This episode is part of my podcast series DEAR ATHEIST… If you prefer, LISTEN NOW.
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The story of ‘The Prodigal Son‘ is a definite favourite among Christians. We love it! I love it too because it’s the most explicit description of God’s extraordinary grace. And the lesson is enough to cause any that have gone astray to boldly arise and return to the Father, whose arms are always open, and who is always ready to forgive.
However, I think, like every good thing, it is prone to abuse. Sometimes, people take the wrong lesson from a story. Too many people have concluded wrongly that they can always go back and ask for forgiveness. That they can be good later, and indulge their flesh for a while. This is a very dangerous conclusion to be drawn from a message of God’s unconditional love.
What may not be clearly evident in Jesus’ parable was that the prodigal son still faced the consequence of his decision. Having squandered his wealth, he had nothing to his name. Like the Father said to the faithful son, “all I have is yours” (Luke 15:31).
We should not therefore wait to have a deathbed conversion, with the expectation that we will have the same reward as the wise servant who brought an interest back to their Lord (Matt 25:14-30). We should not be so foolish to think that we will even get a chance to repent before we die! So many deaths are swift and unexpected. Woe to those who presume on tomorrow! It is written, “today if your hear His voice, do not harden your hearts!” (Heb 3:15).
And let us consider for a moment the numerous prodigals that never returned. Yep, they are real. The story was not told of the prodigal son who died of a drug overdose. Or who was killed in a gun fight. Or who suffered a mental breakdown and committed suicide. We are not told about the one who got hit by a bus, moments after leaving his Father’s house! These could not have returned even if they wanted to.
Let us not play the religious game. Let us not presume on His grace. Let us have holy fear…for that is the beginning of wisdom (Prov 9:10)! When we stray or fall, let us be quick to stand again, knowing that our Father is gracious, but that our enemy is a prowler looking for whom to devour (1 Pet 5:8). It is written: “though the righteous falls seven times, he shall rise again. But the wicked shall fall by calamity” (Prov 24:16).
And lastly, let us consider the faithful son, to whom the Father spoke: “you are always with Me” (Luke 15:31). How wonderful and beautiful are those words! While the prodigal son was destitute and tormented, the faithful son enjoyed the Father’s presence, His peace and His joy. He enjoyed the blessings and liberties of His house. He grew under his Father’s guidance. He reveled in his Father’s love and acceptance.
That can be you! What joy it is to know the Lord. To commune with Him. Don’t miss out on that for one measly lifetime in the world! Like the Psalmist said: “better is one day in Your courts, than a thousand elsewhere” (Psa 84:10)! And again: “eyes have not seen, nor ears heard, what the Lord has prepared for those who love Him” (Isa 64:4).
If you’re out in the world banking on time, get smart! Wise up and don’t entertain foolishness another day! “Now is the time of salvation” (2 Cor 6:2). Tomorrow is promised to no one. Let him/her who has ears hear.
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Categories: Critical Thinking, Dear Atheist, Featured, Issues of Life, The Latest, True Religion
Grace and Truth 
I really like this Ufuoma. We don’t always, or even sometimes escape the earthly consequences of the things we do. Some of which may in fact kill us. I think of David, a man after God’s own heart. But, his dalliance with Bathsheeba started a chain of consequences which lasted for generations. Nice one
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Thanks! That’s a brilliant example 🙂 Sometimes, we think we are so smart that we can have our cake and eat it too. May God snatch us from our foolishness.
Blessings, Ufuoma.
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Thank Ufuoma. I sort of keep that one in my back pocket all the time. It’s handy when some folks tell me that grace becomes a license to sin. I happen to believe in the security of the believer, but some oppose that because they feel it is a license to just do whatever. Well, it’s clearly not. As you pointed out, we can lose rewards and/or suffer many consequences for the things we do. Salvation is not just a get into Heaven free card. How sad to consider it that way, and get to heaven and hear Jesus say…What the heck were you doing down there? What we want to hear is, well done good and faithful servant. I like the visual of God snatching us from our foolishness by the way.
🙂
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Yeah, we all need it. Even the faithful son gave in to folly when he became angry with the Father. Our salvation is God’s grace alone…
Thanks for commenting 🙂
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Ufuomaee…I appreciate this piece..great read and awesome examples. Love it!
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Thanks Andi! Do help me share… and wake up those who are sleeping in the light…
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Reblogged this on Seeking His Kingdom and commented:
Awesome read!!!!
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Thanks so much 🙂
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No..thank you!!
☝all the glory to Him!
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Amen! All glory belongs to God!
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Absolutely loved this! It illustrates the need to always be ready and the joy that comes when we are.
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Thanks so much! I appreciate your comment 🙂
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Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
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Thanks heaps!
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My pleasure!
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Just go and ask Ole Esau about taking lightly his inheritance.
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Yep… there’s much to learn from Esau’s life, who decision was considered wickedness. Some might just have thought it foolish, but Paul said it was wicked. Thanks for your contribution 🙂
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This is a very important post for all of us. God’s grace is nothing for us to take for granted. Our eternal destiny is too serious for us to attempt to straddle the fence.
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Thanks Marques! Please do share 🙂
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Didn’t the son who stayed home become angry that his father threw a party for the prodigal? Just a question.
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It isn’t just a question, because you know the answer to that. Why don’t you just say what you mean to say?
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Looks like a genuine question to me. I didn’t say more because I didn’t want to appear argumentative or unkind, which is easy to do. You said a pot of laudatory things about the son who stayed home but didn’t mention his anger, which needs to be factored in. Maybe I just wanted to generate a bit of thought.
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