LORD Jesus was a master story teller and the story of prodigal son was one of those master stories.

Luke 15:20-24

20So 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. 23Bring 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.

LORD Jesus is saying; the door is wide open for sinners to come home for salvation, for forgiveness and for a new beginning. All of us sinned against GOD, all of us confessed and repented our sins many times. Our names got written in the Lambs Book of Life one time. All of us who trusted Christ as our Saviour have our names there and GOD knows when we are coming to claim our inheritance.

The simple steps the prodigal son took to get where he was;

*Dissatisfaction – he had everything at home, his father took care of him, he had a great future but he was dissatisfied because of what he heard. Be careful what you listen to.

*Desire – that dissatisfaction created desire within him. That desire was to be able to enjoy somethings other people mentioned to him. The old sin nature to expose cravings.

*Deception in his thinking – he thought he is missing out on something in life so he made decision to change things.

*Decision – he made a decision to leave his parents, his brothers, his home, his family and he made a decision to enjoy life.

*Departure – he left leaving old behind him.

*Delight – everything was new, he had plenty money, he dressed well, he had everything he wanted, naturally he began to enjoy it.

*disillusion – sin always leave you very disillusioned. You may think it will satisfy you but it cannot, only for a season. Even then when you close your eyes at night when you think about the reality you are not happy. If you are living out of the will of GOD, you are not happy. Further you go down in wrong thinking, wrong use of money, wrong use of relationships, taking advantage of people and all the rest goes on in sinful life style and he began to feel hopeless. Beneath the pleasure is penalty. “For the wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23. It is a death to peace, death to security and final chapter is physical death and eternal separation from GOD. It is eternal separation from GOD because you knowingly, wilfully rejected LORD Jesus Christ as your Saviour.

*despair – he ends up in hog pen, be sure your sins will find you out, you won’t get away with it. Then with the grace of GOD he comes to himself and he start to think about what he used to have.

The real story about this parable is his father’s attitude about him. GOD has been portrayed here as the prodigal son’s father.

Steps of the father is;

*A wounded heart – he wounded his father’s heart. GOD has a wounded heart.

*Wondered – father is wondering about him, what he is doing and all the questions going through in his father’s mind.

*Waiting – he is waiting for him patiently. LORD Jesus describing Heavenly Father’s attitude towards you and me.

*Watching – father is watching for him for years he hasn’t come but he didn’t given up on him. So he waited and watched for him. Hoped and prayed but nothing happened.

*Wanting his son to return soon – Whatever happened to him he wanted him back. GOD still waits for you, He wants you to come home. He wants you to be wise enough to recognise, sin ultimately is going to destroy you and deprive of everything in life you wanted. GOD waits patiently and wants you to return to Him no matter what.

*Welcomed his son home – one day while he was waiting and watching, he saw his son coming home, he took off running to him. He hugged and hugged, kissed and kissed him. They will celebrate that night no matter what.

That’s how GOD feels humanly speaking when you get right with Him. You may be one of those person who messed up badly. GOD is waiting for you and will forgive you. His father forgave him. This is all about Heavenly Father who loves us. You don’t have to die in sin. Many people living in sin because they have chosen to disobey GOD. If you know you are far away from GOD, what you thought will make you happy has not made you happy, you have tried this, that, the other and when you have tried everything that the world has, do you realise what you have done to yourself, to your own character, to your self-esteem? Yet GOD will forgive you. He will take all your sin away, He will restore you and He will do for you what you cannot do for yourself. This father was so happy, he just wanted to celebrate. The heart of the Father is so tender, He rejoices when a sinner comes home. He forgives His son, restores him to His household,

GOD has for us;

*forgiveness – it does not make any difference what you have done. You cannot name anything that GOD won’t forgive you for. If you confess our sins, that’s mean we agree with GOD we lived in sin and we have disobeyed Him. He is faithful and just, always trustworthy, He forgives us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. That’s the promise of GOD.

*acceptance – He accepts us what we are. He accepts you as one of His children. Come to Him, plead to Him as a sinner, and ask for forgiveness of your sins. His acceptance is on the basis of what He did at the cross. When LORD Jesus died at the cross He paid your sins debt in full no matter what you have done, how long you have done.

*restoration – He restores us. He restores our sense of self-worth, our sense of dignity, He restores our attitude about other people.

*rejoicing – when a person comes to Christ in the parable they had a celebration.

This is a story of GOD’s message; no matter what you have done, how long you have done GOD is willing to forgive you, not because you deserve it, because when LORD Jesus went to the cross He took the sins of the world upon Him. And anyone who comes to Him, ask for forgiveness, surrendering your life to Him will have their name written in the Lamb Books of Life and you will be forever child of GOD. It doesn’t mean you will never sin again but it means you have a relationship to GOD that is not separated. He will forgive you of your sins when you confess and repent of it. You are a child of GOD. The grace of GOD wraps around us.

GOD wants us to bless us with the best and that blessing is available to all of us who are willing to follow LORD Jesus Christ.

If you have never trusted LORD Jesus Christ as your Saviour you need to do it right now. You have no assurance of tomorrow, you may not live tomorrow. You may live for eternity if you trust LORD Jesus Christ as your Saviour.