Prodigal
I love the story of the prodigal son because I have been a prodigal child.
In Luke 15:12 the younger son became impatient and asked his father for his share of the inheritance which would have been 1/3 of the estate. The father graciously grants his son's request. This is a picture of God allowing us to have what we want, even though it may not be His best. God gives each one of us a "free will."
The son gathered up all he had “and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living." We can see from the son's actions that he had already determined what he would do in his heart before he took a step on his journey. "But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully grown, brings forth death (spiritual death)." (James 1:14-15)
Next, we find the son in desperation, hiring himself out to a Gentile to feed pigs that were unclean animals that day. I want you to picture for a moment this son toiling in the pig pen. The son rebelled, willfully choosing to return to the life of sin and look where it got him! In the stinky, muddy pig pen! But....that is NOT where this story ends!
In Luke 15:17 it says, that the son "came to his senses." He realized that his sin was not only against his earthly father but against God Himself. He devises a plan and will give up his right as a son, taking on the position of a servant. He heads home and when he is a "long way off," his father saw him "and felt compassion, and ran and embraced and kissed him." The Father must have been watching and patiently waiting for the son's return!! What a picture of God's unfathomable love, rich mercy, and abundant grace. He is ready to not just welcome his son back home, but also, with a JOYOUS CELEBRATION!!! "Not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)
The father threw this son a party upon his return and that is what our Heavenly Father does when we return. God doesn’t care where you have been, what you have done because His goodness far outweighs our sinfulness. He just wants us to wholeheartedly return.
