Getting Ready to Celebrate

Scripture: And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ Luke 15:31-32

Observation: The story of "the prodigal son" concludes with the good, elder son being angry, for he has been faithful and never once was he celebrated for this, while his sinful brother returns and gets a great feast. The father explains it by repeating the most extreme terms for celebrating the return ... the younger brother was dead and is now alive again. This isn't a celebration because he came home, or is still healthy, or was stupid and learned a lesion, or simply said 'sorry'. The younger brother was DEAD ... and now he isn't dead.

This is the condition of those who have abandoned the Lord. They are dead. Returning to God, repenting of wicked behavior and thought, and humbly asking the Lord for care, isn't about figuring out who God it, but rather it is about being dead and now being alive. This even goes beyond those who are ignorant and come into understanding the faith. The conscious decision to rebel against God is a decision to die, and the decision to humbly return is being resuscitated to life.

Application: Yes, I rebelled against God. I once actively decided - despite years of learning and listening - that it was all a sham. I decided I didn't want God, I didn't need God, and I could have a better life by simply doing what I wanted. Years later, I made just a small effort to return ... and the Lord rushed to me, honored me, and blessed me with new riches I did not deserve. Today I still life in the reverberation of that blessing.

I was dead. I didn't know it. I thought I was just struggling to accept the conditions of life, but clearly not. Now decades later, I will never become the older brother. I will never be jealous of the celebration for a new believer for now I have effectively 'always' been with God (at least in the earthly terms of time). Instead, I will want to jump into the celebration!

Very soon, I expect these celebrations to explode worldwide, and to personally see them in my church. I expect prodigals to emerge from isolation and quarantine, announcing they have discovered or rediscovered faith in Jesus Christ, and for our church to throw celebrations in their honor. I am not just not angry about this, I am hopeful for it. May my time actually be spent trying to ensure it happens.

Prayer: Lord, right now, prodigals are locked in their homes depressed and desperate, and discovering your love. When their doors open, may they come to you. And we are ready to celebrate at your command, oh Lord. Amen.