The Younger Son

Luke 15:11-32

Message No. 0699 | Twitter @GodandUs | www.wisdom-speaks.ca

If I may borrow the words of Solomon, I’d say there’s one evil under the sun, and it is called ‘doubling down.’ What does doubling down mean? It means that when you inflict pain on someone and the person makes you to realize that you have offended him or her, instead of saying sorry, you actually insist that what you did was right. You make the person who complained look stupid as you try to prove that you are superior to him or her. Instead of humbling yourself and asking for forgiveness, you are attempting to cast your offence in stone. You are, in essence, calling the other guy a ‘loser.’

An adage says if an accused person knows and agrees that he or she is guilty, the person will not spend a long time kneeling and begging for mercy. The younger son in Luke 15:11-32 was in a class of his own. He was foolish when he collected his portion of his father’s goods and took off to Las Vegas. When he finished gambling with all he had, he began to be in want, and then his sense began to return to him. suddenly, he realized that his father’s house was far greater than where he was, and going back there as a servant would be far better than where he was now. In verses 17 – 19, the Bible says:

"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."'

While it is bad enough to sin against God and against other people, the bigger problem is when we refuse to acknowledge our sins and ask for forgiveness. At that point, what we are saying is, ‘I am better than You, and I do not need to apologize for anything!’ In Romans 3:23, the Bible says that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. And in 1 John 1:8 – 10, we see that:

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

The younger son was a rebel and a waster of resources. However, when he came to his senses, he proved that he was wise after all. Are you wise enough to take the all-important decision of saying sorry? Repentance is the golden door to mercy. Have you confessed and repented of that sin? God is waiting to take you back, but He cannot stand arrogance, nor can He tolerate the double-downers. Whether it’s the sin you committed against God or the ones you committed against your fellow human beings, you need to go back to the people you offended and ask for pardon. There is no shortcut and there is no alternative.

Do you have unconfessed sins in your life and are you sleeping and waking up daily without remorse? Please learn from the younger son; the way to regain your freedom and be absolved back into the fold is to go back to our Father in Heaven and say we are sorry. This should never be too difficult for us to do. Please confess your sins today and God is waiting for you at the gate, to throw His Arms around you and welcome you back home.

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 PLEASE ACT NOW:
 If you are yet to give your life to Christ, you do not have a covenant with God and His promises do not apply to you. To come under these promises, please surrender your life to Christ today, by praying this prayer:
 Lord I know that I am a sinner and I am unable to save myself. I am sorry for my sins and I pray that you please forgive me. I am aware that Your Son Jesus died for my sins and I accept Him as my Lord and savior. I surrender my life unto you from this moment. Please take control of my entire being and help me to be obedient to your Word, going forward. Thank you, Lord, for hearing me. I have prayed in Jesus’ name. Amen.
 If you prayed the foregoing prayer, you have just been born again. Please find a Bible believing church in your area and ask to see the pastor. Let him or her know that you have just given your life to Christ and s/he will guide you on next steps in your journey as a child of God. The Lord bless you!