Once Lost, Now Found.

LUKE 15:11-31

19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

Shalom!

May God’s grace be with you all!

While Jesus was on his final journey to Jerusalem, he told a parable to his congregation about a son whose father was rich, and he had an older brother. A time came, and the younger son said: “Father, give me my share of the estate!” The father divided his property among them. The bible says: “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. ”

Oh, how do we face trouble, pain and disappointment when we choose to take our own ways! I assume this boy spent all his money on prostitutes, drinking and all sorts of wild things a young person can engage with. Maybe he felt like he was caged in his father’s house; he wanted to prove that he could do it by himself, he didn’t need any help, he tried to see and feel the pleasures of this world. But the scripture says: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death ”, Seek God’s guidance in everything you do! Search and do the will of God only, for the world and its desires pass away, but whoever does his will lives forever! 

After the young man chose his way, there came a famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need; Now, as a spoiler in the end, the young man went back to his father. Some bad situations are good in disguise; they pull us back to the Father! If there had been no famine in that country, the young man would have kept living in sin. If he had not been broke, to feed the pigs, yet his father was rich; he wouldn’t have gone back to his Father’s house. That’s why God sometimes allows problems, sorrow, pain, and disappointment to come so that we could realise how we need and depend on him. The young man decided to go back to his father, and he was so full of shame that he found himself no longer worthy to be called his father’s child; instead, he downgraded himself to be a servant. This is what the devil makes us believe when we go astray, he reminds us of how sinful and unworthy we are. But brethren, it is written: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness ” Believe in this word and accept the devil no more to deceive you with his lies. The father rejoiced, and to prove his love and forgiveness; he called for a best robe, ring on his finger and sandals on his feet for the boy and they had a feast. The best robe belonged to the master of the house, and this meant that the boy’s shame and filth was covered and his dignity was restored. The ring in the past was used as a family’s official seal to authorize legal transactions, financial agreements and so forth. This ring given to the boy meant that he was given the authority and the trust as the heir of the family again. And lastly, in the past servants and slaves walked barefoot, only family members, masters and freemen wore sandals. And to the young man this meant that his Sonship was restored, he was back to his home as a son not slave or servant.

In conclusion this is what the Lord does when we go back to him, repenting of our sins. He restores dignity, covers our shame, gives us authority in the kingdom of God and we become sons and daughters in his Kingdom.  

If you have backslided in any way, Our God the Father of our savior Jesus Christ is faithful to forgive you and restore you. 

God bless you!