We all know the Prodigal Son story.
For those who do not, there was this young man who asked for his inheritance early, got a ton of cash, moved far away from home, rock & rolled all day and partied at night. The kid had a whole lot of so-called friends, and he slept with every woman in town. He was living in the fast lane, got drunk all the time and was living life to the fullest by driving fancy cars, wearing fancy clothes, and was living in a spacious beautiful house.
After a while the young man became broke, how he lost everything that he had. He was deserted by his so-called friends, and he became homeless.
In the end he ended up working in the pig pen, and how he was so hungry to eat what the pigs ate in the pig pen until finally God woke him up to his situation.
After waking up to the poor life he was living he decided to go back to his father house to apologize for his behavior and how he was hoping that his father would receive him back.
The father was very glad to see his son, and in fact we know that he was keeping an eye out for him in hopes that he would return. When the son did return the father held a big celebration welcoming his son back and a safe return.
See, the prodigal son would probably still be in the pig pin dying if the holy spirit did not wake him up and help him realize that he needs to go back home.
I know this for a fact because I was once a prodigal son.
I was backslidden and I could not get back up on my own.
When I was walking in the world I tried everything, did everything and like the prodigal son, rock and rolled all day and partied at night.
I gave all sorts of things the time of day and it was God’s “leash” that prevented me from straying too far away.
I crawled back to the Father and He met me on the road back home, just like the prodigal son’s father did.
Then God did something wonderful.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
That is what God did, and I felt like a human being again and not some filthy pig wallowing in the mud and slop.
You see, you can be 30, 40, 50, 60, or 70 years old and still be considered a “prodigal son.”
You can be a girl or a woman and be considered a “prodigal daughter.
You can be a Baptist, a Methodist, a Catholic, Church in God in Christ, or a Lutheran, and still be considered a “prodigal son.”
You can be a choir member, usher, deacon, or a preacher and still be considered a “prodigal son” because any time you stray away from God to do your own thing, you are a prodigal son.
Any time you stray from the church, you are a prodigal son.
Any time you stray away from prayer, bible study, Sunday School, or any time you stray away from serving God, you are a “prodigal son.”
And as a prodigal son, you will find yourself doing whatever that pleases the flesh and not those things that pleases God.
Now the question is, “What does a prodigal son look like?”
Simple, a prodigal son looks just like you or just like me.
A prodigal son is a Christian who has strayed away from the will of God. The reason why a prodigal son is a Christian is because in the story of the prodigal son we notice that there was a relationship between the prodigal son and the father.
Even though the prodigal son had left his father’s house to do his own thing, he was still his father’s son.
The son broke fellowship but no matter what, the son is still the son and the father loved him.
When we as children of God break fellowship with Him and choose the flesh we begin that path of being the prodigal son. What happens is that we live in the flesh so much that sooner or later we forget how to get back to God.
Sure we know God, know about God and we even try our pitiful fleshly prayers, but we still don’t have that fellowship with Him like we had before.
That is because we are still living in the flesh.
Scripture says…
1 Corinthians 10:21 (KJV) Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.
Galatians 5:17 for the flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
So we literally need God to come to our rescue and He does that through the Holy Spirit “goading” us, and helping us back on our Christian walk once again.
I remember when I cried out to Him asking Him to let me come back home.
In fact, here is a great song that totally spoke to me and it describes the miracle of God’s love coming at the speed of light. This song means a lot to me because every time I listen to it, it reminds me when God came to me at 3:00 AM when I cried out to Him. He cleansed me and welcomed me back home.
Take the time to listen to the song, it is my prodigal son testimony put to song.
Avalon – Love At The Speed of Light — https://youtu.be/8uOGDL7pFw8
QUESTION – Are you a prodigal son? Is God tugging at your soul to come back home? Do you want to be released from the trap of the flesh?
What is needed is your complete surrender to Him.
Look at the alternative, wallowing around like a pig in slop. That is what the flesh offers. Sure it might feel good for a season, but after a while that sort of life is very taxing, burdensome and hard. Living in the flesh is hard work and the pay back is so small. Again, you feel good for a short season and then poof… it is all gone.
You have got to be at the bottom of your barrel and the only place you can go is back to God.
When I was at that place in my life I finally submitted to Him and said “ My life for you God.”
All of a sudden God’s love embraced me at the speed of light and it felt so good to be back in His arms again.
Do I still sin? Yes I do and at times the flesh temps me, but I will never go back to living the prodigal son life. My life is God’s and I live for Him. He paid a high price for me and I continue to strive to be the best person I can be so that He is happy with me and proud that I am His child.
Are you a prodigal son and want to come back home?
Where do you start?
Simple….
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
It all starts there. But you have got to mean it and not be playing this one foot in the world and one foot in with God.
It is an all or nothing deal. You have got to surrender your all to Him.
If you are not ready to do that, then maybe walking the prodigal son life a bit longer is what is needed.
But if you are truly one of His; He will be there and He keeps calling you to come back home.
Sooner or later you will have to answer that call.
I walked the prodigal son life for the last 3 years. It was not fun and I look back and see it as such a waste. But I also look back and see that where I have been, others are there right now. Because I have “been there and done that and I have the T shirt” I can reach out to those who need a helping hand up and a push in the right direction again.
God put this article in my heart for a reason. Maybe is God calling you back home after being away from His fellowship?
If you get a chance, welcome a prodigal son back, if they were like me, they went through hell and can use good Christian friends again.