their parents’ love. To a small child, the parent is the role model of unconditional love. God is the epitome of unconditional love. His love will never end.
Many people seem to think the prodigal son is only about the happy return of a wayward soul. That is true, but there is much more that can be drawn from this story.
Rejecting the Father
The son, who wanted to collect his inheritance early and leave the peaceful security of his family estate, is not just a college kid who goes exploring across the country. The culture of the day treated family as the focal point of life. To ask for an inheritance early is tantamount to wishing your father dead. “I want my money now! I don’t care if you are still alive, I will treat you as if you are dead.” Wow! What an insult.
The father not only had to deal with the emotional insult of his son’s rebellion but also deal with the inheritance. The father had to sell a large portion of assets to provide enough cash to accommodate this spoiled young man. This young man committed so many transgressions against the family; he broke his father’s heart and angered his brother’s spirit.
The son left anyway. He took his money and like the foolish man that he was squandered it on lavish living, women, gambling, and any other worldly sin he could find at the time. Eventually, the playboy lifestyle left him with nothing, not even a cot to sleep in.
The next few comments are hypothetical, the prodigal son did realize his mistakes and returned to his father, but his old ways had to be broken first before wisdom could take root.
But What If…
If the son had died during his rebellion, I believe he would have been lost. The parable in Luke 15:11-32 states he was “lost.” The loving father desired his son’s return to the family but the boy had to want it first or it would have little or no meaning. His life, his soul, would have been lost forever in a pagan land where God was neither worshiped nor welcome.
Backsliding implies you were once a child of Christ, then after a time, you willfully denied the Savior to go your own way. Many people today do precisely that. Parents try to teach their children about God, but the world seduces them into thinking there is no accountability and they can be “free” to do whatever they feel. In truth, the sin one will engage in will enslave them to Satan.
God wants your love, but He will never force it upon you.
Willful people are stubborn and have to learn their lessons the hard way. Wasted money and famine in the land broke the son of his spoiled ways. He realized the result of his transgressions through slave labor and extreme hunger. He understood even his father’s servants had food to eat. However, he also realized he gave up his right to be called a son. At this time, he was lower than a servant.
A Repentant Heart
The son started walking home with a repentant heart and an empty belly hoping to be accepted as a lowly servant. I really like Dr. Charles Stanley’s quote, “Brokenness is required for maximum usefulness to God.”
A person who backslides has, at that time, an unrepentant heart. You don’t want forgiveness because you don’t want to do things God’s way. “I’m having too much fun.” Without repentance, there is no forgiveness. You must want God’s love and redemption to receive it. His love is always there, but you must accept it and turn from your sinful ways.
A Son’s Return
The father immediately ran to his lost son and rejoiced greatly at his return. The father forgave his transgressions and blessed him because he loved his son and was overjoyed at his return. This is an example of God’s love for you. God is grieved when a child of His leaves. He is also grieved over any sin that may occur. In the same token, God is overjoyed at your return as well.
Let’s not forget about the angry brother. There will be others who don’t understand. He represents the Pharisees that don’t want Jesus dining with sinners, “They’re not worthy of God.” In reality, no one is. The Son of God was ministering to those who needed Him the most; that would be tax collectors, sinners, you, and me. Just as the father loved and ministered to his repentant son.
If you have left God, if you are in a spiritual pagan land, please come back. Take a very close look at the true love of God. Regardless of what you have done, Jesus will accept you, forgive you, and welcome you always with loving, open arms. Come just as you are, all you have to do is ask with a sincere, repentant heart for Jesus to forgive you. Don’t be lost in darkness. I have seen people close to me, who knew God but decided to not listen to His call. These people have passed, I sincerely hope they are not lost forever.
The prodigal son is a great story. Give it a read, let God speak to your heart. Just turn the page, let your heart be filled.
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The Prodigal Son Finds Time with God
The Prodigal Son:
Father-I am Lost Help Me
I wonder if the prodigal son spent any time with God.
The prodigal son is a metaphor for God and His love for us. It’s also a metaphor for backsliding, rebellion, and redemption
If you read any psychology papers at all children view God’s love the same way as they view their parents’ love. To a small child, the parent is the role model of unconditional love. God is the epitome of unconditional love. His love will never end.
Many people seem to think the prodigal son is only about the happy return of a wayward soul. That is true, but there is much more that can be drawn from this story.
Rejecting the Father
The son, who wanted to collect his inheritance early and leave the peaceful security of his family estate, is not just a college kid who goes exploring across the country. The culture of the day treated family as the focal point of life. To ask for an inheritance early is tantamount to wishing your father dead. “I want my money now! I don’t care if you are still alive, I will treat you as if you are dead.” Wow! What an insult.
The father not only had to deal with the emotional insult of his son’s rebellion but also deal with the inheritance. The father had to sell a large portion of assets to provide enough cash to accommodate this spoiled young man. This young man committed so many transgressions against the family; he broke his father’s heart and angered his brother’s spirit.
The son left anyway. He took his money and like the foolish man that he was squandered it on lavish living, women, gambling, and any other worldly sin he could find at the time. Eventually, the playboy lifestyle left him with nothing, not even a cot to sleep in.
The next few comments are hypothetical, the prodigal son did realize his mistakes and returned to his father, but his old ways had to be broken first before wisdom could take root.
But What If…
If the son had died during his rebellion, I believe he would have been lost. The parable in Luke 15:11-32 states he was “lost.” The loving father desired his son’s return to the family but the boy had to want it first or it would have little or no meaning. His life, his soul, would have been lost forever in a pagan land where God was neither worshiped nor welcome.
Backsliding implies you were once a child of Christ, then after a time, you willfully denied the Savior to go your own way. Many people today do precisely that. Parents try to teach their children about God, but the world seduces them into thinking there is no accountability and they can be “free” to do whatever they feel. In truth, the sin one will engage in will enslave them to Satan.
God wants your love, but He will never force it upon you.
Willful people are stubborn and have to learn their lessons the hard way. Wasted money and famine in the land broke the son of his spoiled ways. He realized the result of his transgressions through slave labor and extreme hunger. He understood even his father’s servants had food to eat. However, he also realized he gave up his right to be called a son. At this time, he was lower than a servant.
A Repentant Heart
The son started walking home with a repentant heart and an empty belly hoping to be accepted as a lowly servant. I really like Dr. Charles Stanley’s quote, “Brokenness is required for maximum usefulness to God.”
A person who backslides has, at that time, an unrepentant heart. You don’t want forgiveness because you don’t want to do things God’s way. “I’m having too much fun.” Without repentance, there is no forgiveness. You must want God’s love and redemption to receive it. His love is always there, but you must accept it and turn from your sinful ways.
A Son’s Return
The father immediately ran to his lost son and rejoiced greatly at his return. The father forgave his transgressions and blessed him because he loved his son and was overjoyed at his return. This is an example of God’s love for you. God is grieved when a child of His leaves. He is also grieved over any sin that may occur. In the same token, God is overjoyed at your return as well.
Let’s not forget about the angry brother. There will be others who don’t understand. He represents the Pharisees that don’t want Jesus dining with sinners, “They’re not worthy of God.” In reality, no one is. The Son of God was ministering to those who needed Him the most; that would be tax collectors, sinners, you, and me. Just as the father loved and ministered to his repentant son.
If you have left God, if you are in a spiritual pagan land, please come back. Take a very close look at the true love of God. Regardless of what you have done, Jesus will accept you, forgive you, and welcome you always with loving, open arms. Come just as you are, all you have to do is ask with a sincere, repentant heart for Jesus to forgive you. Don’t be lost in darkness. I have seen people close to me, who knew God but decided to not listen to His call. These people have passed, I sincerely hope they are not lost forever.
The prodigal son is a great story. Give it a read, let God speak to your heart. Just turn the page, let your heart be filled.
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