Teachings of Jesus - The Lost Son

There is a deep love for (in my opinion) junky cars among males, and some females I know in our community. I can't even grasp how someone can tow a "hunk of junk" (again, my opinion) and find value in it. Maybe it's been in a wreck, or rusted out so bad that there's hardly anything left, or it's missing so many pieces. But every August, I drive around and see the "hunks of junk" sitting in peoples' yards, in places they show them off, with derby painting and signs on them, ready to go out and battle at our county fair. I also see restored vehicles that are no where near what they were, and I am blown away by the work put in. It's incredible how people can take those "hunks of junk" and actually make it a beautiful, moving, purposeful vehicle again. These vehicles had been given purpose again.

It's something to be considered. No matter how far we have fallen into a pile of purposeless life, squandering our lives and finding ourselves bound for the dead end of life, we can remember that we have a God Who will restore us, giving us life once again. In fact, Jesus shares a story about this.

How much disrespect was there displayed when a son asks his father to give him is inheritance before his father has passed? Never is there more love than when a father actually gives it to him. Jesus uses the story of the lost son in Luke 15 to display His love for us. Even though we are selfish people, wanting to gain all we can for our own purposes, Jesus is always waiting, like that father to take us back. There is much to be learned from this little story, that holds great meaning:

We all choose to run away sometimes. I don't think there is a single person living that has obeyed, followed and trusted God 100% of the time. We have all at one point said, Lord, give me what's mine and we ran the other way. Maybe we don't ever give our talents, resources and credits to God. Maybe we claim our own fames before giving God any credit for getting us there. Whatever it is, we fall and will fall at some point.

It takes rock bottom to "come to our senses". As we read about the lost son, at the bottom of life, working with the pigs after burning through his money, that was when he realized he had chosen completely wrong. Sometimes we need to be at the absolute bottom of our lives to realize we need to step back and chose differently.

The Father is always watching for us. "While he was still a long ways off, the father saw him and was filled with compassion for him." No matter how deep we are in life, or how far we have placed ourselves away from God, He is always watching, waiting, and ready for us to come back. Don't ever think you are too far away to go back, or that you have to get cleaned up completely before you go back. Simply know you need Him and you need to change. Let Him do His perfect work in you.

We may become bitter of someone else's gain. The older brother completely missed the point, as we often do in this story. We can do everything right and know we'll earn because of it in the end, but unless we actually have a heart change and appreciate the love of our Father, we will lose out in the main celebration. The goal is to seek and bring home the lost, not work on our own means.

Where do you relate with this story? Perhaps you are a father, waiting for a loved one to come to their senses. Or you have been the lost son, squandering all you have been given from God for your own gain, at the bottom of life. Or your the eldest brother, doing you, waiting until you get your piece without a heart for the mission. Where ever you are, find hope today. The Heavenly Father is waiting patiently for your return, to restore you and give you purpose again. 

Scripture to Read:
Luke 15, Ephesians 2:8-9

Questions to Ponder:
Where you do you relate in the story? Why?
How does Ephesians 2:8-9 tie into this story? What about from the eldest brother's perspective?
How do you view salvation? Something you have to work for or something done for you?