Luke 15:17-20 (NIV) “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ So he got up and went to his father.”
This young man, like so many people, had to hit absolute rock bottom before his eyes were opened wide enough to see. One day, he suddenly realized that he was in a pig sty, that he was far, far away from home, that he had left behind all that was right and true in his life, and, regrettably, that he had probably burned all of the bridges behind him. He had defiantly done so many things that he was now ashamed of. He had brought disgrace on himself and on his family.
But as he pondered his situation, a solution began to present itself to his mind. He was sure that there was no way that his father would accept him back as a son – he had disgraced himself too badly for that. But maybe his father would take him back as a servant, a hired hand. He knew that he no longer had a share in the family estate. He had taken that and blown it completely. But, if he could show that he now realized the error of his ways, that he really was repentant, his father could at least hire him like he would a stranger. So he practiced his speech, and set off for his father’s house.
Jesus is painting a very accurate picture, not just of the tax collectors that were in His crowd of listeners, but of many people who wake up one morning and realize that they have completely blown it. The realization, and it can be sparked by many things, completely blows them away, like getting the wind knocked out of you. All suddenly seems very dark and hopeless.
For some of those, though, a light can be seen far off in the distance. Some pick up a Bible in a hotel room. Some hear a preacher on the TV or radio. Others remember the Sunday School class of their childhood. At first, many of these write off a return to God’s good graces as impossible. They realize that they have probably burned all of their bridges with Him. They had defiantly done things that they were now ashamed of. They had brought disgrace on themselves They had committed too many sins to be forgiven.
But some of those, like some of the tax collectors listening to Jesus, decide that maybe there is hope. They are pretty sure that God will never be willing to receive them back as His child. But maybe, if they grovel enough and beg enough, He might grudgingly be willing to take them back as a lowly slave. So they make up their minds to just do that.
Father, I can relate to every part of this awakening story. I remember that when I first realized how far I had brought myself from You, and remembered all of my defiance and rebellion, I despaired of ever being able to live in Your good graces again. It was a horrible place to be. But then the small light in the distance, the small hope that You might possible deign to take me back as Your slave if I repented well enough. It was enough to get me turned around in moving in the right direction. Amen.