The story is popular, but the Bible doesn’t mention how long the son stayed in the foreign land. However, if you’re an average person who isn’t working and starts spending money on yourself and friends, it won’t take long before you run out of money.
It is a known story about how he reached a point where all he needed was food to survive, and he even wanted to eat the pods the pigs were eating to satisfy his hunger. That was his lowest point. Only then he remembered his father and how the slaves in his father’s house eating until they were full and there were always leftovers.
However, the story of the prodigal son teaches us two crucial concepts.
The first thing that came to his mind was his father’s loving, giving, and kind heart. The memory of his father’s overflowing generosity towards the slaves—providing more than enough food—led him to believe his father would be merciful.
Another thing our prodigal son is good at is taking action; his clothes were smelly from being with the pigs. Since he couldn’t afford food, it’s unlikely he can afford new clothes to meet his father, but that didn’t hinder him.
Take Action, Don’t delay
There is absolutely no reason for anyone not to reach out to our heavenly Father, right now, at this moment, his doors wide open, he will listen, he won’t look to how dirty the cloth is or disgusting the smell is, all he looks at is your heart.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart—These, O God, You will not despise. (Psalm 51:17).
We often fall into the trap of thinking that we must fight against temptations on our own, believing that God will reward us when we come to Him in prayer. This is exactly how Satan works, using our ego to deceive us into thinking that resistance alone is what will earn your God’s help.
He will help you if you resist this temptation. However, this won’t be the easy yoke he talked about. To experience the easy yoke, you must follow the example of the prodigal son. Simply throw yourself into his arms, pour out your complaints, and share all your thoughts with him. Then you will find solace, you will say with David.
For in the time of trouble, He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle, He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord. (Psalms 27:5-6).
There is no obstacle exists can prevent someone from talking to our heavenly father NOW. He can hear the beating of your heart. He made a promise to never turn away anyone who comes to him.
For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. (2 Corinthians 6:2-3).
If any church member makes it difficult for you to return, please do not let that discourage you. The church is beautiful and follows Jesus’ teachings. However, some individuals in the church now impose their own rules and interpretations. It’s sad to see, but don’t let it hinder your progress. Remember that Jesus’ door is open to any humble soul without conditions.
The one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.
(John 6:37).
The Father
Now look at the father. Despite the prodigal son’s decision to leave his father’s house, the father never stopped watching the road, expecting the day his son would return. He knew his son would be filled with shame, fearing that it might cause him to turn back upon seeing his father’s house.
The father worried his son might think he doesn’t love him anymore, and he will reject him and that might make him turn back. This loving father remained vigilant, watching every day in the hopes of his son’s return.
We all possess the courage to take positive steps, like attending church or joining a therapy group and finding an accountability partner. It’s a good thing. However, when we actually set out for our appointments, we sometimes hesitate and question if it’s the right decision. This doubt can sometimes lead us to turn back and return to our unhappy lives because we couldn’t take that one crucial step to meet someone who could make a difference in our lives.
In this parable, the father saw his son coming from a distance. That was all he needed to see as a sign that his son wanted to be back in his arms. The father saw his son dragging his bare feet with dirty clothes, walking towards him. To encourage him, the father ran to his son and hugged him, ignoring his appearance and the smell of his clothes.
“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 am no longer worthy to be called your son.( Luke 15:20-21).
When the son finally met his father, he didn’t say what he had planned. As he hit rock bottom, he thought of saying, “I am not worthy to be called your son anymore. Please treat me like one of your hired servants.”
However, when he met his father, he couldn’t bring himself to say the last part: “Treat me as one of your hired servants.” Perhaps it was because, in that moment, he sobbed on his father’s shoulder. Maybe he saw the overwhelming love his father still had for him and believed that he would be more than just a servant. We can’t be certain, but what we know is that he didn’t say it. This teaches us that our loving God looks at the heart and expects a sincere desire to return to Him. He doesn’t care about the words we use or how eloquently we say it; all He cares about is a genuine willingness to come back to Him.
I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.
(Isaiah 43:25).
If you understand this, it will be easier for you to return to him and seek him.
He wants to forgive your sins for his own sake. It’s not about what you do to earn forgiveness. He simply wants to bless you and forgive you. However, we often turn our backs on him.
This parable is amazing because it illustrates God’s love and the transformation of a lost son into a found one.
The older brother
The older brother lived his whole life in his father’s house. However, he lived in his father’s house as a servant. He worked hard to seek his father’s acceptance. with his own words, he said.
Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him! (Luke 15:29-30).
It illustrates the paradox of being close to God but also far from Him. This son always felt like a servant, believing that by carrying out tasks for his father, he would earn his love or some kind of reward. In the mean while the father withheld nothing from him. In fact, he told him, “Son, you are always with me, and everything I have belongs to you.”
The older brother was entitled to his father’s wealth too, but he refused to accept any of it. If he truly knew his father’s heart, He could have asked for what he needed or wanted, but he remained as a servant. He saw his father as a master, and his fear of upsetting him prevented him from taking anything.
We all have different backgrounds. Your perception of a father may be like that older brother. Maybe your father was abusive or tough on you when you were young. This could be why you struggle with pornography. He may not have been there for you or punished you often. You may have sought his approval while he didn’t care. In our struggles, we may have felt abandoned by God, like the older brother feels toward his father.
Truth or Emotions
However, this does not mean that our heavenly father is like that. We need to distinguish between the truth and our emotions.
Feelings can deceive, as your subconscious controls what you feel, even if the truth is the opposite.
What is the alternative then?
Taking one step towards the truth and towards God, who proclaimed to be the truth and the life, will cause God taking several steps towards you. This will lead to the unknown becoming known to your inner self and the light shining in the darkness.
It is said that there is no combination between light and darkness, but rather, the light expels the darkness.
Your heart will only find peace when you understand that winning is guaranteed as long as you have his hand to guide you.
He is faithful to the end and hears him again saying, Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
My fellow fighter, our father, is not a judge waiting to judge our souls or a master with a set of commandments. He is so much more than that. He is patient, loving, and never looks at our sins.
He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. (Psalms 103:10-13).
Win This Battle
