“I will get up and go to my father.” (Luke 15:18)
The Prodigal now isolated, friendless and afraid he was going to die. His better world with its greener pastures now totally failed, his resources exhausted. Not surprising then…his desperation to live began to break through the numb drunken party state he’d known for so long and he was so, so hungry. So hungry he couldn’t hide behind his drunken indifferent bravado towards food … he had no alcohol now but he did have the Grim Reaper’s feathery fingers sending ominous dread down his spine, as they seemed to tighten around his neck. Memory flashes of his contemptible behaviour threatened and grotesque images leaped out at him, leering and teasing adding to his already terrified state.
“I’ve got to have something decent to eat.”
He went into the city, forgetting the whole country was stricken with drought, its streets were teaming with beggars like him pleading for food, his cries for mercy never heard. He went to his previous haunts for help only to have his humiliation compounded as he was driven away by the very people he had been so generous to for so long.
“Get out of here, you stinking beggar…drunkard! And don’t you come back!”
Multiple voices in his head now took up the taunting…
“You’re going to die anyway, why not now?”
“You’ve had your chances and wasted them all!”
“You’re good for nothing, a loser!”
“No one will give you another chance!”
“Just give up…Give up now!”
Soberness though brought with it an undeniable desire to live and a hope for a better tomorrow. His thoughts drifted back to his father’s love for him as a child and the reassurance it produced in him; broke the pride that had prevented his contemplating going home. Facing the consequences of his past in the light of his father’s love wasn’t nearly as bad as he had first imagined. In assessing his situation further he realised that even the servants in his father’s house received three good meals a day. And although he had sold his sonship out to stupidity, he felt confident his father would engage him as a hired servant.
“I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son, just make me like one of your hired servants.’” So he got up and went to his father. (Luke 15:17-20).
Determined to set things right…”I will arise and go” and he did! He didn’t wait for things to get better before he’d show his face back home. There was no procrastination, no double mindedness, just action. He was on his way with a one way ticket, there was no turning back to where he’d come from, he’d made his decision to go home and it was final. Now he positioned himself to build a new life…right with God and right with his father.
The Prodigal humble enough to accept the lowest position with all its menial tasks demonstrated the value and integrity he placed on a restored relationship with God and his father. He didn’t stop halfway and quit, he finished what he started, repented fully and thus was fully restored. (1 John 1:9).
“… I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one especially wicked person who repents (changes his mind, abhorring his errors and misdeeds, and determines to enter upon a better course of life) than over ninety-nine righteous persons who have no need of repentance.” (Luke 15:7)
May God keep you from procrastination in seeking forgiveness and restoration throughout your life time and may your confidence always be founded in the Mercy of God’s love and kindness in Jesus’ Name.
Humility before God is to agree with Him and obey!
God Bless and Keep You!
