Have you ever felt like you’ve crossed a line, but didn’t know how to step back? Or did you say something, and as soon as you said it, you knew you were wrong? Or have you ever felt like you’ve just gone too far and had no hope of returning to where you once were?
Have you ever read the story in the bible about the prodigal son? It’s a tale of regret, marked by mistakes and failures, but redeemed by love, filled with grace and forgiveness. When you first enter the scene, you see two sons and their father. It immediately tells us that the younger son goes to his father and asks his father for his inheritance, which he believes belongs to him. See Luke 15:12. In the culture of that day, it was of great offense to ask your father for your inheritance because that is like saying, “I wish you were already dead.” But as we continue, the father grants his son his request and gives him his inheritance.
As the story progresses in Luke 15:13, the son takes off into unknown lands. He wants to see the world and all its spoils. The bible doesn’t tell us his age, but could it be that this young man was naive, inexperienced in the world’s ways, and frankly, didn’t know what he was about to get into on his travels? Some might say that asking your father for your inheritance before he dies could be impulsive and shows a massive lack of respect and irresponsibility. But the father grants his request, and off the young man goes.
Can you picture the young man walking through town, pride sitting high on his shoulders, pockets full of cash, and the world looking at him and thinking, he seems like an easy target? He lives it up, binging on whatever his heart desires. But soon reality sets in, and he knows he has squandered everything, quickly becoming destitute and hungry. He ends up working on a farm feeding pigs. Out of desperation and hunger, he eats what the pigs ate. See Luke 15:13-16.
He finds himself at the bottom and realizes he must go home. But did he go too far, and would his father be able to forgive him and accept him back into his home? After all, he disrespected his father and humiliated himself, and he hadn’t realized the gravity of his mistake until now. (Luke 15:17-19 TPT)
Broken and ashamed, he returns home, but this time, he returns as a beggar. As he arrives home, his father is in the field quite far away, but he sees his son coming down the path. (Luke 15:20 TPT). In this moment, the father drops everything he is doing and runs out to meet his son. The bible says, “great compassion swelled up in his heart for his son who was returning home”. (Luke 15:20 TPT). His son knew he had been wrong and quickly asked his father for forgiveness. He felt unworthy of his father’s forgiveness, but his father loved him and interrupted him and said, “Son, you’re home now.” (Luke 15:21 TPT). The father shouted to his servants, “It’s time to celebrate, for my son has come home. Bring me my robe for my son to wear.” Then he put his ring on his son’s finger, giving him authority and the seal of sonship. Luke 15:22-24 TPT).
Can you imagine what his dad went through and how many nights he cried over him, not knowing if he was alive or dead, where he was, or what trouble he may have found himself in? How often did his father break down, fearing for his son’s life? But he didn’t think about all those moments when he saw his son. Not once! Instead, he raced to his son. I bet when he reached him, he grabbed him into his arms and squeezed him so tight the son probably couldn’t breathe, but tears of joy overwhelmed them. To this man, his worries were over. All the pain had disappeared because for him, his son had returned to him. And nothing else mattered. See Luke 15:20 TPT.
Have you ever felt like the prodigal son in this story? Have you crossed the line and are unsure how to turn back and regain what you have lost? Or maybe you need a new start. Will you give God the right to direct your path? (Psalm 37:5-6 TPT). Do you know Jesus laments over you? In Hebrews 7:25, it says Jesus always makes intercession for us. That means he prays for you continually. Can you see that God, our Father, wants a personal relationship with you? He is a loving father and our shepherd; he searches for us and, if necessary, will wait for us to come to him. If you’ve lost your way, will you run to him today? We all can relate to this story and have felt like the prodigal son at some point. But God can step into your life and change the narrative of your story, just as he did for this son and his father. Will you give God your heart, ask for forgiveness, and let him into your life? A celebration awaits, and God is waiting to celebrate you, too!
