By: Reverend J. Loren Russell
Luke 15:17-19 NKJV
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”
The Bible tells many stories of men who came to their senses or wakes up after a crisis, a devastating event, or a traumatic experience. The story of The Prodigal Son is one of those narratives. Bishop TD Jakes in his book, He-Motions, says of this son, “Alone in the big trough, with time for true introspection, he had an epiphany of life changing proportions.”
The story of “The Prodigal Son” captures our imagination because the circumstances that led to the son leaving his father’s house, wasting his inheritance, and winding up in a pig pen, reminds us of paths we have sometimes taken ourselves. Far too often a person does not wake up until they have hit rock bottom, lost loved ones, or had their back against the wall. The unfortunate truth is that many never bounce back from their bouts with waywardness.
The narrative witnesses the son regret his decision, renounce his actions, return to his father, and receive forgiveness. The story is a metaphor for a person who turns his back on God, goes out, squanders his resources, finds himself in a compromising situation, wakes up and realizes that everything he ever needed is in God’s house.
The same truth exists for us today. Everything we need is in the Father’s house. We can go there when we regret, repent, and receive the gift of everlasting life that was purchased for the price of Jesus’ blood on Calvary’s cross. Then, we get to rejoice. If we humbly ask to be made a hired servant, as did the Prodigal Son, our Heavenly Father will welcome us back just as if we never left. Wake up everybody!
Be Blessed!
Rev. J. Loren Russell is President/CEO of The JLR Company for Church Financial Strategy & Consulting; an associate minister at both Goodwill and The Greater Universal Baptist Churches in the Bronx; creator & host of “Matters of Faith – The Radio Show” Mondays 8:00 – 10:00 PM on Facebook LIVE and author of Matters of Faith: The Book (eBook available at Smashwords)
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