The vast majority of us have one or more seasons of rebellion in our lives. We (try to) unplug our conscience and do what we know isn’t right. I used to wonder why God didn’t just flick me off the planet – but He didn’t. He loved me and knew I would return to Him and I did. You can too.
When we’re in the middle of our rebellion, but want to stop and clean up our lives, we assume God is mad at us and can’t forgive what – or all – we’ve done. Instead of turning toward Him, we feel guilty and probably ashamed. We knew better! But there’s more to the story.
You’ve probably heard of the parable of the prodigal son told by Jesus in the New Testament in the Gospel of Luke 15:11-24. Let’s read it together and think about what He said and why He said it. First, it’s important to understand that Jesus wasn’t just a man. The Holy Bible tells us He was fully God and fully man. He alone can tell us the truth about whether God the Father is mad at us or has cut us off or given up on us – even if we’ve given up on Him.
Before Jesus tells us this parable, He sets the stage with an amazing and powerful statement of truth to be sure we don’t miss it in verse 10:
“…there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
This parable is about more than just our perspective on earth. Much more!
“Jesus continued: ‘There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father, and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven, and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father.
But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him, and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.”
Jesus also tells us the older brother became angry because he had not done what his younger brother had done. But this was how the father answered:
“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’”
It’s easy for us to do two things:
1. Cry out to God when we are in great need: a health crisis, a financial downturn, the death of a loved one, or reaping the consequences of our sin.
In these times we often plead, beg, or bargain with God for help because we have no choice but to acknowledge we aren’t in control and have no power over our circumstances. We finally get the message that only God is able to provide for our needs: to heal, bless, comfort, and forgive.
2. Forget God when we are flying high: our health is good, we have a surplus of money to buy and do what we want, and our relationships are going great.
Here’s when independence from God can kick in. We separate ourselves from Him and think we have it all together on our own and don’t need Him. That is, until we find ourselves in great need again.
I’ve done both. You probably have too.
We can either learn from the lessons in our lives – or repeat them. Each time we do, the consequences are greater and God’s voice speaking to us gets a little louder – because He loves us. Come home today instead.
RESET HIGHER: This message is for all of us prodigals, whether we’re far from Him right now or need to heal from where we’ve been and understand the depth of God’s love. There is great rejoicing in Heaven when we return to God. Don’t miss that freedom that His forgiveness can give you. Today.
