And 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 falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. Luke 15:11-14
The story of the Prodigal Son should be relatable to all of us! The Father , who is symbolic of our Heavenly Father, gave his children everything, yet they rebelled and squandered their inheritance. The younger son left The Father to go and live the “wild life” in sin and squandered his entire inheritance given by his Father.
Can you already see yourself in the Prodigal Son? How many have left God and The Church to go live a life of sin? Or how many never even knew God and lived a reckless life of partying and self destruction? There is Good News the Father is calling you home!
And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, Luke 15:15-18
The Prodigal Son went from eating in royalty to eating with the pigs. The Son had hit rock bottom, he was in the pit of despair, but again there is Good News, the Father is calling you home. How many of us can relate to this? Sometimes you have to hit the bottom before you start looking up!
Now notice the Son came to repentance, he said “I have sinned against God”, we need to repent and come back to our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ!
And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet 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 unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: Luke 15:19-22
The Prodigal Son crawled back to The Father, feeling not worthy to be called his Son, how many of us can relate to that? What happened? The Son recognized and understood his sinful state, however how did The Father respond? He brought him his best robe and put a ring on his fingers. The Father forgave the Son and welcomed him home with open arms. This is the same for us, our Heavenly Father will welcome you home through His Son Jesus Christ!
And bring hither the fatted calf, 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 elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancingAnd he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.. Luke 15:23-28
There was a celebration as the Prodigal Son came Home, just as when you came Home to your Heavenly Father , all the angels rejoiced! As we’ve seen throughout these parables, everytime a sinner comes to true repentance through Christ all of Heaven rejoices.
Now the elder Son, was angry and jealous of the Prodigal Son. Have you ever seen this in Church? A known sinner starts coming to Church and everyone gossips and avoids them, don’t be like the eldest Son, rejoice for the Prodigal Son or Daughter has come home to our Heavenly Father.
This reminds me of the hymn “Softly and Tenderly” the chorus goes “Come Home, Come Home, Ye who are weary Come Home”! If you are the Prodigal today, The Father is calling you Home! Come home today through our Lord Jesus Christ Amen!